Unpaid judgments are problems that linger for years. A bankruptcy discharge voids most judgments, preventing a creditor from collecting on the judgment in the future. If you own real estate, a judgment lien may also exist, which is not automatically voided. In many cases, judgment liens can be removed or reduced in bankruptcy.
Judgments
An unpaid judgment can linger over a person for years. Bankruptcy can void and remove many ordinary judgments, particularly those to collect unsecured debts such as credit cards, medical bills and repossession deficiencies. A bankruptcy discharge can stop collection of a judgment permanently.
We discuss Judgments in more detail on the following pages:
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Bankruptcy to Remove Unpaid Judgments
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Avoiding Judgment Liens with Bankruptcy
A judgment is effective as a lien against all of the judgment debtor's real property in the county of the judgment or any other county where the judgment has been transcribed into the official records. The lien is effective both with respect to property owned at the time of the judgment, as well as property acquired after the judgment. A bankruptcy discharge will void the future application of a judgment, preventing it from attaching to property acquired after bankruptcy. However, a discharge does not itself get rid of an existing judgment lien.