Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Indiana

I had a dental bill from 1996 that I forgot all about. The dentist handed my account over to a collections company, who handed over to a lawyer to collect on the account. The attorney held the file until last year at which time the attorney retired and closed his practice. He gave a colleague all his old files and accounts. The new attorney filed a judgment and I was garnished to collect for the account. However I noticed on the breakdown of what is going to be collected that the new attorney is collecting the fee�s that the old attorney requested on his original request on the account back in 2000. My question is can the new attorney collect the fee�s for the old attorney, even though the old attorney did not hire the new attorney to do so, and can they collect on an account that is over 17 years old? ,


Asked on 2/21/14, 10:08 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Kenneth Wilk Rubino Ruman Crosmer & Polen

Yes, the new attorney can collect for all fees accrued. Even though the account is over 17 years old, collection is valid if the suit was instituted on a timely basis. You should probably contact the attorney and see what arrangements can be made. Creditors will often accept a discounted lump sum in settlement of the entire account. It doesn't hurt to ask.

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Answered on 2/21/14, 11:20 am


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