Pay for delete
Pay for delete: A settlement in which a collector agrees to ask the credit bureaus to delete an account in exchange for payment. No law requires a collector to agree, so the terms should be in writing before any payment.
What pay for delete means
Put simply, pay for delete is part of the working vocabulary of a civil case. The short definition above covers the usual meaning. Still, a specific rule, statute or contract can give it a narrower meaning. For that reason, check how it is used in your own documents.
Where pay for delete comes up
The term is used across many kinds of cases. For example, you may see it in pleadings, motions and court orders. To see it in context, browse the motions and procedures library or the Learn the Law topics.
Read the source: Credit report disputes.
How to research the term
To research pay for delete, begin with the rule, statute or contract where the word is used. Each one can give it a slightly different meaning. Then compare that text with how courts in your area have applied it. Also check the local rules of your court, since they can add requirements. If your case is in state court, the state rules control. So start with our state procedures guide to find them. In the end, always confirm that the source you rely on is current.
You can read the current federal court rules online for free.
Related legal terms
- Overruled: has two meanings. First, the judge's ruling rejecting an objection, so the question may be answered or the evidence admitted. Second, a precedent is overruled when a court with authority to do so decides that the earlier decision is no longer good law.
- Partition: a court case or agreement that divides property owned by two or more people. A court may order partition in kind, which physically divides the property, or partition by sale, which sells it and splits the money. Many states have adopted the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act for inherited land.
- Party: a person or entity that takes part in a lawsuit as a plaintiff, defendant or other named participant, and is bound by the result.
- Passport: an official travel and identity document that a national government issues.
Why precise terms matter
Courts read legal terms closely. As a result, knowing the exact meaning of a word helps you follow orders, rules and filings. Each glossary entry on Lawtopolis is short on purpose and links to the pages where the term is used.
Sources
Sources last reviewed: 2026-10-24
Lawtopolis provides legal information and education, not legal advice. Using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws and court rules vary by jurisdiction and change over time; verify every authority against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction about your situation.