§ 171.092.Judgment on Award

This is where an arbitration award turns into something enforceable.

The court enters a judgment or decree conforming to the order. The duty follows automatically from granting confirmation, modification or correction.

The judgment is enforced in the same manner as any other. Execution, abstract, garnishment and the rest of the judgment enforcement machinery become available.

That is the practical reason to seek confirmation. An unconfirmed award is a contract right; a judgment is collectible.

Costs may be awarded. The court may award costs of the application and of the proceedings after the application, and disbursements.

These are the court’s costs, not the arbitration’s. The arbitrators’ fees and the expenses of the arbitration are allocated in the award itself under Section 171.055.

The judgment tracks the order. A modified award is reduced to judgment as modified, which is why Section 171.091(c) directs confirmation of the award as corrected.

Judgments under this chapter are appealable. Section 171.098(a) begins with a judgment or decree entered under the chapter.

The section closes the loop opened by Section 171.081, which gave the court power to enforce the agreement and render judgment on an award.