In which situation might a default judgment be rendered?

A default judgment is rendered in situations where one party fails to respond to legal documents. This means that when a defendant or respondent does not file a required response to a complaint or fails to appear in court after being properly notified, the court may rule in favor of the other party—often without further proceedings. This is designed to ensure that legal processes move forward even when one party does not engage, preserving the efficiency of the judicial system.

In contrast, a mutual agreement between both parties typically leads to a settlement rather than a default judgment because both sides are actively participating and working towards a resolution. If both parties present their arguments but cannot come to a resolution, this indicates an active case where deliberation is on-going, and a default judgment would not apply. Lastly, if the court holds a hearing, this suggests that both parties have the opportunity to present their cases, which again does not align with the concept of a default judgment, as that occurs in the absence of one party’s response.