Finding the Debtor’s Money and Property
The Creditor has to find the Debtor’s money if the Debtor doesn’t pay. The Court does not do this for you. Some of this information you can find out by searching the internet, making phone calls or trips to government offices.
- Try to find the Debtor’s bank: you or someone you know may have paid the Debtor with a check. If so, look on the back of the canceled check for the bank’s information.
- Try to find out if the Debtor has a car: contact the New York Department of Motor Vehicles and find out the car model, year, license plate number and address where the car is registered.
- Try to find out if the Debtor owns land: go to the County Clerk in the county where you think the Debtor owns property to search.
- Serve an Information Subpoena: this is a legal document signed by the Court Clerk that orders the Debtor and others to answer questions about the Debtor’s assets.
- If you can’t find anything yourself, you can hire an asset search company that you pay to search for the debtor’s property. You can find them on the internet.
When you have collected all the information about the Debtor’s assets, read about Collection Basics. You can also go see an enforcement officer. Visit People Who Collect the Debtor’s Money.
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