Q: How do I collect money now that I have won a judgement in civil court?
The defendants dog attacked my dog, and the judgement is the vet bills. Its been 4 months since we went to court, and I was awarded the judgement. The defendant has made no effort to pay me the judgement. I know I can file a bank levy, wage garnishment or execution on property that he owns, but how do I find out if he is employed or owns anything, or has a bank account? I do not know the defendant, nor do we live in the same county. I called the courthouse to ask what my next step would/should be and they tell me they "don't know." Where do I go from here and how? Please help
A: The rules of civil procedure provide for "discovery" to aid in collection. In other words, you can demand by subpoena to make the debtor appear in court and answer questions about their work and assets. Your question doesn't specify whether your judgment was granted by the circuit or general sessions court, but this procedure is available in both courts ( there is a specific statute for sessions court). Do some internet research, I suspect there are lots of informative websites on collection law. If you are trying to represent yourself, I would encourage you to consult an experienced collection lawyer.
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