In our previous article we discussed some general points about the options available to you for enforcing a judgment and getting the money that is owed to you. In this article we will consider some specifics regarding those options.
Liens on real property
A lien is essentially a legal claim on property. You can turn the judgment into a judgment lien by filing a memorandum in the office of the recorder of the county where your debtor’s real property is located. Once the property is sold, you get a portion of the proceeds. These liens typically last seven years, and can be renewed in seven year increments for up to twenty years. Note that judgment liens also apply to any property the debtor acquires during the life of the lien, not just property owned when the judgment was awarded.
Wage garnishment
In some cases an owner or officer of a company that owes you money can be held personally liable. In such cases it is possible to have their wages garnished by court order (note that most if not all states set maximum thresholds on the amount of wages that can be garnished).
Going after bank accounts and other cash sources
Your collections attorney can work to uncover the existence of bank accounts or other sources of cash that your debtor has. In such cases, a court can provide a Writ of Execution which can then be served to the debtor’s bank, for example, so that you can retrieve money owed. In some cases a court will permit law enforcement officers to go to a debtor’s place of business and seize cash to satisfy a Writ of Execution.
The Jayaram Law routinely and successfully assists its clients in their business-to-business (b2b) collection needs. We take pride in obtaining payment on accounts receivables without fracturing critical business relationships or engaging in time-consuming and costly litigation efforts.
If you need business debt collection services conducted in a professional manner, contact our B2B (business-to-business) debt collection law firm by calling 312.454.2859 or visiting www.jayaramlaw.com.