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 North Carolina, 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 the judgment creditor. The judgment will include the principal amount owed, as well as any applicable interest that accrues on the judgment amount until it is paid in full. North Carolina law sets the legal rate of interest for judgments. Additionally, the judgment may include court costs and, in some cases, attorney fees if the court finds it appropriate and if such fees are recoverable under the relevant statute or contract involved in the case. Once entered, a judgment in North Carolina is enforceable for ten years and can be renewed for an additional ten-year period. The judgment creditor has various means to collect the judgment, including wage garnishment, bank account levies, and liens on property.