**Background**

After losing a job several years ago, my wife applied for unemployment. Initially, they approved her for unemployment and sent her the first payment (sans tax). Later, they reversed the decision and demanded her to pay back the amount including tax (which was more than what they paid her). There was plenty of back-and-forth trying to lower the amount to what she actually received (the post-tax amount). Not too long after that, and having not heard back from them on some items, we realized their deadline for re-payment had passed. We were notified they immediately filed a judgement and had a lien put on my wife's taxes. That lien was paid a couple years ago.

**Now**

I'm in the middle of helping build my wife's credit score. In the process, I'm trying to remove the derogatory mark left by that paid judgement. Is there any possible route to removing those marks before the standard 7 years passes? or are we out of luck and stuck waiting?