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After hearing all the evidence, the Magistrate will either dismiss the case or enter a Judgment against the losing party. A Judgment is basically an official statement by a Court that one person (the one winning the Judgment) is entitled to collect a certain amount of money from another person (the one the Judgment is against).

The Magistrate may make a decision right away, with everyone still in Court. The Magistrate could take more time, and send a copy of the decision to each party a few days after the hearing. A Magistrate doesn?t have a specific time limit to reach a decision. However, almost all will be done within 60 days and most within 30 days.

If a Judgment for a certain amount of money is entered against a person, the Magistrate may decide that it can be paid off in installment payments. A person who is being sued, and who expects the Magistrate to enter a Judgment against him or her in some amount, may want to request that installment payments be arranged. As a part of the Magistrate?s decision one or the other of the parties will be ordered to pay the court costs. As a rule, the losing party is ordered to pay court costs. However, the Magistrate could choose to divide the costs between the parties in any way the Magistrate believes to be fair.

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