In Alberta, you have twenty days to respond to a Civil Claim once it has been served upon you. If you do not respond, the other party may apply to the Court for a default judgment. A default judgement is a court order giving one side (usually the Plaintiff) an award against the other party, based on the fact that the other party to the lawsuit has failed to defend or respond to the claim against them. If you are worried about getting a default judgement against you, it is a good idea to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible about your options.