A judgment records search will allow you to obtain information on the financial stability of another individual or business. A judgment is the result of litigation between two parties, which states the court's decision. In most cases, the results you find will tell you whether or not a particular person or entity owes someone money, since most judgments are a command that the losing party must pay monetary compensation to the prevailing party.

In order to get the most benefit, you must first understand judgement records search basics. Keep the following information in mind as you start your judgment search:

1. Make sure you have the right person or entity when you peruse judgment record results.

2. Many court systems provide a free judgement lookup.

3. There are many ways that the results of your judgment records searches can aid your business.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Obtain crucial information for a successful search of court judgement records

In order to obtain accurate results from a judgement search, you must have important information on the individual or company you're checking into. For a business, you need to know the full business name and address. For individuals, it is very helpful to have their full name, including middle name, date of birth and social security number. This information will ensure that the results you find during your search are for the correct individual. If you're pursuing collection against someone, then it's important to know it's the right person.

I recommend: KnowX lists a number of ways that you can use their judgement records search to benefit your business. Lifehacker provides more information on where and how to find court records.

Look for free judgement search options provided by courts

Many state and local courts now provide free judgment searches. Some even have docket entries and detailed information about the parties involved, such as addresses and contact information for their attorneys. Taking advantage of these free options can help you perform the searches on your own rather than hiring a search firm to do the work for you.

I recommend: EzineArticles.com offers suggestions on how to search court records. Wisconsin Circuit Court Access provides case information that is an exact copy of the information in court records. You can also access information on typical court terms and a disclosure policy. Missouri's Case.net allows searches by party, date filed and even case number for cases in all Missouri counties.

Take time to understand what the contents of judgment records mean

There is a lot of information contained within public judgment records. In criminal cases, a judgment against someone means conviction of a crime and required completion of the punishment set forth by the judgment. In civil cases, which are typically a lawsuit brought on because someone owes money to a company or individual and will not pay, a judgment determines whether or not the defendant owes the money. If the judgment is in favor of the plaintiff, then the defendant must pay the money, and any additional fees like interest and attorney fees, to the plaintiff as set forth in the judgment.

I recommend: To read more about civil procedure, including the various possibilities for judgment, visit the JRank Law Library. If your judgment records search reveals that the individual who owes you money has a number of judgements against him or her and you want to go after the person, then visit Clearlybusiness for information on that process.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  You may need to perform judgement records searches to verify a potential employee's background, to make sure an investor is reliable or to find information on someone who owes you money.

Protecting your business investment is important, so research court judgement records to avoid a hiring blunder. As a business owner, you want to trust the people you work with, but it can't always be done on a handshake and a promise.

Conduct online research of judgment records to find all you need. Certain public judgment records are even free of charge. It's easy to do a free judgement lookup, but many times the actual detailed record is only accessible for a fee. If something in an application or during an interview with a potential partner makes you curious, perform a search for judgements for your own peace of mind.

1. Locate any civil judgement records which may effect your ability to conduct or pursue business.

2. A judgement search can result in detailed corporate competitor information.

3. A judgement records search can identify bankruptcies and liens, which may persuade you one way or another if considering a contractor, partner, or making an investment.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Feel good about your decision with the help of judgement searches

Your company's success relies on your ability to know who is involved in any aspect of your business. Obtaining knowledge requires a lot of due diligence and research in a timely manner. A free judgement search can get you started.

I recommend: Info Cubic offers many types of searches with instant access to reports, including lien and judgment records, for a fee. USA People Search gives you access to judgement records, tax liens and bankruptcy records going back as far as twenty years for an individual or business.

Find what you can with a public record judgement

Items that are a matter of public record include bankruptcies, liens, criminal records, real estate transactions and any judgements made within a court of law.

I recommend: 50states.com offers links to each US state which can start you on a public records search for the data you need. Sunbiz gives access to corporate and federal judgment liens.

Conduct an online public judgement record search for convenience and expediency

Most public record judgements can be located through free judgement searches. If you are able to identify a county or city where a record may be located, make a phone call to request the information. Online convenience is definitely worth the effort to find out where you should turn next for the records you need.

I recommend: KnowX has a quick search feature that allows you to list one state or multiple states in order to conduct a public records search for an individual or a business. Corra Group searches public county civil records for personal or corporate users.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Free judgement searches are easy to do, but confirm you have the correct record before paying for a detailed record. Verify the spelling of the person or company name as well as the address, if possible, before requesting the file.

Judgement records search education and training can benefit many professional organizations. You may run a law office that researches adverse parties to a case, or you may operate an employment recruitment office that performs routine background checks on potential new hires. In both cases, your work depends upon determining an individual's credit history. Teaching your employees how to perform a search through judgment records will increase your office's productivity.

Start a training program dedicated to performing a free judgement search by explaining why the searches are important and what kinds of information they can provide. It's also useful for employees to know when it becomes necessary to pay for a more specialized report on public judgment records. As you plan your judgement records search education and training program, consider the following approach:

1. Have employees begin with background reading on searches for court judgement records.

2. Reimburse employees for any time they spend at seminars and training classes on public record judgements away from the office.

3. Direct your employees to sources that explain what kind of judgement searches the law allows.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Provide employees with online sources explaining basics on judgement records searches

Employees should understand what kind of information they should look for in these searches. They should also get training on how to read a lien and judgment records report.

I recommend: Info Cubic offers a sample lien and judgment records report. Government Public Records Database explains the Freedom of Information Act, the type of information judgment searches typically locate and how the Internet has made searching for judgment records much easier.

Encourage employees to attend seminars and training classes that address judgement searches

These classes not only offer hands-on training, but they also inform attendees of additional online sources for working with court judgement records that may be difficult to find with common search engines.

I recommend: Training-Classes.com keeps you posted about upcoming classes and seminars that relate to every area of collection work, including paid-for and free judgment searches. The National Business Institute offers classes in continuing legal education for professionals in every field. Learn how to research settlements and uncover hidden assets.

Direct employees to understand the legal guidelines controlling judgement records searches

If they're going to perform judgment searches regularly, your employees will have to know what kind of debt the law allows them to search for and what kind of searches are considered 'abusive' to debtors.

I recommend: Both the FDIC official papers and articles on the Expert Law website explain the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the legal restrictions on collection agencies and what happens if a debt collector oversteps the legal boundaries.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Even if you are an attorney rightfully seeking to collect money that is owed, the law restricts the conduct of your employees in performing civil judgement records searches.

Court judgment records provide details of everything from bankruptcies to tax lien rulings, law suit settlements and more. Many employers perform a judgment records search on a business they may be partnering with, or individuals they wish to hire, to make sure that there are no outstanding liabilities.

Take the time to learn the basics associated with how to perform a judgment search so that you'll be able to successfully conduct one for your business. Here are some resourceful links to get you started. Think of this tutorial as "judgment records search for beginners."

1. Find websites that allow you to complete a free judgment search on companies or individuals.

2. Learn about the various pricing structures associated with searching for judgment records.

3. Locate civil judgment records and public record judgments through a judgment search on databases and state sponsored websites.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Perform a free judgment search on websites dedicated to providing judgment records

There are many search websites that provide access to public records information including any judgments against a business or individual. Take the time to perform these free searches for any parties you wish to check. It should be noted that while the initial searches are usually free, obtaining copies of judgment records and other information might cost additional money.

I recommend: Visit the website for Criminal Info.com and perform a free judgment records search. The website for Public Records Now also allows you to perform a free cursory search of public record judgments.

Educate yourself on the potential cost of searching for judgment records

The number of judgment records searches you need to perform will determine the subscription you order from a judgment record search company. These companies usually offer everything from a one time fee to monthly and yearly subscriptions. Go over these different pricing structures and determine what is the best fit for your business.

I recommend: Go to the website for KnowX.com and read about pricing structures so you can estimate the potential cost. The website for Court Port.com also offers similar information on the pricing structure.

Perform judgment searches on databases that detail court judgment records

Most states have an online database that details any court judgments against individuals or businesses. Utilize that database or go into the county, city or state court where the judgment was rendered to find out more information. You may also use one of several nationwide judgment records databases that are carving out an online presence.

I recommend: Go to the website for the Internet Civil Judgment Registry for further information on how to utilize the database. Also check out the Utah Division of Archives Record Services for an example of how to look up judgments in your state.