ALLIANCE FINANCIAL
Court Judgment Enforcement
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using resources available only to licensed collection professionals, we can locate debtors' assets and much more, including employment information, unlisted residences, etc. Our methods of investigation include computer research, credit reports, public records and private databases, court research, information obtained by subpoena, and investigation done in the field. We are approved to use 'restricted' databases, which allows us to efficiently investigate our files. We make the collection of your judgment a priority, conducting comprehensive investigation to discover any assets and income, and taking all possible action to seize them.
How long do I have to collect my judgment?
In California, a judgment is good for 10 years, and it may then be renewed for another 10 years. You may also renew your judgment at any time prior to 10 years.
Why shouldn't I use a collection agency?
Our company differs from a typical collection agency in that we do not use telephone calls to harass or annoy the debtor. We also do not mail the debtor a series of collection letters that are so often ignored. Most collection agencies will follow a lead by making phone calls and sending letters, and when that does not work, they consider it a dead end. Where the collection agency stops, that is where we begin.
What about using an attorney to enforce the judgment?
In some cases, if you already know where the debtor is and what assets he has, you may want to hire an attorney to quickly seize the assets so you can keep the majority of the recovery. However, in most instances the judgment creditor does not have the information, and many attorneys who win cases often shy away from collecting the judgment. Judgment recovery is a highly specialized field, and requires a great deal of time, energy and resources to collect. Attorneys frequently assign judgments to companies like us for recovery.
What are the chances that you will collect my judgment?
There is no guarantee that we will be able to satisfy your judgment; some debtors are 'judgment proof,' meaning they currently have no tangible assets or what they do have is exempt. If this is the case, be patient. Circumstances change, and we don't stop collecting simply because for the moment the debtor is in a bad spot. If the debtor has filed a bankruptcy after the debt was incurred and the bankruptcy is discharged, there may be nothing we can do. There are some exceptions, such as if the original lawsuit was for an intentional tort. If this applies to you, give us a call to discuss the case in detail.
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You pay no costs, fees, or expenses involved in the collection proceeding. The only cost you may encounter is a $10 notary fee when you have our 'Acknowledgment of Assignment' notarized. The form is required to be notarized, so if you do encounter this fee, you can send us the receipt or let us know and we will add it on to the judgment so you will be reimbursed.
We advance all costs. If we are unable to collect, we do not get reimbursed. If and when we are able to collect, we will add the costs and expenses onto the judgment as allowed by the court, to be paid by the debtor.
Will I need to have any contact with the debtor?
When we file the 'Acknowledgement of Assignment' with the court, we become the legal assignee of record. Usually, you will never have to have contact with the debtor again.
Do you automatically accept any judgment?
We review all judgments on a case-by-case basis. Currently we are only accepting cases in California or where the debtor now resides in California. Contact us to speak to someone about the particulars of your case.
How much do you charge?
We do not charge anything out-of-pocket to collect. Our fee is a percentage of the judgment amount. Payment of these funds is deferred until we begin to receive money from the debtor's assets.
