This is our continuing series of articles where we answer your debt collection lawsuit questions. Before we jump into this article (which is about what happens in a trial in Small Claims court), here is what we have previously covered:
Overview of the complaint or lawsuit filed against you
What does it mean to be served?
Overview of 5 options you have when sued
Bankruptcy option
Fighting the lawsuit on your own option
Settling the lawsuit on your own option… (Read more)
“Was I served if I was given papers, but didn’t sign for anything?”
Many of the lawsuits that we deal with involve debt collectors, and this is a good question to be asking.
It’s incredibly important to understand when you’re served because that triggers your deadline to answer the lawsuit.
You have 14 days to answer if you were sued in Small Claims or District court, and you have 30 days if you were sued in Circuit court. All of… (Read more)
“Was I served if the papers were given to a family member?”
This is a question that we receive quite often, and it’s a great question.
It’s important to figure out the answer to whether or not you’ve been served properly when you’re dealing with a debt collection lawsuit.
Let’s say that there were papers sent to an address where you used to live, but you don’t live there anymore.
Then the deadline passes and you’ve got a default judgment… (Read more)
How do I find out if there’s a judgment against me when I receive collection lawsuit papers?
So you’ve been sued by a debt collector in Alabama, you’ve been served the lawsuit papers, but you’re wondering how you’ll know if there’s already a judgment against you.
“Is there a judgment automatically against me once I’ve been served?”
“Have I waited too long to respond?”
Let’s talk about a couple of things before we get to this.
First, you have a… (Read more)
Welcome back to our continuing series of articles where we answer your debt collection lawsuit questions. Before we jump into this article (which is about general trial questions), here is what we have previously covered:
Overview of the complaint or lawsuit filed against you
What does it mean to be served?
Overview of 5 options you have when sued
Bankruptcy option
Fighting the lawsuit on your own option
Settling the lawsuit on your own option
Hiring a lawyer to fight… (Read more)
“What should I do if I have been sued on a debt that I’ve already paid off?”
You’ve paid off a debt that you may have owed, and there’s a sense of relief. You’re done with the debt collector (or original creditor), and you can breathe easy now.
However, 6 months later (maybe even a year later), you’re served with a lawsuit from the same collector for the same amount that you paid in the past.
What should you do… (Read more)