Found Out About Judgement For Credit Card Debt While Trying To Get A Mortgage. There Is A Lien But It Was Put On My Estranged Parents Home Instead Of Mine. What Options Do I Have?

Location: Washington State. 15 years ago I charged $10k on my Capital One card to a bailbond company to get a friend out of county jail with the plan of getting repaid upon their release. However, my friend was not released on bond due to a state Department of Corrections violation hold.

Regardless, that my friend never bonded out, the bailbond company kept my $10k. I refused to pay the credit card bill. I was sent to collections. I dodged all service, phone calls, attempts to contact me. There was zero acknowledgement on my part regarding this debt. It's been forever. I never received any official papers and never spoke with anyone. No wage garnishment or bank levy. I thought it had been written off as unsecured credit card debt.

While recently trying to close on a house, I found out I was sued and had a judgement against me. It is now up to almost $20k. A process server allegedly served someone at my estranged parents house. They winter out of state. I have no clue who accepted service or if my parents even knew of the papers. This was about 7 years ago.

Regardless, the papers were issued under the wrong name (my maiden name, misspelled). They were served at a residence where I have never lived. I was employed by the same company for ten years and owned my own home (20 miles away) from 2003 to 2026, so although I may have been dodgy, I could argue that I was easy to locate and not at my parents.

I just sold my house and thankfully, there was no lien. But, THEY DID PUT A LIEN ON MY PARENTS HOUSE. Idk if they know. We don't talk. I am set to move out of state and the house I want to buy is on hold due to this recently discovered judgement. I am in limbo as far as a new mortgage and unsure what to do next.

My Experian score is 800. I have $275k for a down payment on $450k house. $88k annual salary. I literally had 1 credit card after this incident and had zero balance. Perfect bill payment history otherwise.

Question: Do my parents have to address the lien on their house or can I mitigate that somehow? Am I SOL on getting a mortgage? Do I have to pay for this to go away?

Asking reddit because I'm mortified that I am working with lender/realtor that was referred to me via my new boss. Ugh.