How to Collect on Small Claims Judgments?

What is a Small Claims Judgment?

A small claims judgment is a court order that requires a person or entity to pay a specific amount of money to another person or entity. In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps you need to take to collect on a small claims judgment.

Step 1: Review the Judgment

The first step in collecting on a small claims judgment is to review the judgment to ensure that it is accurate and complete. This includes reviewing the amount of the judgment, the interest rate, and any other relevant details.

Step 2: Identify the Debtor

The next step is to identify the debtor, which is the person or entity that owes you the money. This may require conducting a search of public records, such as property records or business records, to determine the debtor's current address and other relevant information.

Step 3: Serve the Debtor

Once you have identified the debtor, you will need to serve them with the judgment. This typically involves hiring a process server to deliver the judgment to the debtor, or serving the debtor yourself if you are comfortable doing so.

Step 4: Wait for the Debtor to Pay

After serving the debtor, you will need to wait for them to pay the judgment. This may take some time, as the debtor may need to gather the necessary funds or negotiate a payment plan with you.

Step 5: Enforce the Judgment

If the debtor fails to pay the judgment, you may need to take steps to enforce the judgment. This may involve hiring an attorney to help you collect the judgment, or taking the debtor to court to obtain a judgment for the amount owed.

Step 6: Consider Alternative Collection Methods

If the debtor is unable to pay the judgment, you may need to consider alternative collection methods, such as negotiating a payment plan or selling the judgment to a third-party collection agency.

Step 7: Keep Accurate Records

Finally, it's important to keep accurate records of all correspondence and transactions related to the judgment. This will help you track the progress of the collection process and ensure that you are in compliance with any relevant laws or regulations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, collecting on a small claims judgment can be a challenging and time-consuming process. However, by following the steps outlined in this guide, you can increase your chances of successfully collecting on the judgment and resolving the dispute.