Credit Card Lawsuits
What Can Happen to Me With a Credit Card Lawsuit in Florida?
- Cloud title on your homestead property
If you own a home, a judgment can cloud the title on your HOMESTEAD. Your homestead is protected from a forced sale by this type of creditor. However, you may have difficulty selling or refinancing your property unless you obtain a full or partial release.
- Garnish/freeze/take your bank account(s)
A creditor can garnish your bank account. This can happen years after the judgment or very soon after the judgment.
- Seize any “non-exempt” property from you
A judgment creditor can force the sale of any non-exempt property that you own. Generally, they do this with a “writ of execution.” They send the sheriff or constable out to your property to search for non-exempt property that can be seized.
- Put the judgment on your credit report for 10 years
A judgment is usually reported as a “public record” on your credit report similar to a Bankruptcy. Often this type of record is very detrimental to a credit report because bad debts are supposed to be removed from your credit report after 7 years from the final payment to the original creditor. A judgment, however, can stay on for 10 years or more.