Q: Does a judgment HAVE to remain in court records for 10 years in NC?
I had a lien on my property associated with a judgment. The lien was satisfied but the judgment remains in the court records. It expires in 5 months. Is there any way to have it removed immediately, or does it have to expire. The creditor said they will NOT extend the judgement.
A: If you paid the judgment directly to the creditor, send them a letter (use certified mail or priority mail so you have proof of delivery and save a copy of your letter) demanding that they advise the Clerk of Court about the payments you made and advise the Clerk that the judgment is fully satisfied. If they do not do so within thirty days, go to a consumer law attorney for assistance. The judgment will still show in the public record, but the record will show it has been satisfied. The judgment will also still show in the Public Records section of a credit report for 10 years from the date of the judgment, but the credit report should show it as a "paid" civil judgment within a few months after the Clerk has marked the judgment as fully satisfied. There is no expungement for a civil judgment, so yes it has to stay on record even after the underlying debt is paid.
Ben Corcoran agrees with this answer
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