How to Find Lawsuits and Court Judgments Against a Company

The most reliable way to find out whether a company has court judgments or is involved in business lawsuits is by checking official and publicly available records. The first place to search is usually the local or state court database, which is typically found on the court clerk’s webpage or the local or state judiciary’s official website. You can also search federal court records.

If you cannot find what you need through local court database searches, you may request access to judgment records or case files from the county courthouse in person or by mail. The Secretary of State’s business registries are also public sources for information on business lawsuits and judgments. They often include notes on administrative actions or legal filings.

Lawsuits vs. Judgments 

A lawsuit is the legal process one party uses to take another to court. It is a legal case initiated by a party, called the plaintiff, suing another party, known as the defendant, in court. Lawsuits are typically filed to resolve disputes or recover money. A court’s final decision in a lawsuit is called the judgment. It includes the outcome of the lawsuit and states who won the case.

A typical search for lawsuits against companies in public records will reveal details of such cases along with their judgments and several related documents. These documents may include a confession of judgment, abstract of judgment, and satisfaction/release of judgment. They generally show the full legal trail, from a lawsuit to the judgment and court’s resolution.

A confession of judgment is a legal document in which a party agrees in advance to have a judgment entered against them without a full trial, particularly if they cannot meet certain terms. It waives the defendant’s right to defend themselves and serves as proof of accepted liability. When a defendant signs a confession of judgment, normal court proceedings and lengthy legal processes are typically avoided.

An abstract of judgment is another judgment-related document. It summarizes a court’s final decision regarding a lawsuit and is usually filed with a county recorder to create a public record and establish a lien on the losing party’s real property. A typical abstract of judgment states the monetary award granted to the winning party in a legal dispute. It includes details such as court costs, the interest rate applicable to the judgment amount, and any other specific directives for the losing party.

A satisfaction/release of judgment is a document indicating that the full amount due on a judgment has been settled or paid in full. It is typically signed by a judgment creditor and filed with the court, serving as a receipt for full payment and formally closing the case with the court.

Where Lawsuits and Judgments Live in Public Records

Here are some public sources that hold records of lawsuits against companies and judgments, as well as court-related documents:

• County Recorder (Property Records) - The county recorder or recorder of deeds office in the county where a company or its owners own real property maintains abstracts of judgment, satisfaction/release of judgment, deeds, and liens. These documents can be used to find judgments that have been turned into property liens.
• Local/State Courts - Case filings, civil case dockets, judgments, court orders, satisfaction/release of judgment, and abstracts of judgment are all available at local or state courts. You may access these documents online through court case search portals and/or the court clerk’s website.
• County Clerk’s Office/County Court Clerk’s Office - This office typically maintains centralized local indexes of judgments. You may access a judgment index in person at the office or through online search if available.
• State Supreme/Appellate Courts - Published opinions, appeals of trial court decisions, and final appellate judgments are available through the state appellate and supreme court websites or their clerk’s offices.
• Bankruptcy Court Records - Bankruptcy court records contain orders or judgments in bankruptcy, bankruptcy petitions, notices of discharge, and schedules (creditor lists), which may be accessed through Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) or local bankruptcy court websites. These records are especially useful in determining if a company or its principals have filed for bankruptcy.
• Tax Collector’s Office/County Treasurer’s Office - You may find unpaid tax judgments and tax liens from the county tax office, municipal tax collector office, or state revenue department.

How to Find Lawsuits Against a Company

Below is a clear workflow on how to find lawsuits against a company using public records:

• Gather the Company’s Identifying Information - Obtain details, such as the company’s exact legal name, entity ID, key officer or owner names, principal address, and any assumed/DBA names. You may check the Secretary of State’s business registry to verify a company’s exact legal name.
• Search County/State Trial Courts - Search county or state trial court databases where the business operates or is located using the company’s exact name or other details. Look for dockets and civil case summaries using the company’s legal name.
• Search Federal Courts and Bankruptcy Courts - Find federal civil lawsuits against a company and bankruptcy filings through PACER or the bankruptcy court or district court websites.
• Check Tax Office and County Clerk Judgment Indexes - You can check state and county tax offices for tax judgments or tax liens against a company. Some counties also maintain a judgment index listing money judgments and executions.
• Check the County Recorder’s Office - Visit the County Recorder or Recorder of Deeds to look for recorded judgment liens, abstracts of judgment, and satisfaction/release of judgment.
• Search Administrative Agencies and Municipal Courts - Visit regulatory agencies, municipal courts, and licensing boards for administrative orders and local enforcement actions against a company.
• Search Third-Party Websites - Visit sites like RecordsFinder to search for civil court cases.
• Search by People and Variations - Some judgments are entered against individuals tied to the company. Therefore, when looking for lawsuits against companies, repeat your searches using former names and officer names, and be mindful of common misspellings.

When you find any lawsuit against a company through an online search, download full dockets or filings, and save all available documents. If online records about business lawsuits are limited or do not provide you with enough information, contact or visit the recorder’s office or the courthouse clerk. 

How to Look Up Judgments Against a Company

You may look up judgments against companies and obtain copies of such judgments by taking the following steps:

• Check the State and County Court Records - Most judgments stem from business lawsuits filed in county or state trial courts. You can use the online public records portal or case search tools to look for cases marked “money judgment,” “civil judgment,” or “final order” using a company’s legal name as the search parameter. If online case search tools are limited, contact the court clerk’s office to request a judgment docket search in person. You can also obtain certified copies of the judgment from the clerk’s office, although you may have to pay a copying fee.
• Search Statewide Judgment Indexes - States that maintain centralized judgment databases often include commercial and civil judgments. Check your state judiciary’s website to find out if it maintains such an index, and if you find an entry, note the court location and case number, then contact the specific court clerk to request a full judgment document.
• Check the County Recorder’s Office - Search for a company’s name in the county recorder’s online property or lien index for judgments that affect real property. When conducting the search, look for an abstract or judgment, which officially records the judgment as a lien against property. To obtain copies of the available documents, download digital copies, if available, or contact the recorder’s office to request certified copies.
• Search Federal Court Records - Search PACER by company name for bankruptcy and civil judgments issued by federal courts against the business. Typically, you will be able to download electronic copies of such judgments for a small fee.
• Check for Tax and Administrative Judgments - State administrative authorities and tax agencies sometimes issue enforceable judgments, which may be accessed through the local tax collector or the state’s Department of Revenue website. These judgments are often listed as tax liens or tax judgments, and you may request digital or certified copies by contacting the issuing agency.

Be sure to verify the status of any judgment against a company through updated court or recorder filings when you find one. Check if it is renewed/active or has been satisfied or released. An active judgment is still enforceable, while a satisfied/released judgment indicates it has been fully paid.

FAQs 

How to Find Lawsuits Against a Company for Free

To find lawsuits against a company for free, search public databases and official court websites, including county or state court’s online case search portals and PACER for federal-level lawsuits. While document downloads on PACER incur small fees, basic listings are typically free.

Can I See Judgments Online?

Judgments are typically listed on county recorder websites or court case search portals in many states. While some courts may require in-person requests, others share scanned copies of judgments online, and you may search by a company’s name to check if any judgment has been filed against it. Alternatively, you can find judgments online through RecordsFinder Judgment Records Search.

Do Judgments Always Show Up in Records?

While not all judgments show up in records, most civil judgments often appear in public records. Private settlements or sealed cases typically do not appear in public searches, and some administrative decisions or small claims may not be published online.

What Happens After a Business Lawsuit Ends?

After a business lawsuit ends, the court enters a final decision (judgment). A typical judgment states which party won the case and what is owed. If the judgment requires the losing party to pay money, the winning party may record an abstract of judgment to create a lien on the debtor’s real property. A satisfaction or release of judgment is then filed once the losing party pays the debt.

Does Business Insurance Cover Lawsuits?

Business insurance may cover lawsuits, but coverage depends on the type of policy and the nature of the lawsuit. Certain types of business insurance, such as professional liability, general liability, or product liability, can cover judgments, legal defense costs, or settlements.