{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/legal-judgment","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/legal-judgment","data_freshness":{"sba_records_through":"2026-05-31","fdic_records_through":"2026-03-31","dealroom_last_updated":"2026-06-15","timezone":"America/Chicago"},"source_summary":["Public SBA 7(a) loan records","FDIC institution data","DealRoom lender and franchise enrichment"],"term":{"slug":"legal-judgment","term":"Legal Judgment","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"A court order requiring you to pay money, which can significantly impact your credit and ability to get an SBA loan. Lenders check for these during your application.","what_it_means":"An unsatisfied legal judgment, especially if substantial, is a red flag for SBA lenders. You must disclose any judgments and explain their status, as the lender will verify this on your personal credit report and public records. Satisfy any outstanding judgments before applying to avoid delays or denial.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/legal-judgment","official_sources":[{"slug":"sop-50-10","title":"SOP 50 10 — Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","official_url":"https://www.sba.gov/document/sop-50-10-lender-development-company-loan-programs","official_label":"View on SBA.gov","authority_tier":2,"publisher":"U.S. Small Business Administration","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/sop-50-10"},{"slug":"13-cfr-part-120","title":"13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans","official_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-120","official_label":"View on eCFR","authority_tier":1,"publisher":"Office of the Federal Register","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/13-cfr-part-120"}],"related":[{"slug":"credit-report","term":"Credit report","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/credit-report"},{"slug":"derogatory-mark","term":"Derogatory mark","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/derogatory-mark"},{"slug":"personal-financial-statement","term":"Personal financial statement","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/personal-financial-statement"},{"slug":"bankruptcy","term":"Bankruptcy","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/bankruptcy"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Does having a recent civil judgment against me affect my SBA 7(a) loan eligibility?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/does-having-a-recent-civil-judgment-against-me-affect-my-sba-7-a-loan-eligibility"},{"question":"What if my personal credit report shows a judgment that has been satisfied or paid off?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-if-my-personal-credit-report-shows-a-judgment-that-has-been-satisfied-or-paid-off"},{"question":"Will a past tax lien or judgment on my credit report prevent SBA 7(a) loan approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/will-a-past-tax-lien-or-judgment-on-my-credit-report-prevent-sba-7-a-loan-approval"},{"question":"Does a past civil lawsuit or judgment, not criminal, affect my eligibility for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/does-a-past-civil-lawsuit-or-judgment-not-criminal-affect-my-eligibility-for-an-sba-7-a-lo"},{"question":"Will an outstanding personal judgment (e.g., from a civil lawsuit) prevent me from getting an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/will-an-outstanding-personal-judgment-e-g-from-a-civil-lawsuit-prevent-me-from-getting-an-"},{"question":"Will a satisfied judgment on my personal credit report, even if paid, negatively impact my SBA 7(a) loan approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/will-a-satisfied-judgment-on-my-personal-credit-report-even-if-paid-negatively-impact-my-s"}]},"caveats":["Definitions represent DealRoom's plain-English interpretation for buyers; verify regulatory terms against the official SBA and eCFR sources listed.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an SBA eligibility determination."],"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so Glossary — Legal Judgment","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/legal-judgment","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}