You may not be as misfortunate as you think, and that could cost you.  Sometimes people come into money:  you could win the lottery, inherit a fortune, or simply land a decent-paying job.  Such good luck could be bad news if you have a judgment waiting to collect. A judgment may not mean much when you are broke and cannot afford to pay, but it will cost you later if you do come into money. A judgment is a lien good for twenty years.  Often creditors seek judgments not because they expect to collect right away.  Should you come into money within that twenty-year timeframe, you may never see it.  That judgment means the creditor can garnish your account without warning—whoosh!  It is gone!  Just when you thought you were turning things around, you are back to very little money. Seek good legal counsel if you are facing a judgment or heavy monetary fine.  A legal defense may be able to fit the penalty to your best possible outcome. Read More