The judgment is final decision made by the judge or jury that reflects how much the party who lost the lawsuit (the judgment debtor) owes the party who won the lawsuit (the judgment creditor)—including the rate of interest owed on the amount of the judgment until it is paid, the amount of court costs, and possibly the amount of the judgment creditor’s attorney fees the judgment debtor must pay as part of the judgment.
In Iowa, a judgment is the final decision made by a judge or jury at the conclusion of a lawsuit. It specifies the amount of money that the losing party, known as the judgment debtor, must pay to the winning party, or judgment creditor. This amount can include the principal sum, as well as post-judgment interest, which accrues at a rate set by Iowa law until the judgment is paid in full. Additionally, the judgment may include court costs and, in some cases, attorney fees if the law or a contract between the parties allows for such recovery. Once entered, a judgment in Iowa is enforceable for a period of 20 years and can be renewed. The judgment creditor has various legal means to collect the judgment, such as garnishment, execution, or placing a lien on the debtor's property.