How Long Do Public Records Stay on Your Credit Report?

A credit report serves as a comprehensive record of an individual’s financial behavior, detailing their history of borrowing and repaying money. Lenders and other entities use this information to assess financial reliability and make decisions regarding credit applications, insurance, or housing.

While primarily composed of payment histories and account details, reports can also reflect public records—legal events or documents filed in public courts or government offices. Understanding the presence and duration of such records on a credit report is important for managing one’s financial standing.

What Constitutes a Public Record on Your Credit Report

Public records, in the context of credit reporting, refer to legal documents or events formally filed with governmental authorities, such as courts or municipal offices. These records become part of an individual’s financial profile because they often reflect significant financial obligations or legal proceedings.

Credit bureaus, the entities responsible for compiling credit reports, gather this information through various means, including data aggregators and direct access to court databases. In some instances, independent contractors manually retrieve public records from courthouses, which are then processed and provided to the credit reporting agencies.

Historically, several types of public records commonly appeared on credit reports, including bankruptcies, tax liens, and civil judgments. However, significant changes implemented in 2018 by the major credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—altered what public record information is included. As a result of these changes, most civil judgments and tax liens are no longer reported on credit reports. This shift means that bankruptcy generally remains the only public record consistently reported by the three national credit bureaus.

Standard Reporting Timeframes for Public Records

The duration public records remain on a credit report is primarily governed by federal law, specifically the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). This legislation establishes guidelines for how long certain negative information can be reported, ensuring that financial histories are not indefinitely impacted by past events. The specific timeframe varies depending on the type of public record, with bankruptcies having distinct reporting periods based on the chapter filed.

For bankruptcies, the reporting period can range from seven to ten years from the filing date. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which involves the liquidation of assets to pay off debts, typically remains on a credit report for ten years. In contrast, a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, which involves a court-approved repayment plan, is generally removed from a credit report after seven years from the filing date.

Prior to 2018, tax liens and civil judgments were commonly reported public records on credit reports. However, due to the National Consumer Assistance Plan and stricter data matching criteria, these types of public records were largely removed from credit reports by the major bureaus. While these financial events are still public information, they are generally no longer reflected on most consumer credit reports compiled by the national agencies.

Addressing Inaccuracies in Public Record Reporting

Consumers have the right to dispute information on their credit reports if they believe it is inaccurate, incomplete, or obsolete, a protection afforded under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. This right extends to public record information that may appear on a report.

To initiate a dispute, an individual should first obtain copies of their credit reports from all three major credit bureaus. Upon identifying an inaccuracy related to a public record, such as an incorrect filing date or a record that should have been removed due to its age, documentation supporting the claim should be gathered. This might include official court documents, discharge papers, or proof of payment.

The dispute can then be submitted directly to the credit bureau, often through their online portals or by mail, clearly stating the inaccurate information and providing the supporting evidence. The credit bureau is then obligated to investigate the dispute, typically within a 30-day period. During this investigation, the bureau will often contact the original source of the public record, such as the court, to verify the information’s accuracy. If the information is found to be inaccurate or cannot be verified, it must be removed from the credit report.

This dispute process is specifically for correcting errors or removing information that has exceeded its legal reporting timeframe, rather than for removing valid public records that are still within their permitted reporting period.