Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

Re: Back 'lease' payments

Most, if not all, the attempted collection would very likely be time-barred by the statute of limitations. Also, depending upon the exact nature of the original obligation, i.e. if it were a purchase-money obligation, it is possible the creditor's recourse is only to the collateral and not to the borrower.

If the amount being sought runs into the thousands, you are probably better off retaining a lawyer to write a letter or letters on your behalf than responding directly; it could be more effective and avoids a possible trap where admitting liability in writing renews an otherwise time-barred debt.

There are speculators who buy up old claims like this for pennies on the dollar, then apply barely-legal strongarm collection tactics on the premise that if a small portion of the "debtors" pay up, they'll make a profit.

Without seeing the contract or other obligation underlying the claim, I can't give more specific advice or assure you that there is no liability.