Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Pennsylvania
In Sept. of 2009, I loaned a friend of mine $500 in cash. I was filing bankruptcy at the time and my attorney told me not to give anyone a check that could be traced. I tried several times to reach this person with phone calls, emails and texts only to be ignored. What if anything can I do to recoup that money? Thank you.
1 Answer from Attorneys
You should go to your local District Justice Court (also known as Magistrates)--and ask for a Civil Action Complaint. Fill it out and pay the filing fee. It would be helpful if you had some evidence of this loan, as it will be your word versus his word, if he shows up in court. If he doesn't show up, you'll get a judgment against him and can have the local sheriff seize his property to the extent of the debt.
Your lawyer shouldn't have advised you not to give a check to anyone, as it is unlikely that the loanof $500 would have had much impact on your bankruptcy.