Anonymous wrote:Did anyone start by filing forms in the same court jurisdiction? Apparently that is my first step but I'm not sure what this entails and wonder what the fee schedule is.

11:38 here. I filed my case in Fairfax County - the county website had everything I needed to fill out and clear direction on how to file. It was super easy and not very expensive. I included the cost of filing/serving into the amount I was suing for.

Did anyone start by filing forms in the same court jurisdiction? Apparently that is my first step but I'm not sure what this entails and wonder what the fee schedule is.

I had to hire someone who helped us garnish her rent checks immediately after she deposited them.

I contacted a debt collection agency and sold them the debt. I only got like a quarter of the judgement amount but it wasn't really about the money. I knew the debt collector would pursue it not only with phone calls but also with additional court filings. I learned about doing it from listening to cases that came before mine in small claims. Sweet!

My ex-tenant paid once he found the debt shows up on his credit report

You have to research how to collect in whatever jurisdiction you live. I collected $3k by placing liens on a scumbag landlord's property and garnishing his bank account. He had a similar attitude until his bank account was frozen.

Not sure if this is the right forum but I recently won a small court claim judgement for 1k. Defendant doesn't want to pay and apparently I have to file in court to begin to collect the judgment. Anybody know how this works from experience?