You Won Your Lawsuit—Now What? Why Judgment Collection Is the Real Battle

Having your day in court to fight for your rights can feel like the most important way to protect your rights and achieve justice – at our firm, we work with these types of clients all the time.  However, the fight and winning a lawsuit can feel like crossing the finish line. Picture this: You’ve presented your case, the court agreed with your side of the story, and you now hold a judgment in your favor. But here’s the hard truth: that judgment is just a piece of paper until it’s enforced. If the defendant doesn’t voluntarily pay, you’re not done—you’re just getting started.

This is where an experienced collections law firm like Wakefield Law becomes indispensable.

Locating the Debtor

People move. They change jobs. They dodge calls. Before you can enforce a judgment, you need to find the person who owes you money. Our firm uses tools available only to collections law firms and is trained to track down people of interest in a collection case as efficiently as possible, even those who’ve gone quiet.

Summonses & Subpoenas

Once located, we can summon the debtor into court for a debtor’s examination called Interrogatories. This compels them to answer questions under oath about their assets, income, and ability to pay. We also issue subpoenas for bank records, employment information, and other financial documents to build a clear picture of what’s collectible.

Garnishment & Asset Seizure

If the debtor has a job, we can initiate wage garnishment. If they have bank accounts, we can freeze and seize funds. If they own property, we can place liens. These remedies are powerful—but they must be executed with precision and in full compliance with the law. 

Negotiation & Payment Plans

Not every debtor can pay in full immediately. That doesn’t mean you walk away empty-handed. Knowing when to negotiate a payment plan is critical to make sure you are moving forward. Remember, if payments stop, we’re ready to enforce again.

Ongoing Management

Collections isn’t a one-and-done process. It requires persistence, legal know-how, and follow-through. If someone promises to pay $100 on Friday, we are calling them on Friday to process the payment.  If someone promises to email their bank records, we’re following up with them to ensure the upload is completed.  Our firm manages the entire lifecycle of a collection case—from demand letter to lawsuit to judgment to payment—so you don’t have to chase down what you’re owed.

Make your legal win count – we can evaluate a case to see if it’s collectible and initial proceedings in the most efficient way possible.  We’ve been working in the collections space in Northern Virginia for over three decades – give us a call to see if we can help you. 703.771.9740