| When you see that your credit report has judgment on | | | | Second, even when the lawsuit was properly filed by |
| it, don't despair. There are two steps that you can | | | | the plaintiff against your favor, you can always have |
| adopt to have the judgment removed as soon as | | | | the judgment lifted due to technicalities. There are |
| possible and improve your credit score. | | | | many instances of said technicalities but the most |
| Definition of Judgment | | | | common are the following: |
| But first, definitions are in order. A credit report | | | | * You did not show up for the court date. |
| judgment is simply a court order directing the individual | | | | * You were unable to respond to the court summons |
| to repay a debt. This is probably the most negative | | | | with proper paperwork on hand within the allotted time. |
| item that can appear in your credit report save for a | | | | These instances of technicalities are only applicable if |
| filing of bankruptcy and conviction for a felony. Thus, | | | | and when you can present sufficient justification for |
| you can expect your credit score to take a nosedive | | | | your inability to appear during the court date or |
| precisely because you are now considered a high | | | | respond to the court summons. The judge must agree |
| credit risk. | | | | with your justifications, of course. |
| Also, any mortgage lender will not provide for a new | | | | Again, you may need a lawyer as the steps in this |
| loan on your house until and unless your judgment is | | | | scenario involves court documents specifically a |
| deleted from your credit report. And of course, you | | | | Motion and Declaration to Vacate Judgment and an |
| may have to pay the judgment amount before you | | | | Order to Show Cause, both of which are filled with |
| can avail of the mortgage. | | | | legalese. If you so much as overlook one thing on |
| Removal of Judgment | | | | these documents, your appeal for removal of |
| Or is that true in all instances? Fortunately, no if and | | | | judgment on a technicality will likewise be dismissed on |
| when you know how. You can actually have the | | | | a technicality. With the proper paperwork, the original |
| judgment removed from your credit report even | | | | plaintiff can then be served with court summons. |
| without paying for the amount so ordered to be paid. | | | | Two scenarios will happen. First, you can settle the |
| There are two scenarios that makes such a happy | | | | matter out of court especially when the plaintiff is |
| turn of events - at least, for you - possible. | | | | willing to do so, thanks to their violations of the Fair |
| First, you must look into the process by which | | | | Debt Collection Practices Act. Second, you can go to |
| whoever it is that filed that judgment against you | | | | court and still win under certain circumstances such as |
| employed to secure said court order. If and when you | | | | the plaintiff not showing up and/or unable to show |
| find that the law was not followed in any way, you | | | | proof against your request for dismissal. |
| can ask the courts to have the judgment lifted off | | | | And that is how you have judgment removed from |
| your credit report. As the law on credit report | | | | your credit report! Just be sure to secure the |
| judgments can be on the complicated side, it is often | | | | necessary court documents to present to the credit |
| best to hire a lawyer with expertise in this regard. | | | | bureaus to expedite the process. |