Q: Who can I can contact to help with getting a payment owed from a small claims court case that I won?
I won a small claims court case in the sum of $9150 several months ago and the defendant is refusing to pay me. How can I collect this payment or is there someone/some company that can help me attain this?
A: The courts do not "make" people pay judgements, but there are procedures you or your attorney can use. It helps if you are aware of the debtor's assets, like a bank account. If they own real estate you can file a lien. If they are working you can "garnish" their wages. If you want to try it yourself, research "enforcement of judgements" in California. It can be tricky to follow the complicated rules, so you may need to hire an attorney. Expect to pay a significant amount, but some attorneys may do it for a percentage of the money collected. In the meantime, your judgement is earning 10% interest.
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