Judgement Records Search Basics

Know how and where to perform judgement searches to protect your business

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.

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.

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.
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.

• 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.

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