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Judgment Enforcement – The Step-by-Step Course
If the debtor gets it, he will think that it’s junk mail and toss it. The letter won’t come
back, and that may mean that he’s there. If it does come back, you can be pretty sure he’s
not at what you thought was the new address. This method isn’t foolproof (things do get
nd P stamp you’re getting closer.
lost in the mail), but for the price of a 2P
But I have to emphasize again. In today’s world, almost everyone is “out there” on
Facebook, Twitter, Google, whatever. Especially on our databases. If the JD appears to be
a ghost, not a good sign for enforcement.
4. Check with Other Creditors
While researching public records you may well come across other current and past
creditors of the debtor. They probably have information you don’t have, including names
of relatives, a work location, etc. These creditors can be great resources so long as they
aren’t worried about you getting the money instead of them. And maybe they’ll offer you
their own judgment.
A Peter Story: I had a $5,000 judgment against a guy who
owned a Mustang repair place, and was ripping people off.
When I was at the court I put the JD’s name in the court
computer (a super place to learn about creditors too) and came
up with six other people who had judgments against him. I
pulled the files (they are open to the public) and
wrote down the information the plaintiffs gave when
they filed their suit. I got their names, addresses and
phone numbers.
Then I called each of the creditors. Every one of them wanted
to commiserate with me, tell me their personal story of how
they were ripped off, and assure me I would never see a dime.
I learned: 1) that the debtor had a wife living in another part
of the county (and I’m in a community property state, so her
assets may be liable as well), 2) that he had an airplane at a
small airfield nearby, 3) the bars he frequented after work (I
used that information to get him served again), and 4) that the
debtor had a motor home in another part of the state. His assets
were just sitting there! And yet no one knew how to collect.
I collected on my judgment and then collected on 3 of the
judgments that the other creditors had, too.
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