Debt Collection Attorneys Near Me

Edited by Hannah Locklear

When you first applied for a credit card or took out a loan, you probably didn’t anticipate any trouble repaying it. At the time, you needed the money and thought you had enough income to make regular payments. Unfortunately, you ran into problems that harmed your financial stability, like losing your job or contracting a severe illness.

Creditors note when clients stop paying their bills, and they usually escalate their collection efforts to get them back on track. If phone calls and letters don’t resolve the debt, they may decide to sue you.

If you’re the subject of a debt lawsuit, you might consider hiring a debt collection attorney to defend you. However, finding a debt collection attorney in your area isn’t always straightforward.

Do you need to settle a debt collection lawsuit quickly? SoloSettle handles the settlement process for you.

Check online and local listings for debt collection attorneys

You can find debt collection lawyers through various sources, including on the internet. Online directories like Avvo.com allow you to search for lawyers by name and practice area, allowing you to quickly find representation.

Note that debt collection cases are typically considered civil cases, so when you’re in search of a debt collection attorney, you are really looking for a lawyer who specializes in civil cases.

You can also browse local listing services like Google Maps and Yelp. However, it’s essential to realize that debt collection attorneys can represent both lenders and borrowers. You’ll want to find one who specializes in defending consumers.

Most lawyers rely heavily on advertising to promote their services. You’ll likely find a few in your area who continually appear in your research. However, don’t rely entirely on an attorney’s marketing efforts when finding someone to represent you. Consider reviews from prior clients, and check the Better Business Bureau (BBB) for complaints.

When you find a few lawyers who fit your criteria, schedule a consultation with each one. Many attorneys offer free consultations, so you won’t need to worry about incurring extra costs. Choose the attorney you feel most comfortable with who provides the services you need.

Sometimes, you don’t need a debt collection attorney’s help

Hiring a lawyer isn’t necessary for all debt collection lawsuits. Remember that an attorney will charge you for their services; these costs can run into hundreds or thousands of dollars.

If your lawsuit is less than $500, there’s no reason to hire an attorney. The legal costs would probably exceed the amount of the debt lawsuit. If you have a solid case against the creditor, you can file an Answer and represent yourself in court. Otherwise, you can repay the debt or try to settle it.

Check out the following video for six tips on drafting your response to a debt lawsuit:

However, a lawyer may be helpful if you have a particularly complicated claim or owe a lot of money. For instance, hiring an attorney might be beneficial if your debt is $25,000 and you know you can’t afford to repay it or settle it before your court date.

Let’s consider an example.

Understand the debt lawsuit process

A debt lawsuit starts when a creditor initiates a Complaint against you. The Complaint will list the amount you owe and information about your account. You’ll receive a copy of the Complaint and a Summons indicating your hearing date.

When you receive a Complaint, you’ll need to file an Answer. An Answer includes all your defenses for the lawsuit and stops your creditor from requesting a default judgment against you.

After filing your Answer, you’ll have a few options — repaying the debt, arranging a settlement, or defending yourself in court. If you don’t resolve the debt before the court date and lose your case, your creditor will obtain a judgment they can use to garnish your wages.

You don’t want your creditors to win a judgment against you, so make sure you gather supporting evidence if you have a valid defense to your creditor’s claim.

If you have a complicated case, it’s best to hire a debt collection attorney

Most debt lawsuits involve minor amounts that end up in small claims court. However, if a creditor is suing you for a large amount of money and you feel you need the support of an attorney, it’s smart to look for a debt collection lawyer.

Before hiring one, make sure you understand their fee structure and feel comfortable that they’re the right person for your case.

Do you need to write an Answer for a debt lawsuit claim? Use SoloSuit’s Debt Answer template to respond to your debt lawsuit by yourself.

What is SoloSuit?

SoloSuit makes it easy to fight debt collectors.

You can use SoloSuit to respond to a debt lawsuit, to send letters to collectors, and even to settle a debt.

SoloSuit's Answer service is a step-by-step web-app that asks you all the necessary questions to complete your Answer. Upon completion, we'll have an attorney review your document and we'll file it for you.

>>Read the FastCompany article: Debt Lawsuits Are Complicated: This Website Makes Them Simpler To Navigate

>>Read the NPR story on SoloSuit. (We can help you in all 50 states.)

How to answer a summons for debt collection in your state

Here's a list of guides for other states.

All 50 states.

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
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• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
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• Michigan
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• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
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• Ohio
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• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Guides on how to beat every debt collector

Being sued by a different debt collector? Were making guides on how to beat each one.

• Absolute Resolutions Investments LLC
• Accredited Collection Services
• Alliance One
• Amcol Clmbia
• American Recovery Service
• Asset Acceptance LLC
• Asset Recovery Solutions
• Associated Credit Services
• Autovest LLC
• Cach LLC
• Cavalry SPV I LLC
• Cerastes LLC
• Colinfobur
• Covington Credit
• Crown Asset Management
• CTC Debt Collector
• Cypress Financial Recoveries
• Delanor Kemper & Associates
• Eagle Loan of Ohio
• Educap
• Estate Information Services
• FIA Card Services
• Forster & Garbus
• Freshview Solutions
• Fulton Friedman & Gullace LLP
• Harvest Credit Management
• Howard Lee Schiff
• Hudson & Keyse LLC
• Integras Capital Recovery LLC
• Javitch Block
• Jefferson Capital Systems LLC
• LVNV Funding
• Mannbracken
• Mariner Finance
• Medicredit
• Michael J Adams PC
• Michael J Scott
• Midland Funding LLC
• Mullooly, Jeffrey, Rooney & Flynn
• Mountain Land Collections
• MRS Associates
• National Collegiate Trust
• Nationstar Foreclosure
• Northstar Capital Acquisition
• NCEP LLC
• NRC Collection Agency
• OneMain Financial
• Palisades Collection LLC
• Pallida LLC
• Paragon Revenue Group
• Pinnacle Collections Agency
• PMAB LLC
• Portfolio Recovery Associates
• Provest Law
• PYOD LLC
• Reunion Student Loan Finance Corporation
• Revenue Group
• Regents and Associates
• RSIEH
• Salander Enterprises LLC
• Second Round Sub LLC
• Security Credit Services
• Sherman Financial Group
• Suttell and Hammer
• T-Mobile
• Transworld Systems
• Tulsa Teachers Credit Union
• UCB Collection
• Velo Law Office
• Velocity Investments
• Waypoint Resource Group
• Weinberg and Associates
• Wolpoff & Abramson

Win against credit card companies

Is your credit card company suing you? Learn how you can beat each one.

• Bank of America
• Capital One
• Chase
• Credit One Bank
• PayPal Synchrony Card
• SYNCB/PPEXTR
• Synchrony Bank
• Target National Bank
• Wells Fargo

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Learn More With These Additional Resources:

Need help managing your finances? Check out these resources.

How to Make a Debt Validation Letter - The Ultimate Guide

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How to Stop Wage Garnishment — Everything You Need to Know

How to File an FDCPA Complaint Against Your Debt Collector (Ultimate Guide)

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