I have a judgment against a prior tenant, now I’m trying to collect on
it. I can’t find out where this person is now working (he quit his job
that he had put on his application), what else can I do to collect my money?
Obviously the simplest way to collect is always a wage garnishment.
Once you know where the person works you simply send the judgment to the Sheriff and they collect the money and send it to you. What does that
mean…you have to do some research to find out where this person is
working. Try face book because people love to tell everyone what they are
doing, and you may find a comment about where they are working. By the
way to do a wage garnishment you may also need to know where he is
currently living, and what his social security number is.
Now the next place to look is bank accounts. Hopefully you got a lot
of information from the tenant before they moved in, including his social
and also where he banks. Hint hint..also make copies of any checks he
gives you to keep track if he changes banks. If you know where he banks
you can attach his accounts. Again the sheriff’s office does that, your
attorney has to send an attachment with the specifics of where the bank
account is located. Now if you can’t figure out where he is banking, you
can have your attorney send inquiries to local banks to see if you can
find out where he has any accounts. Also understand you get one bite at
this apple, because if you get to attach it, plan on him not putting any
more money into it, and basically not ever having an account again.
If you can’t get anything with either of the above, then you file the
judgment and wait. Hopefully in the next 20 years he will try to buy a
house, or get credit and he will have to clean up this judgment to do it.
Just hope he doesn’t file bankruptcy because then you may basically end up
with nothing. Also remember that the judgment will have interest added to
it, at 9 % per year. Not bad if you can get it.
This is a general answer to a general question, your specifics may best
be addressed by communicating with your Attorney.
If you have a question for Attorney Kukuvka send to 330 E. Main St,
Palmyra, NY 14522 or e-mail to cklaw@verizon.net