Default judgment vs. true uncontested — what's the difference?
CAquietcreek1 month ago
My spouse said they 'won't sign anything' but also won't fight it. Is that a default? Is that the same as uncontested?
Please readThis is a community space for sharing personal experience — it is not legal advice, and posts here are not from Lawma or your attorney. We strongly encourage you to post under an anonymous handle, keep questions general, and avoid posting private details of your active case. For advice about your own situation, message your attorney.
2 replies
✓ Verified answer from a licensed attorney — shown first
Family-law attorney, LA County. These are different in CA. 'Uncontested' technically means the other side responded and you both agree on the terms — you file a written agreement with the judgment. 'Default' means they were served and never responded within 30 days — you finish the case without them. There's also a third option, 'default with agreement,' where they don't formally respond but sign the judgment. Each path has slightly different paperwork. The trap with a pure default is that if you later need their signature for something (a QDRO, a refinance), you don't have it. If they'll sign the judgment, that's almost always the better route. General info, not advice for your situation.
sunflower_la1 month ago
We did default with agreement. He didn't want to file a response but signed the final judgment. Worked fine.
More conversations about this topic
Around the case
Other things people in your situation usually need to handle. Some are paid partners; some are free community resources — labeled clearly.
🤝 Community resource · We don't earn from this
LSC · Find local legal aid
Legal-aid directory · Free · income-qualified
Legal Services Corporation directory of every nonprofit legal-aid program in the US. Most provide free representation for income-qualified clients.
Find your local office →✓ Vetted · Free or sliding scale
Open Path Collective
Affordable therapy directory · Free directory · $40–$80 / session
Nonprofit therapist network — every member commits to $40–$80 session pricing for clients in financial distress. National coverage.
Find a therapist →✦ Sponsored partner
Swift Serve
Process server · $90–$120 typical
Same-day service on family-court papers. Flat fee, transparent pricing, certified Proof of Service delivered back.
Get a quote →Add your reply
Share what helped you. Be kind — and remember this is your experience, not legal advice.
Please readThis is a community space for sharing personal experience — it is not legal advice, and posts here are not from Lawma or your attorney. We strongly encourage you to post under an anonymous handle, keep questions general, and avoid posting private details of your active case. For advice about your own situation, message your attorney.