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 Massachusetts, a judgment is the final decision made by a judge or jury at the end of a civil lawsuit. It specifies the amount of money that the losing party (judgment debtor) must pay to the winning party (judgment creditor). The judgment may include not only the principal amount owed but also post-judgment interest, which accrues on the unpaid amount at a rate set by state law until the debt is paid in full. Additionally, the judgment can include court costs and, in some cases, attorney's fees if the governing statute or contract allows for such recovery. The judgment is enforceable for 20 years from the date of entry and can be renewed for another 20 years. During this time, the judgment creditor has various legal means to collect the debt, such as wage garnishment, property liens, and bank account levies.