Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Florida

Re: lawsuits and Judgments

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You do not have to pay a judgment but the judgment holder may pursue payment while it remains alive which is currently ten years with the right to renew the judgment for one (1) additional ten year period. The judgment will make getting any form of credit much more difficult and, if available, more expensive.

An open judgment may stop you from buying a home or a car or other high ticket item where credit is needed. Bad credit may also affect you if you apply for a job and your credit history is checked or if the potential employer should search the public records.

Please remember that interest will accrue on the unpaid judgment until it is satisfied. What starts out as a reasonable sum may become much more costly over the course of time.

Scott R. Jay, Esq.