Educational guide
California Civil Default and Default Judgment Checklist
A practical general-information checklist for asking a California court to enter default and, when appropriate, a default judgment after a defendant does not respond. It is based on official California Courts instructions and is not individualized legal advice or a deadline calculation.
- Confirm that the defendant was properly served and that the response period actually expired. Review the filed proof of service, the service method and any extension or court order before treating a response as late.
- Check the court docket for an Answer, demurrer, motion or other responsive filing. A clerk's entry of default is not automatic, and the plaintiff should not request it if the defendant responded in time.
- Understand that default and default judgment are separate steps. California Courts explains that default ends the defendant's ability to respond without first obtaining relief, while a default judgment is the later court order resolving the case and any relief awarded.
- Use the current Request for Entry of Default form, CIV-100, and complete the case caption, party names and request sections accurately. Attach any documents required for the type of case and the relief requested.
- Give any notice required by law or the form instructions and keep proof. Do not use this checklist to calculate a deadline; California Courts instructs plaintiffs to ask for default promptly after a missed response deadline, and case-specific rules or local procedures may apply.
- Prepare the separate default-judgment papers the court requires. Depending on the case, the judge may require declarations, admissible evidence, calculations, costs, proposed judgment forms or a prove-up hearing before entering judgment.
- Do not request relief that exceeds or differs from what the filed complaint and service papers permit. A qualified lawyer or court self-help center can explain procedure and help identify documents, but only a lawyer can advise how the rules apply to a specific claim.
- File using the assigned superior court's current procedure, monitor the docket and follow any clerk or judge instructions. A rejected request, missing evidence or scheduled hearing may require correction; never assume judgment has been entered until the court records it.
Official resources
This guide provides general information only and is not legal or medical advice. Rules and individual circumstances differ. In an emergency, call 911.