Last amended July 1, 2012 · Last verified July 1, 2026
In one sentenceRule 58 requires the court to promptly prepare and sign a judgment for the clerk to journalize, requires the clerk to notify the parties once that happens, and makes clear that entry of judgment isn't delayed by the taxing of costs.
1Subject to the provisions of Rule 54(B), upon a general verdict of a jury, upon a decision announced, or upon the determination of a periodic payment plan, the court shall promptly cause the judgment to be prepared and, the court having signed it, the clerk shall thereupon enter it upon the journal. A judgment is effective only when entered by the clerk upon the journal.
2Approval of a judgment entry by counsel or a party indicates that the entry correctly sets forth the verdict, decision, or determination of the court and does not waive any objection or assignment of error for appeal.
When the court signs a judgment, the court shall endorse thereon a direction to the clerk to serve upon all parties not in default for failure to appear notice of the judgment and its date of entry upon the journal. Within three days of entering the judgment upon the journal, the clerk shall serve the parties in a manner prescribed by Civ.R. 5(B) and note the service in the appearance docket. Upon serving the notice and notation of the service in the appearance docket, the service is complete. The failure of the clerk to serve notice does not affect the validity of the judgment or the running of the time for appeal except as provided in App.R. 4(A).
Entry of the judgment shall not be delayed for the taxing of costs.
Amendment History
Effective Date: July 1, 1970
Amended: July 1, 1971; July 1, 1989; July 1, 2012
Staff Note (July 1, 2012 Amendment)
Division (A) has been subdivided in order to add Civ.R. 58(A)(2) which is a restatement of Rule 7(B) of the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio. The provision is more appropriately included within the civil rules governing the conduct of actions.
The July 1, 1997 Commentary to Sup. R. 7 stated in pertinent part:
[T]he rule was added in 1995 and is intended to address the decision of the Eighth District Court of Appeals in Paletta v. Paletta (1990), 68 Ohio App.3d 507. In Paletta, the court of appeals held that the appellant waived any objection to the judgment of the trial court when his attorney signed a proposed judgment entry and failed to file objections as required by local rule of court, notwithstanding the attorney’s assertion that he did not intend to approve the entry but only to acknowledge its receipt. The 1995 amendment indicates that a party’s approval of a proposed judgment entry only reflects agreement that the entry correctly sets forth the decision of the court and does not constitute a waiver of any error or objection for purposes of appeal.
Plain-English Summary
Division (A) requires the court, subject to Rule 54(B), to promptly prepare a judgment upon a jury's general verdict, an announced decision, or a determination of a periodic payment plan, and to sign it so the clerk can enter it upon the journal -- a judgment takes effect only once the clerk journalizes it, not merely when it's signed or filed. When counsel or a party approves a judgment entry, that approval indicates only that the entry correctly reflects the verdict, decision, or determination, not that the party agrees with the underlying ruling. Division (B) requires the court, when it signs a judgment, to direct the clerk to serve notice of the judgment and its entry date on every party not in default for failing to appear; the clerk must complete that service within three days and note it on the appearance docket. Division (C) provides that entry of the judgment is never delayed for the taxing of costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does a judgment take effect?
Only when the clerk enters it upon the journal -- not when the court signs it or files it.
Does approving a judgment entry mean a party agrees with the court's ruling?
No. Rule 58(A) makes clear that approval of the entry's form only confirms it correctly reflects the verdict, decision, or determination, not agreement with the outcome.
Can entry of judgment be held up while the court sorts out costs?
No. Rule 58(C) states that entry of the judgment isn't delayed for the taxing of costs.
Source & verification. The rule text, Effective Date, Amended dates, and Staff Notes are reproduced verbatim from the
official Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure (Ohio R. Civ. P. 58). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Ohio (Ohio Constitution, Art. IV, § 5(B)). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 1, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as:entry of judgmentjournalizationnotice of judgment