What is a judgment and what should you do if a court enters one against you? In the legal system, a judgment is a formal decision that is made by a court after a lawsuit. This judgment can vary depending on the type of lawsuit that is filed. For instance, in a criminal case, a judgment may include imprisonment and legal penalties. In civil matters, a court may provide monetary compensation as a form of remedy to the plaintiff. In some legal matters, a judgment ordered is not necessarily final and could potentially be appealed. There is always a possibility to remove a judgment from your record. A skilled attorney can help remove a judgment either by appealing the judgment or by requesting a release of judgment. An attorney can also help if there was a default judgment made, meaning the defendant or plaintiff did not attend the hearing and a judgment was made against them. The case will reopen and the defendant has a chance to be heard. If an appeal or release of judgment is successful, this will typically remove the judgment from one's record along with any other court orders that were made. This will also help clear up problems that may have arisen from the judgment; like a negative credit report. It is always important to consult a skilled attorney and to challenge any judgment that is being brought against you. This content is intended for educational purposes only. KAASS Law is authorized to practice law in California. The above content is intended for California residents only. This content provides only general information, which may or may not reflect current legal developments. KAASS Law expressly disclaims all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any of the contents of this website. The above content DOES NOT create an attorney-client relationship. KAASS Law does not represent you unless you have expressly retained KAASS Law in person at the KAASS Law office.