When a defendant does not respond to a legal claim, what is this known as?

When a defendant does not respond to a legal claim, this situation is referred to as a "default." In legal terms, a default occurs when a party fails to respond to a complaint or summons within the time frame set by the court rules. This lack of response can lead to a plaintiff seeking a default judgment, which may grant the plaintiff the relief they are seeking without further contest from the defendant.

Default is a significant concept in civil procedure because it emphasizes the importance of timely responses to legal actions. If a defendant does not participate, the court may assume they do not contest the claims made against them, potentially resulting in a ruling in favor of the plaintiff.

While other terms such as "failure to answer" and "non-response" may describe the absence of a response, they do not carry the formal legal implications that "default" does. "Abandonment" is a less commonly used term in this context and typically refers to a situation where a party ceases to pursue their legal claim rather than failing to respond to it. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify the procedural consequences that arise from a defendant's inaction.