Judgment
A court ruling that legally confirms you owe a debt to a creditor. Judgments can appear on your credit report and allow creditors to pursue wage garnishment or bank levies to collect. Civil judgments were largely removed from credit reports in 2017–2018 by the three major bureaus, but some state records may still appear.
Related guides
- Full credit & FICO® glossary
Browse all defined terms by category.
- Collections
When a creditor turns an overdue debt over to a collection agency after the borrower fails to pay. Collection accounts are reported to credit bureaus and remain for seven years from the original delinquency date. Paying a collection removes your legal obligation but typically doesn't remove the account from your report.
- Credit Report
A detailed record of your credit history maintained by each of the three major credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion, Equifax). Contains personal information, account history, payment records, public records, and credit inquiries.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judgment
What does Judgment mean?
A court ruling that legally confirms you owe a debt to a creditor. Judgments can appear on your credit report and allow creditors to pursue wage garnishment or bank levies to collect. Civil judgments were largely removed from credit reports in 2017–2018 by the three major bureaus, but some state records may still appear.
Is Judgment important for my FICO® score?
Understanding Judgment helps you manage your credit profile more effectively, which in turn supports a stronger FICO® score.