Judgement

[cp79]

I've been reading about judgements in my state of New York and I've found that a judgement will stay on my credit report for 10 years. January will mark the 7th year on my report, so I want to pay off this judgement but the company that filled it against me no longer exist. I've also read that I can pay the court and they will mark the judgement satisfied. But I don't want to do this unless the original person is going to get reinbursed. What should I do?

[Anonymous]

I'm not familiar with an ability to "pay the court" the judgement amount.  The judgement is awarded to the plaintiff and the state has no financial interest in it.  They do not act as collection agents, that I am aware of.

[QueenBean]

I'm not an attorney, but any change of re-opening the case because the judgement is impossible to satisfy?

[Anonymous]

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@cp79 wrote:

I've been reading about judgements in my state of New York and I've found that a judgement will stay on my credit report for 10 years. January will mark the 7th year on my report, so I want to pay off this judgement but the company that filled it against me no longer exist. I've also read that I can pay the court and they will mark the judgement satisfied. But I don't want to do this unless the original person is going to get reinbursed. What should I do?

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What you suggest is usually possible in NY, but it is at the court's discretion.

You should document attempts to contact the judgment creditor and / or the judgment creditor's attorney.  If you can show a listed telephone number no longer exists and mail is returned by the Postal Service with no forwarding address, take that to the court clerk and ask them about giving them a check or money order for the full amount of the judgment. 

Most of the time they will ask you to also include a letter addressed to the court and once you give them good funds they will satisfy the judgment and give you a copy.  Sometimes they will do it the same day, but sometimes they ask you to come back in a week or so. 

[Anonymous]

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@QueenBean wrote:
I'm not an attorney, but any change of re-opening the case because the judgement is impossible to satisfy?

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No.  Generally judgments in NY can be vacated only for jurisdictional issues such as defective service.

[Boldilocks]

Because you're in NY (like me), once the judgement is paid it will drop off your reports (because paid collections, charge-offs and judgements drop in 5 years), so you should definitely find a way to pay it if you can!