This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD. Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013.
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After you file a lawsuit, the person you sued (the “defendant”) has a certain amount of time to respond. If he or she doesn’t respond, then you can sometimes file a motion for a default judgment. Before filing your motion, check to see if you can request one. Getting a default judgment requires two steps. First, you need to request that default be entered. Then you can request default judgment.