Money judgment: A judgment where a monetary amount was awarded to you, by a court of law. Money judgments can be awarded in Small Claims, Civil, Family Law - including Divorces and Support Orders, Criminal Restitution and Labor Board Judgments.

judg mentorjudge me \'jej-ment\ n (13 1 a: a formal utterance of an authoritative opinion b: an opinion so pronounced 2 a: a formal decision given by a court b (1): an obligation (as a debt) created by the decree of a court (2): a certificate evidencing such a decree 3 acap: the final judging of mankind by God b: a divine sentence or decision; specif: a calamity held to be sent by God 4 a: the process of forming an opinion or evaluation by discerning and comparing b: an opinion or estimate so formed 5 a: the capacity for judging: DISCERNMENT b: the exercise of this capacity 6: a proposition stating something believed or asserted syn see SENSE - judg men t \jej-ment-el\ a - judg men tal ly \-adv.

as sign ee (Recover and Discover Co.)

Pronunciation: \,a-si-'ne-, e-,si-\ n (14c) 1: a person to whom an assignment is made 2: a person appointed to act for another 3: a person to whom a right or property is legally transferred.

Abstract of Judgment: An official document you get from the court clerk's office which indicates that you have a money judgment against another person. Filing it with the Country Recorder places a lien on real property owned by the judgment debtor.

California Civil Code (CC) and California Code of Civil Procedures (CCP): Books which contain some of California's most widely used substantive and procedural law. They are available at all public libraries and law libraries. They are also available on-line by going to http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html.

Claim of Exemption: A procedure by which a "judgment debtor" can claim that, under federal and/or California law, certain of his money or other property is exempt from collection efforts to satisfy a debt.

Contingency: An event that may or may not occur; a possibility. The condition of being dependent on chance; uncertainty.

Default Judgment: A court decision given to the plaintiff (person who filed suit) when the defendant/debtor/deadbeat fails to show up (that is, defaults).

Discharge: The legal elimination of debt through a bankruptcy case. When a debt is discharged, it is no longer legally enforceable against the debtor, though any lien which secures the debt may survive the bankruptcy case.

Dismissal: The termination of the case without either the entry of a discharge or a denial of discharge; after a case is dismissed, the debtor and the creditors have the same rights as they had before the bankruptcy case was commenced.

Garnish: To attach (legally take) money, usually wages, or commissions, or a bank account, for payment of a debt.

Judgment Creditor: A person to whom money is owed under a court decision.

Judgment Debtor: A person who owes money under a court decision.

Levy: A legal method to seize property or money for unpaid debts under court order. For example, a sheriff can levy on (sell) your automobile if you refuse to pay a judgment.

Order of Examination: A court procedure allowing a judgment creditor to question a judgment debtor about the extent and location of his assets.

Process Server: The person who delivers court papers to a party or witness.

Proof of Service: A document filed in court as evidence that process has been successfully served on a party.

Satisfaction of Judgment: The document filed and entered on the record indicating that a Judgment has been paid.

Subpoena: A court order requiring a witness to appear in court. It must be served on the person subpoenaed to be valid.

Subpoena Duces Tecum: A court order requiring that certain documents be produced in court.

Wage Garnishment: After a judgment has been issued (and the debtor/defendant's time to appeal has elapsed) the court will issue a writ of execution upon the judgment creditor's or Assignee of Record's request. This may then be turned over to a sheriff or marshal with orders to collect (garnish) a portion of the judgment debtor's wages directly from his employer.

Writ of Execution: An order by a court to the sheriff or marshal to collect a specific amount of money due.