Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Michigan

Collection of a debt

I own a mechanic shop in Florida. I did some work on a mans car while he was here seasonal. He signed paperwork and owes me money for work done. He went back to Michigan and passed away. His sister called me and told me she would send me the title to the car so I could sell it and get my money for debt. She has failed to do so. How can I now get my money? Can I put a mechanic lien on the car so it cannot be sold until I get my money or will I have to submit a statement of claim to the estate and hope I get something from it?


Asked on 8/28/03, 9:05 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Patricia Prince Patricia Gormely Prince, P.C.

Re: Collection of a debt

I am not familiar with the mechanic lien laws in Florida, but suggest putting a lien on the car if you can. With regards to the Estate, if the decedent owes you money, you will need to file a claim against his Estate to collect. There are time deadlines for filing a claim which depend on when he died and whether or not the Personal Representative knows about your claim. If there is no estate, you can file a claim against the decedent's Trust (if there is a Trust). Depending on the size of your claim and desire to collect, you may want to retain a Michigan attorney to assist you. Our office handles these types of matters on a regular basis. Feel free to contact us if we can be of further assistance.

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Answered on 8/29/03, 1:55 pm


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