Motion to Vacate Default Judgment Template – Free Download 2026

Defendant [____________] ("Defendant") respectfully moves this Court, pursuant to [Rule 55(c) and Rule 60(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure / applicable state court rule], for an order setting aside the default [and default judgment] entered against Defendant on [____________], and for leave to file the Answer and [Affirmative Defenses / Counterclaim] attached hereto as Exhibit A. Plaintiff [____________] filed the Complaint in this action on [____________], asserting claims for [____________]. A summons was issued on [____________]. Defendant was purportedly served on [____________]. Defendant failed to respond within the time required, and the Clerk entered a default on [____________]. [A default judgment in the amount of $[____________] was entered by the Court on [____________].]

Defendant promptly discovered the existence of the default [and default judgment] on [____________] and immediately took steps to retain counsel and file this Motion. Only [____] days have elapsed between the date Defendant discovered the default and the filing of this Motion, demonstrating Defendant's diligence in seeking relief. Defendant respectfully submits that good cause exists to set aside the default and, if applicable, to vacate the default judgment under [Rule 60(b)(1) (mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect) / Rule 60(b)(4) (void judgment) / Rule 60(b)(6) (any other reason justifying relief)], because Defendant has a meritorious defense and because Plaintiff will suffer no prejudice from the vacatur of the default.

Defendant's failure to respond timely resulted from [excusable neglect / good cause] and not from willful disregard or bad faith. Specifically, [Defendant was not properly served with the Summons and Complaint; the process server left the documents with an unauthorized person and no copy was forwarded to Defendant's authorized representative / Defendant was hospitalized from [____________] through [____________] due to [medical condition] and was unable to attend to legal matters during that period / Defendant reasonably believed the matter had been resolved through the settlement discussions conducted with Plaintiff's representatives in [month] / Defendant, a foreign national unfamiliar with the U.S. legal system, received the documents and mistakenly believed they did not require a response within a specific time period]. Defendant's conduct is fully documented in the attached Declaration of [____________].

Courts applying the excusable neglect standard under Pioneer Investment Services Co. v. Brunswick Associates Ltd. Partnership, 507 U.S. 380 (1993), examine: (1) the danger of prejudice to the opposing party; (2) the length of the delay and its potential impact on judicial proceedings; (3) the reason for the delay, including whether it was within the reasonable control of the movant; and (4) whether the movant acted in good faith. All four Pioneer factors weigh in Defendant's favor in this case. The delay was brief; Defendant acted promptly and in good faith upon learning of the default; the reason for the delay was [beyond Defendant's reasonable control / constitutes excusable neglect under the applicable legal standard]; and vacating the default will not prejudice Plaintiff.

To obtain relief from a default, a defendant need only allege facts that, if proven, would constitute a meritorious defense; Defendant need not establish the defense conclusively at this stage. Defendant has multiple meritorious defenses to Plaintiff's claims, as set forth in the proposed Answer attached hereto as Exhibit A: (a) [Plaintiff's breach of contract claim fails because [Defendant fully performed all obligations under the contract / Plaintiff materially breached the contract first, excusing Defendant's performance / the alleged contract is unenforceable for lack of consideration / the statute of limitations bars the claim]]; (b) [Plaintiff's [other claim] fails because [____________]]; and (c) [Defendant has a counterclaim for [____________] that would offset or exceed any recovery by Plaintiff].

Plaintiff will not suffer cognizable prejudice from the vacatur of the default and the opportunity to litigate this case on the merits. The mere fact that Plaintiff would be required to prove its case at trial, rather than collect on an uncontested default judgment, does not constitute legal prejudice. [The default was entered only recently, and no judgment has been entered; / The default judgment has not yet been enforced, and Plaintiff has not incurred enforcement costs; / Discovery has not yet closed, and Plaintiff retains full ability to develop its case.] By contrast, Defendant faces [significant financial consequences / loss of [property / business interests]] if the default judgment is not vacated. The strong judicial preference for resolving disputes on the merits far outweighs any inconvenience to Plaintiff from litigating this action.

WHEREFORE, Defendant [____________] respectfully requests that this Court: (a) set aside the default entered by the Clerk on [____________]; (b) [vacate the default judgment entered on [____________]]; (c) grant Defendant leave to file the Answer and Affirmative Defenses attached hereto as Exhibit A within [____] days of this Court's order; (d) allow the parties to proceed with discovery and resolution of this action on the merits; and (e) grant such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper. A proposed order is attached hereto as Exhibit B for the Court's consideration.