Judgment Searches: Essential Due Diligence for Lenders
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    Judgment Searches: Essential Due Diligence for Lenders

    October 3, 20245 min read

    Lenders who don't search for judgments before extending credit are taking unnecessary risks. Outstanding judgments indicate both financial distress and potential liens that could affect collateral.

    What Judgment Searches Reveal

    Our judgment searches identify:

  1. Outstanding civil judgments
  2. Judgment amounts
  3. Judgment creditors
  4. Filing dates and courts
  5. Satisfaction status
  6. Why It Matters for Lenders

    Lien Priority

    Judgment liens may take priority over subsequent security interests, affecting a lender's ability to recover in default.

    Payment Capacity

    Outstanding judgments and garnishments reduce a borrower's available income for debt service.

    Character Assessment

    Multiple judgments may indicate a pattern of financial irresponsibility.

    Nationwide Coverage

    Our judgment searches cover federal and state courts across all 50 states, providing comprehensive coverage for borrowers who may have moved or done business in multiple jurisdictions.

    Best Practices

    For thorough due diligence, combine judgment searches with UCC searches, tax lien searches, and comprehensive credit analysis.

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