What is the first step to obtain a default judgment against a defendant?

To obtain a default judgment against a defendant, the first step is to file a motion for a default judgment. This process involves showing the court that the defendant has failed to respond to the complaint within the required time frame. Once this motion is filed, the court can enter a default judgment if it finds that the plaintiff has properly followed the procedural requirements and the defendant is indeed in default.

Filing a motion for a default judgment formalizes the plaintiff's request and initiates the court's involvement in granting a judgment in favor of the plaintiff due to the defendant's lack of response. This step is critical because it sets the legal proceedings in motion and provides the basis for any subsequent actions, such as seeking damages or enforcing the judgment.

Other options like notifying the defendant or contacting the court clerk may be relevant at different points in the process, but they do not constitute the first step necessary to trigger the default judgment process in a structured way. Waiting for the defendant to respond is counterproductive, as it delays the action the plaintiff is seeking and is not aligned with the goal of obtaining a judgment due to the defendant's non-response.