How long can a Judgement be held against you?

Asked by: Mrs. Alvena Walker  |  Last update: July 29, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (36 votes)

Generally, a lien of judgment expires six years after the entry of judgment unless revived.

Does a judgement against you ever go away?

There are only three ways in which a judgment can be made to go away: paying the debt, vacating the judgment or discharging the debt through bankruptcy.

How long before a debt becomes uncollectible?

Most states or jurisdictions have statutes of limitations between three and six years for debts, but some may be longer. This may also vary depending, for instance, on the: Type of debt. State where you live.

Can a 10 year old debt still be collected?

Old (Time-Barred) Debts

In California, there is generally a four-year limit for filing a lawsuit to collect a debt based on a written agreement.

How long will judgement last?

In most cases, a renewal of judgment will last 10 years, and this can be done repeatedly. The earliest you can re-renew a judgment is after five years, and many people choose to do this to include interest. However, there are other judgments that can only be renewed once after five years.

How long can someone collect on a judgment?

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How to not pay a judgement?

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.

How long does it take to get rid of a Judgement?

A judgment is public information and remains on your credit report for 5 years or until the judgment is rescinded by a court or paid in full.

How long after a judgement can wages be garnished?

And even if the party being sued does respond, many times there is not much of a defense that can be made. 10 days following the judgment, the creditor becomes a judgment creditor and can begin the wage garnishment process.

Can I be chased for a 20-year-old debt?

If you've already been given a court order for a debt

There's no time limit for the creditor to enforce the order. If the court order was made more than 6 years ago, the creditor has to get court permission before they can use bailiffs.

What's the worst a debt collector can do?

Debt collectors are not permitted to try to publicly shame you into paying money that you may or may not owe. In fact, they're not even allowed to contact you by postcard. They cannot publish the names of people who owe money. They can't even discuss the matter with anyone other than you, your spouse, or your attorney.

What is the 11 word phrase to stop debt collectors?

The phrase in question is: “Please cease and desist all calls and contact with me, immediately.” These 11 words, when used correctly, can provide significant protection against aggressive debt collection practices.

Can a debt collector restart the clock on my old debt?

Certain actions, like making a payment, can reset the clock on old debts and give your creditors more time to take legal action against you. Most consumer debts will “expire” after three to six years, meaning a creditor or debt collector can no longer sue you for them.

Should I pay a debt that is 7 years old?

You're not obligated to pay, though, and in most cases, time-barred debts no longer appear on your credit report, as credit reporting agencies generally drop unpaid debts after seven years from the date of the original delinquency.

Does a Judgement fall off after 7 years?

Generally, a lien of judgment expires six years after the entry of judgment unless revived.

How do you reverse Judgement?

If you do not owe the money, you can ask the court to cancel the county court judgment ( CCJ ) or high court judgment. This is known as getting the judgment 'set aside'. You can also do this if you did not receive, or did not respond to, the original claim from the court saying you owed the money.

Can a judgement be renewed after it expires?

California allows the judgment to last ten years and it can be renewed for an additional ten years if the creditor files the required forms in a timely fashion. Failure to renew the judgment prior to the ten-year time limit voids the judgment forever.

Is debt forgiven after 20 years?

Under certain federal programs, it's possible to get your student loans forgiven after 20 years of qualified payments. Private student loans, however, typically don't have forgiveness options, regardless of how long you pay them. Learn about how private student loans work and your options for managing them.

Do I have to repay a debt that is over 6 years old?

If you have made payments towards a debt where the limitation period of six years has already gone by, and no court action has already been taken, the debt is probably unenforceable. Contact us for advice. You also need to check whether any court action has already been taken.

Can a Judgement be removed if paid?

If you realize that the court made a judgment against you fairly, but you pay it off, then the creditor must file an Acknowledgement of Satisfaction of Judgment. You can also file a declaration of that satisfaction of judgment to the court. The court will then report that you satisfied your judgment.

What type of bank account cannot be garnished?

Bank accounts solely for government benefits

Federal law ensures that creditors cannot touch certain federal benefits, such as Social Security funds and veterans' benefits. If you're receiving these benefits, they would be exempt from garnishment.

What is the most they can garnish from your paycheck?

For most types of debts, including credit card bills and medical expenses, creditors can garnish up to 25% of your disposable income (what's left after taxes and other mandatory deductions), or the amount by which your weekly income exceeds 30 times the federal minimum wage, whichever is less.

Can a Judgement be dismissed?

One of the most common methods of getting rid of a judgment is to vacate it. To vacate a judgment, you need to file a motion to ask the judge to vacate the judgment. You also need to tell the judge why you did not respond to any lawsuits raised against you.

How do you beat a Judgement?

Options if you received a judgment
  1. Pay the debt or allow the debt collector to collect the money from you. If you don't pay the debt, the debt collector may try to collect the money. ...
  2. Negotiate to pay off the judgment under better terms. ...
  3. Ask the judge to set aside (cancel) the judgment.

How long to beat Judgement?

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.