This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.
If a default has been entered against you in a family law case, meaning the court noted that you failed to respond or show up, you are not automatically stuck with it. You can ask the court to set aside, or cancel, that default. To do this, you need to show the court "good cause," which means you need a solid reason why you missed the deadline or hearing.
If the case has gone further and the court already issued a default judgment against you, meaning a final decision was made without your input, you can still ask the court to undo it. This second situation is handled under a different rule, Rule 805, which lays out specific reasons the court will accept for canceling a judgment. These might include things like not being properly notified about the case, a mistake, or new evidence that was not available before.
The key difference is timing. Asking to cancel a default is easier and happens before a final judgment is made. Asking to cancel a judgment after it's already final is a bigger step and requires meeting the stricter requirements in Rule 805.
