What would happen if you got a judgment against you for 1 million dollars...

Unless its the IRS, nobody can make you pay anything. Especially if you aren’t able.

It becomes a lien against any current or future property interest (inheritance, gambling/lottery winnings, home & land value, etc.); and allows garnishment of wages & benefits.

In other words, you cannot visibly own anything again in any place that will honor the ruling of the court responsible.

I would think your wages could get garnished. Do we have a lawyer jelly?

In some states your house is protected, but you might need to be in the house already before the judgement. I would think so. That’s why people move to Florida when they are being sued.

Some judgements can be discharged through bankruptcy. Some cannot.

You would need a lawyer take action, but here is some general information – Experian – Does Bankruptcy Get Rid of Judgments?

I would a lien on everything you own and not release it until I was satisfied.

I would make your life as misérable as I legally could.

@elbanditoroso ;(

Make payment arrangements while I find two more jobs. Liquidate assets to knock down the balance. Like student loans your tax returns automatically are applied presumably. Maybe seek a loan if it bothered me to have on public records.

I hope this is hypothetical. You’re scaring me with that million number.

I’d laugh my ass off!

Can you share what this is about or would you prefer not to?

Just wondering. I watch court TV and the judges so casually hand out “Judgement for the _____ for $5,000.”
I think “Jebus. I would have a panic attack!” That’s no small amount to me.
Then I thought “What if it was MORE than that? What if it was outside of the average person’s ability to pay?”
So just musing @janbb.

Oh good – I’m relieved.

I was once sued for a large amount of money for being at fault in a car accident but the car was insured by our business which covered the amount of the settlement eventually. it was extremely traumatic though. Of course, I carry personal insurance as well.

That was kinda my question too. Would insurance cover it?

@Dutchess_III It would depend on what the suit was and what kind of coverages and limits you have. The insurance company paid for the lawyer too. You can be sued for an amount above the limits of your liability coverage but often a settlement is made.

Insurance covers it if you have the right coverage. When something happens that a lawyer thinks is lawsuit worthy one of the first things they do is see if the other party has insurance and how much insurance.

”In some states your house is protected, but you might need to be in the house already before the judgement. I would think so. That’s why people move to Florida when they are being sued.”
That makes no sense.

@Dutchess_III OJ Simpson moved to Florida before the judgement on the civil suit against him. All of us down here were saying probably to protect some of his millions.

Trump moved two years ago. Maybe that’s part of the reason besides taxation.

In Florida your primary domicile is protected. Only a handful of states have that protection with no limit. I think the state you live in is one of them.

@JLeslie but the Trumpster has the other problem if he wants to live at Mar-a-lago—the zoning document that he signed doesn’t allow that.

He’s got some issues.

@elbanditoroso I heard about that. I thought maybe there would be a loophole like a resort manager is allowed to live in the premises. I figure he’ll just buy a small property in Florida. If it was illegal for him to make Mar-a-Lago his residence then he voted illegally in the state of Florida.