Should I File Bankruptcy Before or After a Judgment?

George Simons | December 06, 2023

George Simons
Co-Founder of SoloSuit
George Simons, JD/MBA

George Simons is the co-founder and CEO of SoloSuit. He has helped Americans protect over $1 billion from predatory debt lawsuits. George graduated from BYU Law school in 2020 with a JD-MBA. In his spare time, George likes to cook, because he likes to eat.

Edited by Hannah Locklear

Hannah Locklear
Editor at SoloSuit
Hannah Locklear, BA

Hannah Locklear is SoloSuit’s Marketing and Impact Manager. With an educational background in Linguistics, Spanish, and International Development from Brigham Young University, Hannah has also worked as a legal support specialist for several years.

Summary: Should you file for bankruptcy before or after you receive a judgment? Filing at the wrong moment can cost you time and money! Read more to find out when to file for bankruptcy. Protect your assets by responding to debt collectors with SoloSuit!

When you have a judgment brought against you on a debt, it's never too late to file bankruptcy. But there can be consequences if you wait to file bankruptcy after you receive a judgment. Seek advice from a qualified attorney if you consider bankruptcy. Do this sooner rather than later to avoid limiting your options.

Filing for bankruptcy isn't always the best option for everyone. But if you do decide to file for bankruptcy, you should file before a judgment rather than after!

Filing Bankruptcy Before or After a Judgment

If you file a petition for bankruptcy before a judgment is issued, the automatic stay will stop the lawsuit immediately. And you will avoid destroying your credit score further. It's the best way to deal with a judgment if you plan to file bankruptcy. This is important because once a judgment is filed, it becomes a lien. Filing bankruptcy can discharge the debt. But it will not get rid of the lien.

Respond with SoloSuit to keep from having a judgment filed against you.

Getting Rid of a Judgment Lien

To get rid of the judgment lien, you must put in a petition to the court to cancel it. If you have a bankruptcy attorney, they will do this for you. Your petition can be denied by the court, so if you plan to file bankruptcy, then it is better to do so as soon as possible.

Waiting to File May Mean Losing Assets

Creditors typically work quickly to collect on a judgment. By waiting to file you may lose income by wage garnishment or lose assets by seizure.

Get Your Money Back

Filing bankruptcy can also allow you to get money back that was seized through wage garnishment. You may not be able to recover all of these funds. But it is better than nothing at all.

Avoid wage garnishment by making a defense with SoloSuit.

Call the Bankruptcy Hotline

Dial 888-790-4291. SoloSuit partners with the Free Bankruptcy Advice Helpline.


Are You Eligible to File Bankruptcy?

Some judgments are not dischargeable in bankruptcy, meaning your judgment will not be erased if you file bankruptcy. Non-dischargeable debts might include:

  • Child support
  • Student loans
  • Fraud
  • Restitution
  • Government-owed debts

If you file bankruptcy and owe on a non-dischargeable judgment, you will still be liable for this debt after the bankruptcy case closes. The only exception is if they are paid in full through a Chapter 13 plan.

Act Sooner Than Later

The best way to deal with filing bankruptcy regarding a judgment is to do so before it occurs. Although bankruptcy is not always the best way to go, sometimes it is necessary. The faster you act on your bankruptcy, the sooner it will be resolved.

It is important to evaluate your situation and seek legal counsel for the assessment of your specific case. Remember that the worst thing you can do is to ignore the situation. You must respond promptly and take action to avoid escalation.

Call the Bankruptcy Hotline at 888-790-4291 to get help.

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How it works: SoloSuit is a step-by-step web-app that asks you all the necessary questions to complete your answer. Upon completion, you can either print the completed forms and mail in the hard copies to the courts or you can pay SoloSuit to file it for you and to have an attorney review the document.

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