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If you do not respond to a lawsuit or miss an important court date, the judge can decide the case without hearing When the parties in a case present their sides of a case to a judge or other…

More on Vacating a default judgment
Undoing a default judgment after 30 days have passed
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If you miss a court date, you might lose the case. This is called having a "default judgment" entered against you.

If you file a motion to undo ("vacate") the default judgment within 30 days, you will probably succeed.

If it is has been more than 30 days, you must file a petition for "relief from the judgment." This is very difficult, so you should talk to a lawyer about it if possible. The petition must be filed within 2 years of the judgment.

Last full review by a subject matter expert
October 24, 2023
Last revised by staff
October 25, 2023

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Forms

Fee waiver Easy Form
This Easy Form helps you ask the court to waive or reduce filing fees.
Petition for rule to show cause - Family law cases Easy Form
This program will create a Petition for Rule to Show Cause to help you enforce an earlier court order. Use it for Illinois family law orders, involving child support, divorce judgments, allocation of parental responsibilities, parenting plans, or joint parenting agreements (custody or visitation).
Vacate default judgment within 30 days Easy Form
This Easy Form helps you ask the court to vacate a default judgment within 30 days of that judgment.

Worried about doing this on your own?  You may be able to get free legal help.

Apply Online

The Big Picture

If you do not respond to a lawsuit or miss an important court date, the judge can decide the case without hearing When the parties in a case present their sides of a case to a judge or other…

More on Vacating a default judgment

Forms

Fee waiver Easy Form
This Easy Form helps you ask the court to waive or reduce filing fees.
Petition for rule to show cause - Family law cases Easy Form
This program will create a Petition for Rule to Show Cause to help you enforce an earlier court order. Use it for Illinois family law orders, involving child support, divorce judgments, allocation of parental responsibilities, parenting plans, or joint parenting agreements (custody or visitation).
Vacate default judgment within 30 days Easy Form
This Easy Form helps you ask the court to vacate a default judgment within 30 days of that judgment.