{"id":1354,"date":"2022-09-06T11:33:28","date_gmt":"2022-09-06T11:33:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/?p=1354"},"modified":"2022-09-09T12:10:59","modified_gmt":"2022-09-09T12:10:59","slug":"sued-for-debt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/sued-for-debt\/","title":{"rendered":"What Should I Do if I\u2019ve Been Sued for Debt?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sued_for_Debt_in_Oregon_Washington\"><\/span><b>Sued for Debt in Oregon &amp; Washington<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-662b69f1b9332\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-662b69f1b9332\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/sued-for-debt\/#Sued_for_Debt_in_Oregon_Washington\" title=\"Sued for Debt in Oregon &amp; Washington\">Sued for Debt in Oregon &amp; Washington<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/sued-for-debt\/#What_happens_if_you_are_sued_for_debt\" title=\"What happens if you are sued for debt?\">What happens if you are sued for debt?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/sued-for-debt\/#Being_sued_despite_having_good_faith_efforts\" title=\"Being sued despite having\u00a0good faith\u00a0efforts\">Being sued despite having\u00a0good faith\u00a0efforts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/sued-for-debt\/#Getting_a_Complaint_and_Responding_to_it\" title=\"Getting a Complaint and Responding to it\">Getting a Complaint and Responding to it<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/sued-for-debt\/#Debt_defense_against_a_claim\" title=\"Debt defense against a claim\">Debt defense against a claim<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/sued-for-debt\/#Debt_Ownership\" title=\"Debt Ownership\">Debt Ownership<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/sued-for-debt\/#Requesting_for_appropriate_documentation\" title=\"Requesting for appropriate documentation\">Requesting for appropriate documentation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/sued-for-debt\/#Other_common_debt_defenses\" title=\"Other\u00a0common debt defenses\">Other\u00a0common debt defenses<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/sued-for-debt\/#What_happens_if_you_file_an_answer\" title=\"What happens if you file an answer?\">What happens if you file an answer?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/sued-for-debt\/#What_happens_if_you_dont_file_an_answer\" title=\"What happens if you don&#8217;t file an answer?\">What happens if you don&#8217;t file an answer?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/sued-for-debt\/#Judgment\" title=\"Judgment\">Judgment<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/sued-for-debt\/#Negotiating_or_Settling_your_Debt_Lawsuit\" title=\"Negotiating or\u00a0Settling\u00a0your Debt Lawsuit\">Negotiating or\u00a0Settling\u00a0your Debt Lawsuit<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/sued-for-debt\/#When_to_Get_Assistance_from_a_Lawyer\" title=\"When to Get Assistance from a Lawyer?\">When to Get Assistance from a Lawyer?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/sued-for-debt\/#We_can_help_you\" title=\"We can help you!\">We can help you!<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Usually, it takes roughly six months of missed payments until you can be sued for a debt. In general, creditors and staff members of credit card companies prefer to reach an agreeable payment arrangement with their debtors before taking legal action.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is due to the fact that using legal means to collect a debt not only costs money, but it can also delay the process. However, it&#8217;s not impossible\u00a0to be sued for a debt, particularly if you don&#8217;t get in touch with your creditor and repeatedly skip payments.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The fundamentals of what you should do if a creditor has initiated a lawsuit against you for unpaid debt are covered in this article. It will cover everything, including how to read a complaint and pick a lawyer.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_happens_if_you_are_sued_for_debt\"><\/span><b>What happens if you are sued for debt?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-1356 size-full\" title=\"sued for debt\" src=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/sued-for-debt.webp\" alt=\"sued for debt\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/sued-for-debt.webp 400w, https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/sued-for-debt-300x225.webp 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>When a creditor files a case with a state civil court, naming you and, if applicable, your co-signer as defendants, a debt collection lawsuit is launched. The reason the creditor is suing you and its demands will be stated in the complaint. Typically, that includes the amount you owe plus interest, as well as potential court costs and attorney fees.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Debt collectors anticipate that the majority of people won&#8217;t show up to their hearing, so the court will have to enter a default judgment. A default judgment may give the creditor the following options:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wage garnishment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Assign a lien to your property.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try to freeze all or a portion of your bank account&#8217;s funds.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Being_sued_despite_having_good_faith_efforts\"><\/span><b>Being sued despite having\u00a0good faith\u00a0efforts<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if you have promised\u00a0to make small payments toward your debt or work with a collection agency, a creditor may still sue you. However, this is a less likely scenario because creditors normally do not file lawsuits against debtors who are\u00a0making at least\u00a0a good faith effort to return a debt.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Getting_a_Complaint_and_Responding_to_it\"><\/span><b>Getting a Complaint and Responding to it<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A legal complaint and summons are typically the first signs that you&#8217;re being sued for a debt. The complaint outlines the type of debt claims made against you as well as their financial value.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other hand,\u00a0the summons informs you in writing that you must be present\u00a0in court on a specific date if you desire to contest the claim.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Therefore, if you agree with the claim but would prefer to reach a settlement, you should normally respond to the complaint if you intend to defend against a creditor&#8217;s legal claim against you.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Debt_defense_against_a_claim\"><\/span><b>Debt defense against a claim<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you intend to contest a claim made against you, an experienced Portland and Washington debt defense\u00a0lawyer can assist you in determining which defenses are the most reasonable. The case might not even be legal because arbitration clauses are frequently seen in consumer contracts.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Debt_Ownership\"><\/span><b>Debt Ownership<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A creditor suing you for unpaid debt must also be able to prove that they are the rightful owner of the debt.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creditors typically sell debts to other organizations, which are then regarded legally as &#8220;debt collectors.&#8221; The original creditor is not subject to this requirement, but these buyers of debt should be able to show proof of the debt\u00a0to file a lawsuit against you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Therefore, if a debt collector contacts you, you should ask for written confirmation of the debt. It may not demand payment from you if it cannot offer written proof.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Requesting_for_appropriate_documentation\"><\/span><b>Requesting for appropriate documentation<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, by law, creditors must either include a\u00a0written contract or an account\u2019s copy in the lawsuit or provide justification for its absence. You have the right to request that the court dismiss the action if the collector\u00a0or creditor\u00a0is unable to provide the appropriate documentation.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Other_common_debt_defenses\"><\/span><b>Other\u00a0common debt defenses<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">False identity<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identity theft<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Debt has been discharged (in bankruptcy)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Erroneous charges (if credit card debt)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creditor violating\u00a0the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The debt has already been settled.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The creditor didn&#8217;t properly serve you.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_happens_if_you_file_an_answer\"><\/span><b>What happens if you file an answer?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The court will schedule a date and time for you and the creditor to appear in court if you file an answer. If you haven&#8217;t asserted a counterclaim, the judge will inquire as to whether you owe the obligation rather than your ability to pay it. The creditor will win the case and obtain a judgment unless you can demonstrate that you do not owe the money (or succeed because of another defense or a counterclaim).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The judge might order the creditor to take payments from you in a few circumstances, particularly in small claims court, but the judge is not obligated to do this.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_happens_if_you_dont_file_an_answer\"><\/span><b>What happens if you don&#8217;t file an answer?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The creditor will always prevail if you fail to submit an answer. The amount of money specified in the complaint will be the amount for which the creditor receives a judgment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Typically, only the summons and complaint will be mailed or given to you. However, the county courthouse indicated on the court papers is where you can obtain a copy of the judgment.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Judgment\"><\/span><b>Judgment<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A judge&#8217;s decision\u00a0that you owe the creditor a specified sum of money is known as a judgment in a lawsuit for debts. The judgment will be for the sum of the outstanding bills, court expenses, attorney&#8217;s fees (in some situations), and interest on the unpaid bill if you fail to file an answer or demonstrate in court that you do not owe the money.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Negotiating_or_Settling_your_Debt_Lawsuit\"><\/span><b>Negotiating or\u00a0Settling\u00a0your Debt Lawsuit<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You have the choice to bargain with the company or complainant that is suing you. Because the business could find it advantageous to receive that money upfront, you can offer to make a one-time payment that is less than what you owe. They might prefer receiving a portion of the money quicker than all of it more gradually.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Typically, you have the option to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Negotiate\u00a0to reduce the amount owed<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accept a lump sum\u00a0payment<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create a payment plan<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The initial contract and the person currently in charge of debt management may affect these options.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_to_Get_Assistance_from_a_Lawyer\"><\/span><b>When to Get Assistance from a Lawyer?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depending on the circumstances, you can require several attorneys. For instance, if you need to know what should you do if you have been sued for debt, a debt defense lawyer can help.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you already have debt, lawyer&#8217;s fees and court charges can seem intimidating. Remember that a lawyer can file a counterclaim or fight for an automatic stay, giving you more time to look for debt defense.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lawsuits for credit card debt might be simple. This helps you save time and money on legal bills, and there&#8217;s a good chance that having a pro look out for your interests can improve the outcome.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"We_can_help_you\"><\/span><b>We can help you!<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have you been sued for a debt in Portland, Oregon? Make your move by reaching out to a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">knowledgeable Oregon debt defense attorney near you.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At Northwest Debt Defense, our Oregon debt defense lawyers offer Portland residents and also those living in Salem, and Medford debt relief. We will fight for your debtor&#8217;s rights in and out of court. Contact us today for a free debt analysis.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sued for Debt in Oregon &amp; Washington Usually, it takes roughly six months of missed payments until you can be sued for a debt. In general, creditors and staff members of credit card companies prefer to reach an agreeable payment arrangement with their debtors before taking legal action. This is due to the fact that [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1357,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[34],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1354"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1354"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1354\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1358,"href":"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1354\/revisions\/1358"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1357"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1354"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1354"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nwdebtdefense.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1354"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}