Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Texas

What steps do I take to collect on a judgment?

Without an attorney, I successfully won a judgment against a contractor in Small Claims Court in the amount of $5,000. He was found in violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. I have filed the Abstract of Judgment & he has not appealed. The man does not have an office; he operates by cell phone/truck. He lives in a beautiful home, but I am told it is in his wife's name.

What are the steps that I must take to try to collect on this judgment? I have his & his wife's name, address and driver's license numbers - nothing else.

Thank you.


Asked on 1/30/05, 1:00 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Peter Bradie Bradie, Bradie & Bradie

Re: What steps do I take to collect on a judgment?

Try and place the judgment with a collection attorney to act on your behalf. As you've probably figured out by now, Texas is a debtor's haven.

Collecting a judgment against an individual is very difficult at best. That's not something you can do for yourself, unless you have experience in tracing assets. You need to see what other property they may own, so you can at least have a chance to seize and sell something to help pay the judgment.

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Answered on 1/30/05, 2:05 pm


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