The idea of finding yourself with a judgment against you is a scary thought. You will be legally obligated to pay the debt; otherwise, you’ll find yourself in trouble with the law.
When you don’t respond, then a judge will resolve the case without your presence, only hearing one side of the story. As a result, you won’t be able to get out of the judgment, because you weren’t able to defend yourself.
At this point, you’ll find yourself with a default judgment. Before you know it, you could find yourself with garnished wages, or even money removed from your bank account without your permission.
No one wants to find themselves in this kind of situation. Therefore, if you receive notice of a default judgment, it’s vital that you take the following steps.
Gather As Much Information As Possible
The process may take as many as several years before a lawsuit occurs. You want to make sure that the debt you’re being forced to pay is, in fact, legitimate. In some cases, you may not actually owe that amount of money, in which case you shouldn’t be required to pay it.
Therefore, it’s crucial that you should gather all of the possible information regarding the judgment from court judgments to validation letters.
Hire a Lawyer
Navigating the legal world alone with a lawyer can be confusing. Consumers are recommended to talk to a lawyer to receive the right legal advice. A little professional advice can make a big difference in being able to get out of the judgment.
Although a lawyer may cost an initial fee, it will cost a lot less money in the big picture than having to pay your judgment. In some cases, you may even be able to qualify for a free or reduced-cost consultation.
Take Action
Once you’ve gathered enough information and advice, then you should decide how you want to move forward, You can either choose to accept the judgment if you’ve decided that it’s legitimate. Otherwise, you may choose the option of settling the judgment for less than the original amount.
In some cases, you may decide that challenging the judgment works in your favor if you have enough proof against it. Otherwise, your final option may be pursuing debt relief.
Ultimately, if you do, in fact, owe the money, accepting the judgment is the best road to take. You can either opt to pay in full with a lump sum, or you may find yourself facing garnished wages.
The most important thing to keep in mind when handling a default judgment is to act quickly. When you allow it to go on, you’ll only find yourself in worse trouble.