A judgment is a court order, sentence, or decision that has been entered into public record by the court. A judgment can only be entered after a lawsuit has been filed against you. There are different types of judgments.
Default Judgments – If you fail to respond to a law suit or some kind of important motion, a default judgment can be granted against you. For example, if you fail to respond to a claim in the required time and the plaintiff requests a default judgment, the judge can then decide the case in the plaintiff’s favor and enter a default judgment.
Consent Judgments – A consent judgment occurs when both parties enter into a mutual agreement to settle the case. These agreements usually contain payment terms and are binding and enforceable.
Court Ordered Judgments – There are also judgments entered by court after a decision by the jury or judge.
There are several ways a person or company can collect their judgment against you, the debtor. The most common way is to garnish the debtor’s wages or attach the debtor’s bank account or put a lien on the debtor’s real or personal property. If you need help collecting on a judgment or if you believe a judgment has been placed upon you unfairly, contact an attorney immediately.