Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I thought my judgment was an order for the debtor to pay? Isn't the debtor breaking the law by not paying me?
A: Actually, no. They can, however, if not cooperative with certain post-judgment legal processes, be held in contempt of court, arrested and, in some cases, their driver's license can be suspended until the judgment is satisfied.
Q: Are you a collection agency?
A: We are not a collection agency. Collection agencies process debts in bulk and, usually won't spend the time and resources necessary for effective judgment enforcement.They send out thousands of letters and call debtors to try to get them to pay. And with the passage of the FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act), the debtor has the right to just tell a third-party debt collector to cease all communications. We are different. We actually take legal assignment of your judgment. As the legal assignee of record, we are in the position of first party creditor, with more methods available, less restrictions and, therefore more effective than third party collectors. We conduct thorough asset investigations, including surveillance, bank locates and more. We can bring the debtor back into court, subpoena and examine witnesses and records. Our cases are treated individually and expertly. We are not afraid to put out money for enforcement procedures and we have resources that collection agencies will never have.
Q: Can I use an attorney for judgment collection?
A: Yes you can. However, an attorney may charge an hourly fee of $175 to $250 per hour. Also, while many attorneys are skilled at acquiring judgments, most are not familiar with effective post-judgment strategies, and, like a collection agency, they would be a third party collector.
Q: But how much will this cost me, really?
A: It costs you absolutely nothing. All expenses are advanced by us. If there are additional court costs, we petition the court to add these to the judgment amount. We work with attorneys at no cost to you. In short, we spend the time and the money. If we are not successful, it still costs you nothing.
Q. Can you guarantee that you'll recover the money judgment?
A: No one can guarantee that. What we can guarantee is that, if it can be done, we are the ones who can do it.
Q. How long is my judgment good for?
A: Each state is different. In Oregon, the Statute of Limitations for the enforcement of a judgment is 10 years and can be renewed for another 10. For Statutes of Limitations of other states click here. Q. Do you enforce spousal or child support judgments?
A. Due to recent changes in the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, we now handle support judgments, on a limited basis.
Q. Okay, what should I do now?
A: Simply click here and you will find instructions to get the ball rolling. If you have any further questions, please call the toll free number below or, click the "Contact Us" button at the top of the page.