How do I collect a judgment from an individual who does not have assets?

If you have won a judgment in Small Claims Court in Michigan and the person you sued does not have any assets, it can be difficult to collect the money. First, you should contact the person you sued and let them know that you have a legal judgment against them and you are entitled to payment. If they refuse to pay or cannot pay, you may take some additional steps to collect the judgment. One option is to garnish the judgment debtor’s wages. To do this, you must pursue a Writ of Garnishment through the court. This writ orders the defendant’s employer to take money from the defendant’s wages and send it to you. However, there is a limit to how much can be garnished. Another option is to pursue a bank levy. This can be done if the debtor has funds in a bank account. A bank levy allows you to freeze the bank account and take funds from it to satisfy the judgment. You can also attempt to collect the judgment by placing a lien on the debtor’s property, such as a vehicle or a home. This will prevent the debtor from selling the property until the lien is released or the judgment is satisfied. Finally, you can pursue collection through a collection agency. The agency will contact the debtor on your behalf and attempt to collect the judgment. If successful, the collection agency may charge you a fee. Ultimately, collecting a judgment from someone without assets can be a difficult process. If you pursue all available avenues and the debtor still cannot pay, you may need to pursue alternative methods, such as bankruptcy proceedings.

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