When does an order or judgment take effect?

When determining when an order or judgment takes effect, it's vital to understand the general principles governing legal decisions. An order or judgment typically takes effect immediately as it is pronounced by the judge in court, unless there is a specific provision stated otherwise in the ruling. This means that once the judge delivers the decision, it holds legal weight right away.

In practice, parties must comply with the court’s order following the pronouncement, regardless of whether the formal written order has been entered into the court records. The purpose of this immediacy is to ensure that the enforcement of legal decisions is prompt and equitable, especially in family law matters where delays can significantly impact the parties involved, particularly in cases affecting children.

While there are some circumstances where an order may have delayed effectiveness, such as the issues surrounding stays of enforcement, those are specific to particular situations and not the general rule. Thus, the notion that an order only takes effect after it is entered or requires agreements from involved parties does not apply to the standard principle of immediate effect upon pronouncement.