General
How post-settlement/judgment litigation finance works. The fundamentals every attorney and plaintiff should understand before applying.
What is post-settlement/judgment litigation finance?
Post-settlement/judgment litigation finance is the practice of advancing capital to attorneys, law firms, or plaintiffs against the value of a resolved settlement, judgment, or award, before the money actually arrives.
Unlike pre-settlement funding, which involves cases still being litigated, post-settlement/judgment funding is secured by a legal outcome that has already been reached. The case is over; the fee or award is established. The only question is when the money will be paid, and that is the gap we close.
Is there a credit check or minimum credit score for litigation funding?
While we do pull credit scores as part of our standard due diligence, there is no minimum credit score required, and your credit history is not a conclusive factor in our decision. Our primary focus remains on the strength and merits of the underlying legal position, such as the resolved case, the award amount, the fee arrangement, and timeline to final distribution. Your financial profile is simply one of many data points we review during our comprehensive evaluation process.
Are there monthly payments on a post-settlement/judgment advance?
No. There are no monthly payments, no interest payments, and no principal payments due while your advance is outstanding. Repayment comes directly from the settlement proceeds when they are received.
You carry no ongoing payment obligation during the waiting period.
How fast can I get post-settlement/judgment funding?
Once a complete application and supporting documents are submitted, RD Legal typically makes a funding decision within days. If approved, capital can be deployed within days to weeks.
We do not operate on bank timelines. When your situation is time-sensitive, we move accordingly.
Are there upfront fees to apply for litigation funding?
No. There are no upfront fees, no application fees, no points, and no origination costs of any kind before funding. It costs nothing to apply and nothing to find out whether RD Legal can help.
How much can I get from post-settlement/judgment litigation funding?
We have the capacity to handle large and complex cases including mass torts, class actions, and multi-plaintiff settlements. That is precisely where our 25+ years of experience is most valuable.
Attorney Post-Settlement/Judgment Funding
Questions from attorneys waiting on earned fees.
Can I get an attorney fee advance before my settlement pays out?
Yes. Once a settlement, award, or judgment has been reached, you can apply for an advance against your earned contingency fees. We purchase your unpaid fee receivable and fund you immediately. When the settlement proceeds arrive, they repay the advance.
You never carry the cost of someone else's delay.
Why are attorney fees delayed after a settlement is reached?
Several factors can delay payment of earned attorney fees even after a case is resolved:
- Court approval periods for class actions, mass torts, and infant settlements.
- Notice and opt-out windows in class action cases.
- Appeals by the defendant or their objectors.
- Probate proceedings when a plaintiff has passed away.
- Insurance company processing timelines.
- Structured payout schedules that spread distributions over years.
- Administrative delays in mass tort or MDL settlements.
- None of these change the fact that your fee has been earned. But all of them mean you are still waiting to be paid.
What types of cases qualify for an attorney fee advance?
We have advanced fees on virtually every type of resolved case, including: personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, infant injuries, negligence, mass torts, product liability, class action counsel fees, employment discrimination, wage and hour disputes, workers' compensation, securities class actions, antitrust, court-appointed fees, and structured settlement receivables.
If your case type is not listed, call us at (800) 565-5177. If the case is resolved and the fee is earned, we may be able to help.
How long does it take to receive an attorney fee advance?
Most attorney fee advances are completed within a few days to a few weeks from the time we receive a complete application and supporting documentation. The process has three steps: application review, underwriting, and documentation. Each step moves quickly when the case file is organized and complete.
The single biggest factor affecting timing is the completeness of your submission.
If your situation is time-sensitive, let us know when you apply. We will prioritize accordingly.
Plaintiffs Post-Settlement/Judgment Funding
Questions from plaintiffs who have won or settled their case and are waiting for payment that have not arrived yet.
I won my case. Can I get my settlement money now?
Yes. Once your case has settled, been awarded, or resulted in a judgment, you can apply for an advance against those funds. RD Legal reviews your settlement and if approved, we can have cash to you quickly.
You choose how much to access: all of it, a portion, or monthly installments. There are no payments due until your settlement arrives.
My structured settlement is paid in installments. Can I get the money faster?
Yes. RD Legal funds structured settlement acceleration, advancing you a lump sum against future payments you are owed. You do not have to wait years to access money that is legally yours.
Contact us at (800) 565-5177 to discuss your specific payout schedule and how much we can advance against it.
When do I have to repay a post-settlement/judgmente advance?
Nothing is due from you of any kind until your settlement, award, or judgment is actually received. There are no monthly payments, no interest payments due in the meantime, and no hidden fees of any kind.
Does my attorney need to be involved in the settlement advance process?
Yes. Your attorney will need to be involved in the process. RD Legal works directly with your attorney and, where applicable, the settlement administrator to verify the settlement and process your advance.
If you have questions before applying, call us at (800) 565-5177 and we will walk you through it.
Is there a credit check for plaintiff settlement funding?
While we do pull credit scores as part of our standard due diligence, there is no minimum credit score required, and your credit history is not a conclusive factor in our decision. Our primary focus remains on the strength and merits of the underlying legal position, such as the resolved case, the award amount, the fee arrangement, and timeline to final distribution. Your financial profile is simply one of many data points we review during our comprehensive evaluation process.
What types of settlements qualify for post-settlement/judgment funding?
We advance funds on virtually any type of post-settlement/judgment award, including: personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, infant injuries, negligence, employment discrimination, wage and hour disputes, class action awards, structured settlements, and corporate litigation awards.
Not sure if your settlement qualifies? Call us at (800) 565-5177. If your case has settled and you are waiting, we may be able to help.
Law Firm Credit Facilities
Law firm partners looking to leverage their post-settlement/judgment receivables into working capital.
Can a law firm get a line of credit instead of advances from post-settlement/judgment legal fees?
Yes. RD Legal provides lines of credit for law firms based on a portfolio of your cases/receivables. Facilities are sized and structured based on the value and quality of your portfolio.
Why won't my bank provide financing against legal receivables?
Most banks do not know how to evaluate legal receivables. Contingency fee arrangements, structured settlement distributions, and probate timelines do not fit the monthly cash flow models that conventional lenders use to assess creditworthiness.
The result is that law firms carrying significant portfolios of cases/receivables are routinely denied access to capital they have effectively already earned. RD Legal was built specifically for this gap.
How is a law firm credit facility repaid?
We can customize your credit facility to align with your firm's operational needs and portfolio of cases and receivables. Our experience allows us to be flexible so that we can fulfill your specific situation and circumstances.
Key Terms
Plain language definitions of key terms.
RD Legal Risk Assumption
RD Legal assumes the risk of time on behalf of the attorney, law firm, or plaintiff receiving the advance. This means that RD Legal, and not you, takes on the risk that payment of an established settlement, award, or judgment is delayed. Delays may arise from a wide variety of issues, including appeals, claims processing, probate proceedings, court approval periods, insurance company processing, structured payout schedules, or administrative backlogs. RD Legal is not repaid until the funds actually arrive; the recipient has no payment obligation during the waiting period.
Post-Settlement/JUDGMENT Funding
Post-settlement/judgment funding is the practice of advancing capital against a resolved settlement, judgment, or award, meaning a settlement has been agreed to or a judgment has been entered, but there is a delay to actual distribution of the award.
This is distinct from pre-settlement/judgment funding, which involves cases that are still being litigated and where the outcome remains uncertain. Post-settlement/judgment funding is based on a determined legal outcome, not a speculative one.
Contingency Fee Receivable
A contingency fee receivable is a law firm's right to collect a fee that has been earned through a resolved case but has not yet paid due to claims administration, court approvals, potential appeals, or other issues that delay final distribution.
RD Legal funds advances secured by contingency fee receivables, allowing attorneys and law firms to access the value of their earned fees immediately rather than waiting for the payment cycle to complete.
Structured Settlement Acceleration
A structured settlement is a legal settlement in which the plaintiff receives payment in installments over a defined period rather than as a single lump sum. Structured settlements are common in personal injury, workers' compensation, and wrongful death cases.
Structured settlement acceleration is the process by which RD Legal advances a lump sum to a plaintiff against future installment payments they are owed. The plaintiff receives their money now; RD Legal is repaid as the installments arrive. The plaintiff has no ongoing payment obligation beyond what the structured settlement itself generates.
Law Firm Credit Facility
A law firm credit facility is a revolving or term line of credit extended to a law firm, secured by the firm's portfolio of receivables. The facility size is determined by the value and quality of the cases in the firm's pipeline.
We can customize your credit facility to align with your firm's operational needs and portfolio of cases and receivables.
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