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Judgment Enforcement – The Step-by-Step Course
You will want to check to see if the corporation or LLC is still in business. If it is, you
can collect from it. If it’s not in business, I suggest that until you become more
experienced, that you drop it because corporations are considered to be “separate persons”
from the person who started them.
In other words, the corporation’s president, vice president, etc. are typically not
responsible for the corporate debts, unless they personally committed fraud. More on this
later. (Note, that I said “typically.” There are exceptions. We’ve discussed this on the
Forum.)
Peter’s Personal Story:
One of the very first judgments that I got was not through court files, but while standing
in line at the courthouse. I quickly learned that the small claims courthouse is a terrific
place to meet people and get business. Just don’t solicit business. Courthouses don’t permit
it. Dress a little above the crowd (sport coat with no tie, for me) and wait for people to ask
you what you do, and give them your card. They will be so appreciative.
In my case, I was waiting in line to file something with the clerk. I overheard a man at
the next counter say to the clerk— “But I can only find his mail box. How can I find out
where he lives to get him served?”
The clerk didn’t know how he could do it, so I leaned over and said, “There’s a form you
can send to the Post Office, and they’ll tell you his address. If you have a card, I’ll fax it to
you.”
(There’s a copy of this Post Office form on the Forum. It’s to be use by a process server,
sheriff, attorney or someone in Pro Per.)
So, I faxed the form to the fellow, and along with it I faxed a note explaining what I did.
The next thing I knew, the fellow was on the phone offering me a $20,000 judgment from
an older case. I investigated the person, located a bank account in a week, took the
judgment, did the paperwork, and took almost exactly $20,000 within three weeks! You
bet I was excited.
And this story is not an exaggeration. I had found a good judgment –a “better debtor.” And
I made 10K just by being helpful.
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