When a court case is settled, does it go in public records?
Dilbert asked:
Public records go on the parties’ credit reports. Do some parties tend to settle more easily just to avoid that, because settlements don’t go in public records? Or are there some settlements that do?
Public records go on the parties’ credit reports. Do some parties tend to settle more easily just to avoid that, because settlements don’t go in public records? Or are there some settlements that do?
No. Once a court case is filed, a settlement is reduce to judgment and filed by the court just the same as a judgment after a trial.
judgements/liens go on credit reports.
Virtually all cases are a matter of some public record. If someone wanted to locate your case, with enough effort, he can find it; and online research is making things easier in terms of accessing cases.
But if it’s the settlement documents themselves you’re worried about, the settlement documents do not have to be part of the court record. In the order of dismissal, you could simply reference that the parties have entered into a settlement and have agreed to dismiss. If a party breaches the settlement agreement, however, then some one could sue for breach of contract. Ultimately, you could try and negotiate with the other side to make the settlement agreement confidential.
But no matter what, that won’t hide the fact that you’ve been in litigation.