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What is a judgment?

A judgment is a court order that is the decision in a lawsuit. If a judgment is entered against you, a debt collector will have stronger tools, like garnishment, to collect the debt.

A judgment is an official result of a lawsuit in court. In debt collection lawsuits, the judge may award the creditor or debt collector a judgment against you. You are likely to have a judgment entered against you for the amount claimed in the lawsuit if you:

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

The judge may also award additional fees against you to cover collection costs, interest, and possibly attorney fees. 

Important: Judgments give debt collectors much stronger tools to collect the debt from you. Those tools can include wage or bank account garnishments, as well as putting on a lien on your home.

Tip: Contact a lawyer if you are sued, or if someone has obtained a judgment against you. You may also 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