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Civil litigation

judgments

The judgment is final decision made by the judge or jury that reflects how much the party who lost the lawsuit (the judgment debtor) owes the party who won the lawsuit (the judgment creditor)—including the rate of interest owed on the amount of the judgment until it is paid, the amount of court costs, and possibly the amount of the judgment creditor’s attorney fees the judgment debtor must pay as part of the judgment.

In California, a judgment is the final decision made by a judge or jury in a lawsuit. It specifies the amount of money the losing party (judgment debtor) must pay to the winning party (judgment creditor). The judgment will include the principal amount owed, as well as any interest that accrues on that amount until it is paid. The rate of interest on a California judgment is generally 10% per annum for non-contractual obligations, unless a different rate is specified by contract or another statute. Additionally, the judgment may include court costs and, in some cases, attorney fees if the law or a contract provides for the recovery of attorney fees. Once entered, the judgment creditor can take various legal actions to collect the debt, such as wage garnishments, bank levies, or placing liens on property. The judgment is enforceable for 10 years and can be renewed for another 10 years if not fully satisfied.

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Civil litigation

judgments

Legal Services for Less than 99¢ a Day

Articles

California State Code

Civil litigation

judgments

California State Code

Articles