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 Vermont, a judgment is the final decision made by a judge or jury in a lawsuit. It determines the amount of money that the losing party, known as the judgment debtor, must pay to the winning party, or the judgment creditor. This amount can include the principal sum, as well as post-judgment interest, which accrues on the unpaid amount at a rate specified by Vermont 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 Vermont is enforceable for eight years and can be renewed for another eight-year period. The judgment creditor has various means to collect the judgment, including but not limited to, garnishment of wages, attachment of bank accounts, and placing liens on property.