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 New Jersey, 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 applicable interest that accrues on the judgment amount until it is paid in full. The rate of interest is set by New Jersey state law. Additionally, the judgment may include court costs and, in some cases, attorney fees if the court finds it appropriate or if a contract or statute provides for the recovery of attorney fees. Once entered, a judgment in New Jersey is typically enforceable for 20 years and can be renewed for an additional 20 years. The judgment creditor has various legal means to collect the judgment, such as wage garnishment, property liens, and bank levies.