What is a judgment?

A judgment is an official result of a lawsuit in court. If a debt collector sues you in court, the judge could award the creditor or debt collector a judgment against you.

Tip

Contact a lawyer if you are sued, or if someone has obtained a judgment against you. You might be able to work out a compromise or settlement by negotiating with the creditor or debt collector before a court makes a judgment. There are several ways to find a lawyer for a debt collection lawsuit.

What are behaviors that make it more likely for a judgment to be entered against me?

You are likely to have a judgment entered against you, requiring you to pay the amount claimed in the lawsuit, if you:

• Ignore the lawsuit
• Don’t respond to the lawsuit in a timely manner

The court can also order you to pay the costs of collecting the debt, interest charges, or attorney fees.

Important: Judgments give debt collectors much stronger tools to collect the debt from you, including wage or bank account garnishments, as well as putting on a lien on your home. A lien is a legal right to the value of your property, and generally liens must be paid off before you sell your home or refinance your mortgage.

Where this page came from

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