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If you don't pay your bills for a consumer debt, like for your credit card or cell phone, or fail to make payments for a personal loan or medical bills, the creditor can sue you for the debt they claim you owe. Once the creditor gets a money judgment against you, it can garnish certain kinds of income, levy assets, or place a lien against real estate you own. Even if a creditor gets a money judgment against you, it might not be able to collect on that judgment if you're "judgment proof." You might be judgment proof if you don't have a job and have no future prospects of finding employment, live on government benefits, have few assets, and the money in your bank accounts comes directly from exempt (protected) funds. (State and federal laws protect consumers by limiting how much creditors can garnish from your wages or bank account and how much of your property can be seized. These protected funds and assets are called "exempt.") So, if your income is protected from garnishment and you don't have many or any assets like a house, personal property, or savings to pay off your debts, you're probably judgment proof.
The term "judgment proof" isn't a legal term. In fact, it's a bit of a misnomer because the creditor can sue you and get a judgment. But the creditor can't collect on the judgment. So, you can still have a judgment of record against you, but the creditor can't collect on it. However, most creditors won't bother to sue if they know that you're judgment proof. Instead, a creditor will usually sue another defendant who has assets, income, or property they can garnish, levy, or lien. So, if a creditor is trying you collect from you, but you're judgment proof, notifying that creditor about your judgment-proof status could prevent a lawsuit.
A creditor can get a judgment in two ways after filing a lawsuit against a debtor. First, the creditor can get a judgment after the court decides in favor of the creditor after the debtor responds to the suit by filing an answer. In this situation, the court then enters a judgment for the creditor. Another way a creditor can get a judgment is by filing a lawsuit, but the debtor ignores the suit. The court will then enter a default judgment (basically, an automatic win for the creditor) against the debtor. Again, after a creditor sues you and wins, the court issues a money judgment. A "judgment" is a court order that says the defendant must repay the debt owed. Once the creditor has a money judgment, it can use various methods to collect that judgment. It can garnish your wages, place a levy on your bank account, or place a lien against any real estate you own. However, once you're judgment proof, the creditor can't collect on a judgment by taking your assets or property—unless you voluntarily agree to give it to them.
For example, say you're permanently disabled, unable to work, and don't have a lot of belongings. Your assets are exempt from collection under state law, and you're on Social Security disability payments (SSDI). Because creditors may not garnish these payments and you have no other source of income or assets, you're likely judgment proof.
To recap, generally, you become judgment proof when you:
A judgment creditor will often attempt to levy against your bank account to satisfy a money judgment. The creditor requests that the court issue an order to the bank to freeze the money in your account.
If any of the exempt income noted below is in your bank account and those funds are levied, the judgment creditor and the court who issued the levy must release those funds back to you.
Warning! Don't Comingle Funds
Don't put exempt income in the same bank account with other funds. Keep exempt funds separate. Comingling funds can erase its protection if you can't trace the source of the funds.
If you don't own real estate, a judgment creditor won't be able to place a lien against any real property to satisfy a money judgment. However, if your financial circumstances should change and you're able to buy real estate, that judgment can attach to the property at that time. You won't be able to sell or refinance your property later without the judgment being paid.
A judgment creditor can try to grab your personal property, like your car or jewelry, to satisfy a money judgment. To do so, the judgment creditor must first get a writ of execution from the court that identifies the property it intends to take.
If a creditor has obtained a judgment against you and seeks to enforce it by taking your cash or by seizing and selling other property, you most likely can keep at least some of that property by using exemptions.
Often, a judgment creditor won't attempt to levy your personal property because of the time and expense incurred in locating the property and the added expense of advertising and selling the property.
Generally, the term "judgment proof" is used in conjunction with consumer debt, such as:
However, different rules apply to debts you owe the government or for child or spousal support.
What Is Another Word for Judgment Proof?
Other terms for "judgment proof" include "execution proof" and "collection proof." Sometimes, people also say funds are exempt.
Often, a judgment creditor will seek to garnish your income to satisfy a money judgment. With garnishment, money is taken from your paycheck to pay back the judgment. But a judgment creditor can't take income that you receive from any one or more of the following sources:
Also, federal law limits the amount a judgment creditor can take from your paycheck. The amount that can be garnished is limited to 25% of your disposable earnings (what's left after mandatory deductions) or the amount by which your wages exceed 30 times the federal minimum wage, whichever is less.
Some states set a lower percentage limit for how much of your wages can be garnished.
Certain types of income that senior citizens receive, such as Social Security, are typically exempt from garnishment. Usually, Social Security and ongoing Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments directly deposited in a bank account are exempt from creditors. So, those creditors can't get that money.
However, for SSDI, this general rule has a few exceptions. For example, the federal government can garnish disability income to recover defaulted federal student loan payments (loans the federal government guarantees) or overdue taxes. Also, SSDI income can be garnished to recover child support obligations, alimony, or restitution to a crime victim. Again, though, SSDI payments are usually exempt.
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits are exempt from collection efforts.
Being judgment proof is, in some cases, only a temporary condition. Judgments last a long time, typically several years, and usually can be renewed. Creditors can try to collect on a judgment long after winning a lawsuit against a debtor. If your income increases or your financial status improves, like if you get an inheritance, your judgment-proof status can change. So, even if you're judgment proof, you usually shouldn't ignore your creditors and debts.
If a creditor sues you and you believe you're judgment proof, it's usually a good idea to respond to the lawsuit anyway. You might have a valid defense to the suit, like the statute of limitations has expired.
But in some circumstances, you might not want to respond to the lawsuit. If you agree that you owe the amount claimed in the lawsuit, including interest and fees—and your financial situation won't change—it might make sense to let the creditor get a default judgment instead of paying attorneys' fees and court filing fees to answer the suit. However, talk to an attorney before determining this is the best route.
You'll remain judgment proof for as long as your financial condition stays the same or gets worse. However, if your finances improve, you're no longer judgment proof. Your creditors might then try to collect on judgments.
Consider Filing for Bankruptcy
If you aren't judgment proof, you might be able to escape liability for your debts by declaring bankruptcy. Bankruptcy can often reduce or discharge (eliminate) your debts, possibly prevent a foreclosure, and stop bill collector harassment. It's probably not a good idea to file for bankruptcy to eliminate just one debt, but if you have a lot of unsecured debts, you might want to consider this alternative. Talk to a bankruptcy to learn more about this option.
Having trouble paying your bills? Learn about your options for digging yourself out of debt and how to avoid scams in Nolo's article When You Can't Pay Your Bills: Things to Know.
Learn the different categories of debt and how to manage each of them.
If you are struggling with debt, learn about your options for getting debt relief.
For a comprehensive guide on dealing with financial problems, including how to prioritize debts, budget your money, negotiate with creditors, avoid foreclosure, and more, get Solve Your Money Troubles: Strategies to Get Out of Debt and Stay That Way , by Amy Loftsgordon and Cara O'Neill (Nolo).