Collecting on a judgment can be a daunting task when your debtor is unwilling to pay. The judgement is a starting point and next steps may not be readily apparent. How do you collect the money owed to you? Who can help you collect? How do you know if the debtor can pay you?
How do you collect the money owed you?
A great place to begin after obtain a judgement is to contact a private investigation company. As the judgment holder you are responsible for collecting on the judgement. That means that you are also responsible for demonstrating that the subject has the ability to pay back their debt.
Who can help you collect?
Private investigators have the expertise, resources, and knowledge to obtain information on the assets of an individual. Investigators can gather information on the liquid and non-liquid assets of your debtor and create a report demonstrating whether your debtor can pay or not.
How do you know if the debtor can pay you?
A report from PHENIX includes information about the debtor’s property assets, cash assets, and financial health. So, what is the best way to take this information and collect on your judgement?
There are three main methods for collecting on your judgement: a bank levy, wage garnishment, and a real estate lien. By contacting your local sheriff, you can work to collect using one of these methods. To do so, you will need the appropriate information.
- Obtaining a bank levy requires that you have the name of the bank, the name on the account, and the amount held in the account. PHENIX reports include a search of bank accounts for the subject. The report will provide you with with the required information which you can provide to the sheriff in order to obtain your levy.
- Obtaining a real estate lien requires that you register your judgment with the land records office in the county where the debtor owns property. In order to do this, you have to be able to locate the property and prove ownership. PHENIX reports include information on the property assets of the individual. This information includes the location of the property, the parcel number, and the value of the property. By obtaining a lien on the property, your judgment will be paid by any proceeds made from the sale or transfer of the property.
- Obtaining wage garnishments requires that you provide the employer of the debtor and demonstrate that the wages are not being used to meet basic needs. PHENIX reports include both employment information for the subject, business ownership, and lifestyle facts to demonstrate that the subject both has an income and how that income is being spent. By obtaining a wage garnishment, you can collect put to 25% of your debtor’s wages till the judgment is paid.
All of these collection services require a writ of execution, writ of garnishment, or writ of attachment which you can obtain from a small claims court after receiving your PHENIX report. An investigator like PHENIX provides you with the information to make collecting on your judgment possible. Contact us today to get started.