Someone owes me a lot of money. I've been to court but the person would not show. What else can I do?

thylawyer

You can try googling the internet for the person. It's amazing who you can find.

Otherwise, your lawyer should be able to track the person, but it will cost money. If he can't or won't get another lawyer, preferably a collection lawyer. It will cost you some of the money if s/he successfully collects. If the person is homeless or has gone underground and is being paid under the table, you may not be able to find him right away. If he owned real estate or is/was married, had children etc., there are avenues to find where he was at some point, but no guarantee he is still there.

Your judgment is valid for 10 years or twenty years, and in some 10-year states it is renewable for another 10 years. Talk to your lawyer.

sociald

Your lawyer should already know what to do. Generally a writ of garnishment is filed. They track that with teh SSI# and garnish paychecks etc.

Jeffrey V

If you have a minute order granting judgment to you and more than 30 days have passed, you can ask the court that gave you the judgment for a document called a writ of execution, which allows you to pursue any and all means of legal collection. Here are some ideas. If you know where they work you can garnish their wages, if you know where they bank you can garnish their bank account, if they own real property of any sort you can put a judgment lien on it with the clerks office in your local county. If they happen to own a business you can have the Sherrif's Office do what is called a "till tap" where the Deputy stands beside the register and any money paid to the business will be diverted to your judgment.

jackson

Generally if you can prove you had them properly served you just win the case if they don't show.

Now how to actually collect it is a different matter.

Brenda L

Depending on the state you are in... and if you received a judgment in your favor, your next move is to get an "abstract of judgment" from the court (there is a form you must fill out and file to request this). Then with your abstract you can get a "writ of execution." This is the document you need to bring to the sheriff's dept. to have a bank account levied or wages attached. generally, if you need help doing this and do not want to pay your lawyer for it, you can get help from a paralegal much cheaper. The papers to attach wages must be done exact. A paralegal can probably fill out the proper forms for you and would know how to file them with the sheriff's office for execution.

allan s

if the person did not show the judgement should have went in your favor,

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