How Do I Find Out If I Have Any Judgments Against Me? (2024)

Table of Contents
Learn what a judgment means for you Find out if you have a judgment against you Call the court Check the mail Look for wage garnishment How to look up judgments against you online Check Your Case Status in All 50 States Don't search your credit report for a judgment How to handle a judgment What is SoloSuit? Respond with SoloSuit How to Answer a Summons for debt collection in all 50 states Guides on how to resolve debt with every debt collector Resolve your debt with your creditor Settle your medical debt Guides on arbitration Stop calls from debt collectors Federal debt collection laws can protect you Get debt relief in your state Debt collection laws in all 50 states Statute of limitations on debt state guides Check the status of your court case How to stop wage garnishment in your state Other wage garnishment resources How to settle a debt in your state How to settle with every debt collector Other debt settlement resources Personal loan and debt relief reviews How to repair and improve your credit score How to resolve student loan debt Civil law legal definitions Get answers to these FAQs on debt collection How-to debt guides Learn more with these additional debt resources Not sued yet? Use our Debt Validation Letter. It only takes 15 minutes. And 50% of our customers' cases have been dismissed in the past. FAQs

Chloe Meltzer | June 05, 2024

How Do I Find Out If I Have Any Judgments Against Me? (1)

Legal Expert
Chloe Meltzer, MA

Chloe Meltzer is an experienced content writer specializing in legal content creation. She holds a degree in English Literature from Arizona State University, complemented by a Master’s in Marketing from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo.

Edited by Hannah Locklear

How Do I Find Out If I Have Any Judgments Against Me? (2)

Editor at SoloSuit
Hannah Locklear, BA

Hannah Locklear is SoloSuit’s Marketing and Impact Manager. With an educational background in Linguistics, Spanish, and International Development from Brigham Young University, Hannah has also worked as a legal support specialist for several years.

How Do I Find Out If I Have Any Judgments Against Me? (3)

Summary: If you suspect you’ve been sued and have a judgment against you, try searching for it online with our handy list of state court case search tools. You can also call the court, search your mail, and check to see if your wages have been garnished to see if you have any judgments ordered against you.

Whenever you borrow money, whether it is a loan or in the form of a line of credit, you will be required to repay it. Sometimes life happens. If you are not able to pay back the money that was loaned to you, it can end up in a lawsuit.

After a successful debt lawsuit, the creditor or lender who brought forth the lawsuit may win the case when the court orders a judgment against you. Judgments are not to be taken lightly and can greatly impact your finances for years to come. The worst situation is being caught with an outstanding judgment that you are unaware of.

Finding out if there is any form of judgment against you is a great first step in sorting out your finances and getting back on track.

Learn what a judgment means for you

When a judgment is filed against you, you will usually be given a variety of notices. This means that, although it may be difficult for a judgment to be filed against you without you knowing, it is still not impossible.

Typically a Summons will be sent to you by mail, or “served” to you in person. The Summons will let you know when you need to show up in court, or the date by which you need to file a response. If you do not abide by these guidelines, then a default judgment will be entered against you. Default judgments are the last situation you want to be in and are easy to avoid, simply by responding to the Summons.

If a default judgment is granted in a debt collection case against you, the debt collector will have the right to garnish your wages or even seize your property. This is why it’s extremely important to respond to a debt lawsuit as soon as you’re notified of it.

Here’s an example of a default judgment and what it might look like (note: legal documents vary by state):

How Do I Find Out If I Have Any Judgments Against Me? (4)

See Also
Judgments No Longer Appear on a Credit Report - ExperianDo Judgments Show Up on Your Credit Report? | Chase

Avoid default judgments with SoloSuit.

Find out if you have a judgment against you

There are several ways you can find out if a judgment has been ordered against you. You can call the court, check the mail, or check your bank account for wage garnishment. Below, we break down each of these methods a little further.

Call the court

If you received a summons, or you were served, and you did not appear in court, then you most likely can assume there is a judgment against you. This can be checked by simply calling the court on the summons.

Check the mail

It is also good to note that you will typically be notified when a judgment is entered against you by mail. In some cases when you have changed addresses, or mail is lost, then you may not be aware.

Look for wage garnishment

Another way you may be notified of a judgment would be through wage garnishment. This means that you may notice the creditor or a collection agency removing funds from each of your paychecks to pay off your debt.

How to look up judgments against you online

The easiest way to find out if you have been sued for a debt, and more importantly, if there are any judgments against you is to look it up online. Nearly all 50 states have a court case search tool you can use to find past and pending lawsuits against you.

All you have to do is search your name, and most court case search tools will be able to locate your lawsuit in the court records. The table below contains a link to each state’s case search tool, if available:

Check Your Case Status in All 50 States
State Case Lookup Tool
Alabama Unavailable: check county
Alaska Alaska Case Search
Arkansas Arkansas Case Search
Arizona Arizona Case Search
California Unavailable: check county list
Colorado Colorado Case Search
Connecticut Connecticut Case Search
Delaware Delaware Case Search
Florida Florida Case Search
Georgia Georgia Case Search
Hawaii Hawaii Case Search
Idaho Idaho Case Search
Illinois Illinois Case Search
Indiana Indiana Case Search
Iowa Iowa Case Search
Kansas Kansas Case Search
Kentucky Kentucky Case Search
Louisiana Unavailable: check county
Maine Maine Case Search
Maryland Maryland Case Search
Massachusetts Massachusetts Case Search
Michigan Michigan Case Search
Minnesota Minnesota Case Search
Mississippi Mississippi Case Search
Missouri Missouri Case Search
Montana Montana Case Search
Nebraska Nebraska Case Search
Nevada Unavailable: check county
New Hampshire New Hampshire Case Search
New Jersey Unavailable: check county
New Mexico New Mexico Case Search
New York New York Case Search
North Carolina North Carolina Case Search
North Dakota North Dakota Case Search
Ohio Unavailable: check county
Oklahoma Oklahoma Case Search
Oregon Oregon Case Search
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Case Search
Rhode Island Rhode Island Case Search
South Carolina South Carolina Case Search
South Dakota South Dakota Case Search
Tennessee Tennessee Case Search
Texas Unavailable: check county list
Utah Unavailable: check county
Vermont Vermont Case Search
Virginia Virginia Case Search
Washington Washington Case Search
West Virginia Unavailable: check county
Wisconsin Wisconsin Case Search
Wyoming Wyoming Case Search

Don't search your credit report for a judgment

Although you may believe that you can check for a judgment by pulling your credit report, this is not the case. To see this, you would need to run a judgment search through a title company or go through the county recorder's office. This may show a debt, but it will not show a judgment. Most often a judgment can last up to 20 years, so finding out sooner than later is your best bet.

Use SoloSuit to respond to debt collection lawsuits fast.

How to handle a judgment

If you have found that you have a judgment against you, it is important to act fast. Judgments can mean loss of wages, money, or property. Overall it can cause you trouble when it comes to obtaining insurance, obtaining loans, or renting a house.

If you can, respond to a lawsuit before a judgment occurs. Debt collectors can often help you by coming to an agreement. Your best bet is to avoid the point of being sued altogether before it's too late. SoloSuit can help you fight off debt collectors, no matter what stage in the collections process you find yourself.

What is SoloSuit?

SoloSuit makes it easy to fight debt collectors.

You can use SoloSuit to respond to a debt lawsuit, to send letters to collectors, and even to settle a debt.

SoloSuit's Answer service is a step-by-step web-app that asks you all the necessary questions to complete your Answer. Upon completion, we'll have an attorney review your document and we'll file it for you.

Respond with SoloSuit

Get Started


>>Read the FastCompany article: Debt Lawsuits Are Complicated: This Website Makes Them Simpler To Navigate

How Do I Find Out If I Have Any Judgments Against Me? (5)

>>Read the NPR story on SoloSuit. (We can help you in all 50 states.)

How Do I Find Out If I Have Any Judgments Against Me? (6)

How to Answer a Summons for debt collection in all 50 states

Here's a list of guides on how to respond to a debt collection lawsuit in each state:

The Ultimate 50 State Guide

Guides on how to resolve debt with every debt collector

Are you being sued by a debt collector? We’re making guides on how to resolve debt with each one.

Resolve your debt with your creditor

Some creditors, banks, and lenders have an internal collections department. If they come after you for a debt, Solosuit can still help you respond and resolve the debt. Here’s a list of guides on how to resolve debt with different creditors.

Settle your medical debt

Having a health challenge is stressful, but dealing medical debt on top of it is overwhelming. Here are some resources on how to manage medical debt.

Guides on arbitration

If the thought of going to court stresses you out, you’re not alone. Many Americans who are sued for credit card debt utilize a Motion to Compel Arbitration to push their case out of court and into arbitration.

Below are some resources on how to use an arbitration clause to your advantage and win a debt lawsuit.

Stop calls from debt collectors

Do you keep getting calls from an unknown number, only to realize that it’s a debt collector on the other line? If you’ve been called by any of the following numbers, chances are you have collectors coming after you, and we’ll tell you how to stop them.

Federal debt collection laws can protect you

Knowing your rights makes it easier to stand up for your rights. Below, we’ve compiled all our articles on federal debt collection laws that protect you from unfair practices.

Debt collection laws in all 50 states

Debt collection laws vary by state, so we have compiled a guide to each state’s debt collection laws to make it easier for you to stand up for your rights—no matter where you live.

Statute of limitations on debt state guides

Like all debt collection laws, the statute of limitations on debt varies by state. So, we wrote a guide on each state’s statutes. Check it out below.

Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection by State (Best Guide)

Check the status of your court case

Don’t have time to go to your local courthouse to check the status of your case? We’ve created a guide on how to check the status of your case in every state, complete with online search tools and court directories.

How to stop wage garnishment in your state

Forgot to respond to your debt lawsuit? The judge may have ordered a default judgment against you, and with a default judgment, debt collectors can garnish your wages. Here are our guides on how to stop wage garnishment in all 50 states.

Other wage garnishment resources

How to settle a debt in your state

Debt settlement is one of the most effective ways to resolve a debt and save money. We’ve created a guide on how to settle your debt in all 50 states. Find out how to settle in your state with a simple click and explore other debt settlement resources below.

How to settle with every debt collector

Not sure how to negotiate a debt settlement with a debt collector? We are creating guides to help you know how to start the settlement conversation and increase your chances of coming to an agreement with every debt collector.

Other debt settlement resources

Personal loan and debt relief reviews

We give a factual review of the following debt consolidation, debt settlement, and loan organizations and companies to help you make an informed decision before you take on a debt.

How to repair and improve your credit score

Debt has a big impact on your credit. Below is a list of guides on how to repair and improve your credit, even while managing major debt.

How to resolve student loan debt

Struggling with student debt? SoloSuit’s got you covered. Below are resources on handling student loan debt.

Civil law legal definitions

You can represent yourself in court. Save yourself the time and cost of finding an attorney, and use the following resources to understand legal definitions better and how they may apply to your case.

Get answers to these FAQs on debt collection

How-to debt guides

Learn more with these additional debt resources


Not sued yet?

Use our Debt Validation Letter.


Out Debt Validation Letter is the best way to respond to a collection letter. Many debt collectors will simply give up after receiving it.


Let's Do It


It only takes 15 minutes.

And 50% of our customers' cases have been dismissed in the past.


"Finding yourself on the wrong side of the law unexpectedly is kinda scary. I started researching on YouTube and found SoloSuit's channel. The videos were so helpful, easy to understand and encouraging. When I reached out to SoloSuit they were on it. Very professional, impeccably prompt. Thanks for the service!" - Heather

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How Do I Find Out If I Have Any Judgments Against Me? (2024)

FAQs

How Do I Find Out If I Have Any Judgments Against Me? ›

To search for the status of a judgment or verify that a judgment has been satisfied, visit the New Jersey Courts website.

Read On ›
Can a creditor get a judgement without me knowing? ›

Although it shouldn't happen, people have judgments entered against without their knowledge frequently. It may happen if you did not receive the original summons in the mail or you recently moved addresses.

Discover More Details ›
How do I know if a debt collector is suing me? ›

If you're being sued, you'll receive official court papers

If you are being sued, you'll receive at least two documents. One is called a Summons and the other a Complaint. These documents are typically handed to you or might be left with someone 18 years or older at your home, work, or mailing address.

Continue Reading ›
Will a judgement be removed once paid? ›

You paid the debt: Credit agencies will remove the judgment from your credit report if you can show that you did pay your debt on time. If you paid your debt after the judgment was established on your credit report, the agency won't remove the judgment. But it will mark your debt as paid, which is helpful.

See Details ›
How long after judgment can you enforce? ›

Collecting the Judgment 30 days after the debtor was served you can obtain a Writ of Execution (EJ-130). If the debtor does not file a motion to vacate the judgment in those 30 days, then your California judgment is finalized and you can begin collecting.

Find Out More ›
Can there be judgement against me without my knowledge? ›

If your wages are being garnished unexpectedly, you might be facing a judgment from a debt collection lawsuit that you weren't aware of.

Tell Me More ›
Do Judgements show up on a credit report? ›

You don't have to worry about judgments affecting your credit score directly, as they don't appear on your credit report. However, to maintain good standing with lenders and other financial institutions, it's essential to pay back your debts when you can.

Show Me More ›
Do judgements go away? ›

Most judgments (the court order saying what you're owed) expire in 10 years. This means you can't collect on it after 10 years. To avoid this, you can ask the court to renew it.

Explore More ›
How long can a judgement stay on your credit? ›

A credit reporting company generally can report most negative information for seven years. Information about a lawsuit or a judgment against you can be reported for seven years or until the statute of limitations runs out, whichever is longer. Bankruptcies can stay on your report for up to ten years.

Continue Reading ›
How do you pay off a judgment? ›

There are three ways to pay a judgment:
  1. Pay directly to the court.
  2. Pay directly to the person you owe.
  3. Arrange to make monthly payments.

Show Me More ›

What is a pocket judgment? ›

Definition: Pocket judgment is a term used in history to refer to the Statute Merchant, which was a law created in the 13th century to help secure and recover debts. It allowed for a commercial bond to be established, which, if not paid on time, could result in swift execution on the debtor's lands, goods, and body.

Read The Full Story ›
How long does it take to finish judgment? ›

When focusing on the main objectives, Judgment is about 27½ Hours in length. If you're a gamer that strives to see all aspects of the game, you are likely to spend around 98½ Hours to obtain 100% completion.

See Details ›
How do you get around a judgement? ›

There are three things you can try to do to deal with a judgement if you can't pay:
  1. Try to negotiate a voluntary payment plan with the creditor.
  2. File to have the judgment vacated.
  3. File bankruptcy to discharge the debt.
Jul 17, 2023

Get More Info Here ›
How do I protect my bank account from creditors? ›

Opening a Bank Account That No Creditor Can Touch. There are four ways to open a bank account that no creditor can touch: (1) use an exempt bank account, (2) establish a bank account in a state that prohibits garnishments, (3) open an offshore bank account, or (4) maintain a wage or government benefits account.

Continue Reading ›
How do I avoid a judgment collection? ›

Here are four ways to avoid paying a judgment: 1) Use asset protection tools such as an asset protection trust, 2) use legal exemptions, 3) negotiate with the creditor, 4) file for bankruptcy.

View More ›
What makes someone judgment proof? ›

In layman's terms, a person is judgment proof when they have no collectable income or assets. In this case, it makes no sense for a creditor to take that person to court, because even if the creditor wins the suit and obtains a judgment, the creditor will not be able to collect.

View Details ›
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