The method by which debts may be collected is governed by the Fair Debt Collection Act. This law prohibits many activities which have been used in the past by unscrupulous debt collectors, including late night phone calls, threats and abusive language. The penalties for violating the Fair Debt Collection Act are severe. Anyone attempting to collect debts should be aware of what is and is not permitted under the law.

When letters and phone calls do not achieve results, court proceedings are available to obtain a judgement against a person who owes you money. For debts of less than $2,500, the small claims court is available. For debts of up to $20,000 the District Court can hear the case. For larger debts, the Circuit Court must be used. Generally, the larger the claim, the longer it takes to get a court date.

Once a judgement is obtained, it is up to you to collect on the judgement. Many people expect that if the Court awards them a judgement, the Court will force the other party to pay. Unfortunately, getting a judgement is often easier than collecting from the debtor. There are many techniques available to collect on a judgement, including wage garnishments, attaching assets and placing liens on property.

Our firm is available to assist you in obtaining and collecting on judgements in the lower shore area. We are also able to consult you on ways to improve your documents so that should you find it necessary to go to court to collect on a debt, your chances of recovering the debt, court costs and attorney's fees are improved.