Information
L‐1006(RevisedSept.2012) Page1of3
DEFAULTJUDGMENTCHECKLIST
CLERKDEFAULTJUDGMENT–CIVIL
Use this checklist to complete your default judgment prior to filing it with the court. The Default Judgment Checklist is intended to
provideaguidelinetoproperly fileyourProofofService,RequestforEntryofDefaultandClerkDefaultJudgment.
Aclerkmayenteradefaultjudgmentinawrittenobligation(e.g.,contractorpromissorynote)actiononlyiftheamountdueissetforth
inthe contractormaybedeterminedfromthetermsoftheagreement.Theactionmuststatetheamountdueinthewrittenagreement
ormustbeeasilydeterminedwithouttakingevidence.ExamplesofcasetypesthataretypicalofaClerkDefaultJudgmentinclude:open
bookaccounts (credi
tcards), bad checks, accounts stated basedonstatements,and promissory notes for money owed,and collection
cases.
Aclerk default judgment maybe obtained whenthe defendantfails to file a response to the summonsand complaint within the time
specifiedonthesummons.Evenifthedefendantfailstofilearesponse,youwillnotobtainadefaultjudgmentifthenameddefendant
has not been properly served, the partynames do not match the names on the complaint or on any subsequent amendments to the
complaint,orthereareothertechnicaldefectssuchasomittingasignature.
Thi
sinformationisintendedasaguidetoassistyouinprocessingyourdefaultjudgment.
1. ProofofService.UseJudicialCouncilformPOS–010.Asherifforprocessservermayuseasimilarformthat
complieswithCaliforniaRulesofCourt,rule2.150.
AseparateProofofServiceofSummonsmustbeusedforeachdefendant served.
Thenameofthepartyservedisthesameasthedefendantorcross‐defendantnamedincomplaintor
inanysubsequentamendment.
Indicatethenameandtitleofthepersonauthorizedtoacceptserviceonbehalfofabusiness/entity.
Ifsubstitutedservicemeth odwasusedonanaturalperson,aDeclarationofDueDiligencemustbe
attachedtotheProofofService.
IfserviceisdonebyNoticeandAcknowledgmentofReceipt–Civil(POS‐015),filetheProofofService
ofSummons(POS‐010)alongwiththesignedNoticeandAcknowledgmentofReceipt–Civil.
2. RequestforEntryofDefault.UseJudicialCouncilformCIV‐100.Thisformspecifieswhichsectionsare
requiredtobecompletedtoobtaindefaultonly,ortoobtaindefaultandapplyforadefaultjudgment.The
defaultcannotbeenteredifanyofthefollowingexists:
Thetimeforthedefendanttorespond,asspecifiedinthesummons,hasnotexpired.
Ananswer,demurrer,noticeofmotiontostrikeanypartofthepleading,noticeofmotiontotransfer,
noticeofmotiontodismiss,noticeofmotiontoquashserviceofsummonsortostayordismissthe
action,ornoticeoffilingawritofmandate.(CodeofCivilProceduresection585(a)—(c))
ThePOS‐010doesnotindicatethedefe ndantwasproperlyserved.
If
anyofthef ollowingexists,thedefaultofdefendantmaynotbeentered:
Thenamesofthedefendant(s),including“aka’s”,arenotthesameasthenamesonthecomplaintor
anyamendment.
ProofofserviceofStatementofDamages(JudicialCouncilformCIV‐050)hasnotbeenfiledwhenthe
complaintisforPersonalInjuryorWrongfulDeathaction.
Proofofserviceofstatementofdamageshasnotbeenfiledwhenthecomplaintisrequestingpunitive
damages.DonotuseJudicialCouncilforCIV‐050forthistypeofstatement.(CodeofCivilProcedure
section425.115).