Recent Blog Posts
What are My Options for Collecting Money Owed to Me?
It is frustrating when someone owes you money and is unwilling to pay you. If the debt is small, you can go to small claims court, pay a small filing fee, serve the debtor, usually by certified mail, and wait for your court date. If you have supporting evidence of the debt and that… Read More »
How Does the Law Help Victims of Child Abuse?
Child care abuse is one of the most insidious and damaging of crimes. Helpless children are at the mercy of parents, guardians, coaches, teachers and others. Although a child can suffer considerable physical injury, the emotional harm can last a lifetime with many victims becoming abusers themselves or homeless, drug addicted or criminals. Seeking… Read More »
Are Social Workers Liable if They Fail to Identify Child Abuse?
Child abuse is a horrific crime, typically inflicted by someone the child knows or trusts such as a parent, relative, foster parent, baby sitter, athletic coach,educator or legal guardian. Because children are usually too afraid or intimidated to report abuse to those who could help them, it is up to service professionals such as… Read More »
How are Commercial Collections Different from Personal Collections?
Personal collections involve the process used to collect on a debt owed by a private individual for a personal or family purpose in most instances. Commercial collections are generally for past-due receivables of a business owed to another business or individual for a business-related transaction or debt. How is a Commercial Collection Performed? Typically,… Read More »
Debt Collection Agency or Lawyer?
Once you have exhausted your requests to a debtor for payment, you may wish to consider other means for debt collection. Your options are to either retain an attorney or hire a debt collection agency. Which option is right for you? In either case, you will have to pay a fee that will be… Read More »
Is There a Time Limit on Debt Collection?
Any civil action has a time limit within which a legal claim must be filed in the proper court or the claimant may be barred from pursuing any legal remedy, including payment of a debt. In California, you must file your debt collection lawsuit within a certain time but it depends on the nature… Read More »
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit When I Have Been in an Auto Accident?
Being in an auto accident can present a confusing set of issues for you to consider. You have to deal with the property damage to your car, the possible denial of liability by the other party, dealing with your insurance company over medical expenses, the time you are losing from your work, medical treatment,… Read More »
Even More Challenges for Children in Foster Care
I have been helping kids who have been the victims of foster care abuse for over 20 years and I have seen the challenges they face not just from “being part of the system” but from the emotional and social consequences of the circumstances that landed them there. A recent article in the LA… Read More »
Wage Garnishment and Bank Levy–What’s the Difference?
A wage garnishment and a bank levy are collection actions once a creditor has obtained a court judgment. While judgment creditors can use both methods, wage garnishment is generally favored by private creditors. The IRS and the state typically use wage garnishment, however, to collect past due taxes and support obligations for children or… Read More »
How Can a Debt Collection Attorney Help You Get Money That is Owed to You?
No one likes getting a letter from an attorney threatening legal action if you fail to comply with certain demands, especially regarding the payment of a debt. Collection letters can help recover an overdue obligation if they come from an attorney but many debtors know that a letter is usually an empty threat of… Read More »
