A default judgment has already been entered and the user knows the exact date it was entered.
Later-stage tool for defendants who already have a default judgment (Texas and California)
Reopen a Default Judgment
Reopen a Default Judgment is an Answered self-help tool for people who already have a default judgment in a debt lawsuit. It first checks the state, court, and the exact date the default or judgment was entered to determine whether a supported motion and an open deadline exist; if not, it routes the user to legal help instead of a document. When a supported path exists, it helps the user prepare a motion — in their own words — asking the court to set the default judgment aside. It does not tell users their excuse qualifies, does not promise the judgment will be set aside, and does not stop collection.
What it includes
State-and-court routing that decides whether a supported motion and an open filing deadline exist before anything is drafted.
A strict-deadline calculation from the exact date the default or judgment was entered, shown before any document is prepared.
A prepared motion that puts the user’s own explanation and defense into the court’s expected structure and caption.
Safety routing that sends the user to legal help — instead of a document — when the papers show no service, active garnishment or levy, or attorney fault.
A downloadable, print-ready PDF the user reviews, signs, files, and serves.
Best when
The user is in a supported state and court and is still within the strict filing window.
The user wants to organize their own explanation and defense into a court-ready motion, then review it before filing.
Safety boundaries
Answered is self-help software, not a law firm. It does not represent you. It helps organize facts you confirm and prepare documents you review, sign, file, and serve yourself. Always verify deadlines and filing rules with your summons, docket, clerk instructions, court rules, or a licensed attorney.
This tool is for people who already have a DEFAULT JUDGMENT, not for answering a new lawsuit. Deadlines to reopen a judgment are strict and state-and-court-specific; a missed deadline can permanently foreclose the only remedy.
If the papers show no valid service, active garnishment or levy, or that a lawyer’s mistake caused the default, the tool routes the user to legal help instead of producing a document.
FAQ
Will this get my default judgment vacated?
No. Whether a court sets aside a default judgment is up to the judge. The tool helps you prepare and file a motion asking the court to do so; it does not promise or predict the result.
Does filing this stop garnishment or a levy?
No. Filing a motion does not automatically stop collection. If your wages are being garnished or your account has been levied, that is urgent — contact a consumer attorney or legal aid right away.
Why is the deadline so important?
The window to ask a court to reopen a default judgment is strict and depends on your state and court. Filing late can permanently end your ability to reopen the case, so the tool checks the deadline before preparing anything.
Keep the product order sane
Protect the Answer deadline first, then use later-stage kits only when that stage exists.
Answered is self-help software, not a law firm. It does not represent you. It helps organize facts you confirm and prepare documents you review, sign, file, and serve yourself. Always verify deadlines and filing rules with your summons, docket, clerk instructions, court rules, or a licensed attorney.
Check your default-judgment deadline free