Rule 55.Default.

Once it's shown by affidavit or otherwise that a party has failed to plead or defend as these rules require, the clerk enters that party's default. From there, the clerk itself can enter judgment, without a court hearing, only when the claim is for a sum certain or one made certain by simple computation, the defaulted party isn't an infant or incompetent person, and the plaintiff supports the request with an affidavit of the amount due; every other default judgment requires an application to the court. Default judgment against an infant or incompetent person requires that the person be represented by an appearing guardian or representative served under Rule 17, and a party who has already appeared in the case gets at least 3 days' written notice before a hearing on the default judgment application. Where entering or enforcing the judgment requires taking an account, determining damages, proving an averment, or investigating some other matter, the court can hold hearings or order references as needed, and must give a jury trial where a statute requires one.

For good cause, the court can set aside an entry of default, and, once a default judgment has been entered, can set that aside too under the standards in Rule 60(b). These procedures apply equally whether the party seeking the default judgment is a plaintiff, a third-party plaintiff, or a party who pleaded a cross-claim or counterclaim, and every default judgment remains subject to the limits on relief set out in Rule 54(c). Default judgment against the State, a county, or one of their officers or agencies is barred entirely unless the claimant proves the claim or right to relief with evidence the court finds satisfactory.