cognovit
/kɑɡˈnoʊvɪt/
noun
- A legal document in which a defendant admits that the plaintiff's claim is just and agrees to allow judgment to be entered against them without a trial.
- The debtor signed a cognovit, allowing the bank to obtain a judgment immediately.
- In some states, a cognovit clause in a contract lets the lender get a court judgment without notifying the borrower.
- The lawyer advised her client not to sign a cognovit because it waived his right to defend himself in court.
Synonyms