A default judgment may be issued in a civil case when the statutory conditions for default proceedings are met. If the defendant did not receive proper notice because the court used an incorrect address, the procedural consequences depend on the notification record, the reason for non-attendance and the merits of the proposed objection.
Check the case materials first
- the address used by the court and its source;
- postal records, returned envelopes, electronic-notice data and other evidence of service;
- the date on which the defendant actually received a copy of the judgment;
- the claim, judgment and evidence relevant to a defence on the merits.
Application to set aside a default judgment
Under Article 237 of the Russian Civil Procedure Code, the defendant may apply to the court that issued the default judgment within seven days after receiving its copy. The application must identify the court and applicant, explain the reasons for non-attendance that could not be reported in time, provide supporting evidence, and state circumstances and evidence that could affect the judgment.
When may the court set it aside?
Article 242 provides that the judgment is to be set aside where the absence was caused by valid reasons that could not be communicated to the court in time, and the defendant relies on circumstances and evidence capable of affecting the decision. An incorrect address can be relevant evidence, but the assessment is based on the full record.
If the application is refused
The defendant may use the statutory appeal route. The applicable time limits and calculation of time depend on the procedural step and delivery of the judicial act. Do not assume that an application to set aside automatically preserves every appellate deadline.
Legal framework
The guide reflects Chapter 22 and Articles 237–244 of the Civil Procedure Code in force in 2026. Current procedural rules and the individual case record should be checked before filing.