Q: whats an entry of default

A: A default judgment is entered when someone fails to respond as required to a lawsuit or legal proceeding. In simple terms, it means that the case was decided against the party who failed to respond without a trial or hearing, based on the fact that that party did not take the action required of him.

The judgment has the same effect as if it had been entered by agreement or after a trial or other proceeding. If it's a judgment in a civil lawsuit for money, the plaintiff can take the same types of action to collect that judgment as any other judgment, such as wage garnishment.

I noticed that you asked this question in the bankruptcy category, though you don't specify the type of case. A default (or other) judgment in most civil lawsuits does not impact your ability to discharge that debt in bankruptcy, if that is your concern.

*Kevin Chern is an Illinois licensed attorney who has practiced in federal consumer bankruptcy law and consumer protection law for the last 21 years. He is the Managing Partner of UpRight Law. Kevin's law partners are licensed in all 50 states and work in conjunction with Mr. Chern to provide bankruptcy and consumer legal services in all 50 states. Mr. Chern's answers to the questions are intended for informational purposes only and are not intended to be legal advice. Use of the answers does not establish any attorney-client relationship. For legal advice, you should consult with an attorney licensed to practice law in your state and with appropriate expertise.

A: Here is a link to information from the Maricopa County Justice Courts about defaults and default judgments: http://justicecourts.maricopa.gov/HowTo/Application_for_Default_packet.pdf. Same general concepts apply in Maricopa County Superior Court.