How to remove a civil judgment?

Question

In the year 2000, my ex-boyfriend took off with my car. At the time I was currently laid off and my car insurance had lapsed. He had an accident with my vehicle that I was currently financing. Now it is 2008, and on my credit report it reflects a civil judgment from the company in which my car was financed. How do I go about removing this from my credit report. It is getting in the way of my purchasing a new home.

Answer 1

Bankruptcies and judgments show up on current credit reports for 10 years.  However, these are a matter of "public record" and last forever.  Your great-grandchildren will still be able to access those records.  It cannot be "removed" either.  

However, when did you pay the judgment?  Whatever the court ordered has to be paid in full.  If you repaid it in full in 2000, it will no longer show up on your credit report in 2010.

Also, what kind of credit have you built up other than that?  A paid judgment 8 years old should not have that great an impact if the rest of your report is good.

Answer 2

You don't say if this is a satisfied judgment, or it is still open.

I'm going to assume that it is still open because it is getting in the way of your buying a new home. You have to pay it.  It doesn't matter if it shows on your credit report or not.  A mortgage lender is going to do a public records search before approving you. They will not loan you money because the judgment works like a prior lien on any home you buy, so the home isn't good collateral for a mortgage because the mortgage won't be the first lien.  A judgment will stay out there as long as the creditor keeps renewing it.

Answer 3

Pay the amount of the judgment.  That is the only way,.

Answer 4

Judgments are public records and will show for 7-years or until the statute of limitations runs out whichever is longer and they can be renewed.

You can not remove correct information the only thing you can do is pay the judgment so it will show as paid that should allow you to be approved for your home loan.