What is a judgment?
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In a debt collection lawsuit, a judgment is a court order that allows the debt collector to use stronger tools, like garnishment, to collect the debt.
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.
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.