May 2, 2017
Civil Judgments in Virginia: Winning Half of the Battle
In Virginia, Warrants in Debt are used to attempt to recover money that is owed. A Warrant in Debt is filed in General District Court, and must not request more than $25,000.00 in damages. If you have a valid, enforceable contract with a debtor, and the debtor fails to pay you in a timely fashion, then you can sue that person/business for monetary damages. Filing a warrant-in debt is the first step in the process of being paid.
Most plaintiffs do not realize that getting a judgment against the debtor is only one part of the equation before being paid. A judgment is a piece of paper, signed by the judge, which states that the debtor owes you money.
There are ways to get money from a debtor, including garnishment and liens. However, to garnish a debtor’s wages from employment, the creditor (person to whom money is owed) must know where the debtor works. Once a debtor’s wages start being garnished, some debtors will decide to work somewhere else, hoping that the garnishment does not follow them to their next employment. When a debtor changes employment, the creditor must again try to find out where the debtor is employed if he wants to continue garnishing the debtor’s wages.
As evidenced by the previous paragraph, there is a lot more to recovering money than simply getting a judgment against a debtor. There’s a colloquialism that “you can’t squeeze blood out of a turnip.” It means that a person cannot get something from nothing. If the debtor does not have a job, or property, or other financial resources, then a judgment might be all that you get. Part of deciding to sue someone for money is contemplating how you will get that money.
At Cravens & Noll, an experienced Virginia law firm, we are Your Lawyers For Life and have protected and served the rights of over 30,000 people just like you throughout Virginia across 4 Decades in Business. This is why we have been voted one of The Best Law Firms and The Best Attorney in Richmond by the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
We know that every legal case is always…personal. No matter what you are facing right now our attorneys will provide the solutions you need, at a reasonable price. Whether divorce, personal injury, criminal charges, or bankruptcy. We work hard to be your lawyers for life. That means giving your individual case the one-on-one attention and care it deserves.
Our team of trusted and local lawyers will never give false expectations about the potential outcome of your case. You can count on a realistic assessment of your case, in order for you to make a sound decision.
With offices in Richmond and Harrisonburg, we will assist you with dedicated and professional legal advice. In times like this, you need answers, stability, and confidence. Our calculated approach quickly evaluates and stabilizes your situation immediately to prepare you for the legal matters ahead. Our goal as your attorney is that you feel immediate relief from the moment you contact us. We can meet with you face-to-face, by video, by telephone, or together in our office.
Contact our Virginia attorneys today for a consultation. At your appointment, we will ease the burden on your shoulders and provide you with options on how to proceed. Before taking a case, Cravens and Noll lawyers provide an initial consultation for clients.