The judgment in a lawsuit is the court’s final determination of the rights and obligations of the parties regarding the disputed matters. It describes the relief or recovery that one party should have from the other—whether in the form of money, ownership of disputed assets, or injunctive relief that requires a party to take a certain action (make mortgage payments or sell a piece of real or personal property) or refrain from taking an certain action (contacting another person by phone or email or coming within 100 feet of them).

The date on which the court signs the judgment usually triggers or begins the running of postjudgment deadlines such as for filing a notice of appeal of the judgment.

In North Carolina, a judgment in a lawsuit represents the court's final decision on the rights and duties of the parties involved in a legal dispute. This judgment specifies the type of relief one party is entitled to from the other, which could be monetary compensation, transfer of asset ownership, or injunctive relief—mandating a party to perform or refrain from specific actions. The relief could include requirements to make mortgage payments, sell property, or prohibitions on contacting someone or maintaining a certain physical distance from them. The date the judgment is signed by the court is critical as it typically starts the countdown for various post-judgment deadlines. One of the most important deadlines is for filing a notice of appeal, which must be done within a specific time frame if a party wishes to challenge the court's decision. In North Carolina, the notice of appeal generally must be filed within 30 days of the judgment being entered.