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In Texas, a student I know filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in May, and the case was closed as a discharged non-asset in September. During this period, the student withdrew early from classes, resulting in a portion of the Title IV funds being returned, leading to a debt of $4,321 owed to the... View More

answered on Apr 11, 2025
Generally speaking, even debts owed to creditors that do not receive notice are discharged in no asset cases.
The answer to your specific question will likely depend on the timing of when the debt arose. If the student withdrew after she filed her chapter 7 petition, there is a possibility... View More
My parents both passed away and they had credit card debt, but there are no assets, estate, or will. I am not a joint account holder on any of their credit card accounts, and I have not received any requests from creditors yet. They lived in Kansas at the time of their passing. Do I have any... View More

answered on Apr 10, 2025
You have no obligation to pay your parents’ credit card bills. Resist their attempts to convince you otherwise. If credit card companies want to be paid they must open a probate case then present their claims and then get paid out of estate assets. But first they will research whether there are... View More
I rented a house in Pittsburgh, PA, with a friend and we were both taken to court by our landlord, who won a judgment for $5,600 against us for damages. Although we are both named on the court papers, the landlord's lawyer claims I am responsible for the entire amount, possibly because my... View More

answered on Apr 9, 2025
You and your co-judgment debtor are each responsible for 100% of the judgment amount. if the other guy can't be found, refuses to pay, etc., its all on you. Landlord's attorney is 100% correct.
In 2018, my wife and I took out an unsecured loan. We lost our home in 2019, and unfortunately, my wife passed away in 2021. The loan company wrote off the debt in 2020 when I defaulted due to loss of income. Recently, in 2025, a collection company is suing me for this debt. Am I liable? I have... View More

answered on Apr 7, 2025
If Missouri law governs and the last payment was within 10 years, then the lawsuit is likely within the statute of limitations depending on which cause of action has been pleaded. The charge-off doesn't save you.
Mo. Rev. Stat. 516.110. What action shall be commenced within ten... View More
I received a default judgment on March 28, 2025, for $6,500 against a real estate broker who sold my house to me. I haven't taken steps to collect the money yet. The broker is still operating in Georgia. What actions can I take to start collecting the judgment?

answered on Apr 2, 2025
A default Judgment operates the same as any other order entered by the court. There are a number of methods available depending on the order itself. To secure the judgment it would be prudent to secure a Fi.Fa. in the county ordered. From there you can negotiate directly with the Defendant, file... View More
I recently purchased a car outright for about $8,000, and I have an outstanding credit card debt of approximately $2,000 that is a year or two old. I've received advertising letters from lawyers and someone attempted to serve me papers, suggesting that the credit card company filed a lawsuit... View More

answered on Apr 1, 2025
If you are sued in the associate division and a judgment is entered against you, the plaintiff may "transcribe" the judgment to make it a real estate lien. It's not a vehicle lien but the plaintiff my seek an execution to have the sheriff seize and sell the vehicle. Hire a local... View More
In Ohio, does the statute of limitations for a judgment lien begin on the judgment date (4/4/2019) or on the filing date (10/22/2020), considering it was filed in two different courts in the same county? The judgment is related to credit card debt incurred by my ex-wife without my knowledge,... View More

answered on Apr 1, 2025
The original judgment becomes dormant after five (5) years, or five (5) years from the certificate of judgment or other attempt to collect. R.C. 2329.07. The judgment itself does not create a lien until a certificate of judgment is filed. If a judgment lien exists, then the limitations period is... View More
In Ogden, Utah, a repossession company towed my vehicle for a couple of feet while I was still inside it, and police officers were present but did not intervene. They mentioned that they couldn't do anything after the fact and attempted to get me out of the car, but I refused. Is it legal for... View More

answered on Mar 28, 2025
A couple of feet? The reason that people cannot ride in a towed vehicle, trailer, etc., is because of the possible catastrophic consequences of an accident involving the towed item. You were in no danger whatsoever, and indeed it was your fault for interfering with the repossession agent in the... View More
I have a collection from a previous landlord claiming I owe $6,653. The landlord initially stated I did not have a lease and refused payment. I have documentation supporting my claim. Now, a collection agency is trying to collect the debt. Do I have to pay this?

answered on Mar 26, 2025
The landlord may have refused payment due to sending the claim to the collection agency prior to you attempt to make the payment. Reach out to an attorney to assist you in your debtor defense matter. If your statements are corroborated by facts, you need to formally dispute the debt with the... View More
In 2018, I co-signed for a truck, which was repossessed later that year or early 2019. I was unaware of the repossession, having lost contact with the primary borrower. Seven years later, my paycheck started getting garnished without any prior notice. My credit report shows the account twice: once... View More

answered on Mar 25, 2025
Don't rely on your credit report, but apparently your lender either obtained a judgment against you and then sold the account to Consumer Portfolio; or sold the account to Consumer and it obtained a judgment; but either way it appears Consumer has sold it to Jefferson Capital.
I... View More
In Alaska, I understand the statute of limitations on open-ended accounts is three years. I have a credit card judgment that garnished my Permanent Fund after the statute had run last year. Recently, the court also attached my bank accounts, leading to an overdraft. The judgment was initially... View More

answered on Mar 20, 2025
The 3 year statute of limitation (assuming that you are correct about the time) is the statute upon which to bring suit. The statute of limitation to execute upon a money judgment is much longer in every state, generally 10 to 20 years. Sounds to me like the garnishment action was brought within... View More
I loaned someone $5,000, which is less than what they actually owe me. I have text messages from the borrower confirming they will repay me. They've indicated they will pay me back this week. However, I had to send $150 for the transfer, and I still haven’t received the repayment. Could you... View More

answered on Mar 18, 2025
Short version is that in general, if you believe someone owes you money and the borrower does not voluntary re-pay, then you will have to sue him in civil court. Now, the specifics and terms of the transaction will determine the strenght of your case---I highly recommend that you contact a... View More
I lent my ex-husband a total of $48,051, depositing $15,000 on November 4, 2024, and $33,051 on November 14, 2024, directly into his checking account. He promised via text to repay me before leaving the country in January 2025. Since he left, I have made numerous attempts to contact him through... View More

answered on Mar 17, 2025
Before your ex returns you should hire a private investigator to update your knowledge of his assets and income. Next, hire an attorney to file a collection lawsuit and ready it for service upon your ex when he returns. The suit should be filed shortly before his return. This will not guarantee... View More
I have been awarded a Finding and Award from the WCAB on August 18th, 2023, but my employer has failed to pay. I filed with the local court, but they said the finding and award are not valid as it is not a judgment. My lawyer will not assist further and has archived my file. How can I collect the... View More

answered on Mar 15, 2025
Did you join the Uninsured Employers Benefits Trust Fund? If not, that is malpractice by your attorney. Once joined, this fund pays any award that the employer does not pay! You do not have to chase down the employer for payment. The fund pays you, then they try to collect from the employer.
I received an email from a pre-litigation company about a credit card debt with HSBC that was supposedly charged off in 2016. The representative mentioned that the debt was purchased by a law firm and could be pursued for breach of contract under a 10-year statute of limitations. I have lived in... View More

answered on Mar 14, 2025
A "charge-off" of a debt is an internal accounting process, and it has no legal effect on the indebtedness.
You appear to be correct about the length of PA limitations.
Note that the PA statute of limitations runs from the date of default. That period may be extended,... View More
I have charge-offs related to a credit card and a personal loan. Creditors have contacted me, but I have not received any settlement offers. I believe these charge-offs are affecting my credit score, and I previously consulted with a financial advisor, but I was not satisfied with their advice.... View More

answered on Mar 11, 2025
Probably not, those are probably uncollectable debts based on how old they are and whether the statute of limitations has expired on them and whether a lawsuit was or will be filed if they are not past the statute of limitations will matter. If you decide to settle them, you need to negotiate how... View More
I'm owed $30,000 by a friend, and she wants to sign over a cashier's check for the same amount to me, which she received from selling land. There is no contract between us regarding the debt. Can this be done legally, and are there any potential issues I should be aware of? No one else is... View More

answered on Mar 10, 2025
To be safe, I would recommend having a settlement agreement prepared and signed by the parties. Simply signing over the check leaves the situation open to ambiguity and interpretation. It is highly advisable to have a proper settlement agreement prepared, reviewed, and signed by the parties... View More
I have a default judgment of $180,000 issued by the Dallas County courthouse. I've tried to find an attorney to start collecting on this judgment. While I've located the defendant, who I believe is selling cars for personal gain on Facebook, I haven't taken any legal actions against... View More

answered on Mar 10, 2025
You probably can't. While there are attorneys whose practice includes collecting judgments, like other people, those attorneys will expect to be compensated for their time on either an hourly fee or a contingency fee. Legal aid clinics who assist indigent litigants generally do not undertake... View More
I received a petition today stating that I owe $6,904.62 plus 8.25% interest, 25% attorney fees, and costs. There's no original judgment date mentioned. Can I appear in civil court anytime within ten calendar days after service without risking a default, or should I go as soon as possible? I... View More

answered on Mar 7, 2025
The Petition is the vehicle which starts the process to obtaining a judgment against you. The citation attached with the petition should tell you how many days you have to respond (or Answer) the petition before the petitioner may seek a default judgment against you----based on your post, it... View More
I am being contacted by a debt collector for a Target debt, which is not related to any medical expenses, and they have requested my medical records. I have not given any consent for this. I am currently in contact with the debt collector to resolve the issue but cannot afford the payment amount of... View More

answered on Mar 6, 2025
You asked if they are legally allowed to ask you for medical records. They can ask for anything they feel like - the issue is whether you have to comply. A Target collection agent asking for medical records makes ZERO SENSE, which makes me wonder if someone is trying to scam you - for example,... View More
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