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 Missouri, a judgment is the final decision made by a judge or jury at the conclusion of a lawsuit. This decision determines the amount of money that the losing party, known as the judgment debtor, must pay to the winning party, or judgment creditor. The judgment will include the principal amount owed, as well as any interest that accrues on that amount until it is paid in full. The rate of interest is set by Missouri law and may vary depending on whether the judgment is based on a written contract or other factors. Additionally, the judgment may include court costs and, in some cases, attorney fees if the law or a contract allows for their recovery. Once entered, the judgment creditor can take steps to collect the judgment, such as garnishing wages or placing liens on property, if the judgment debtor does not voluntarily pay the amount owed.