collection from my exlandloard!!!

[red_devils]

Hi,
Would someone please help me with this case's collection?
My exlandloard owned me 750$ deposit. I sued him and won the case on Aug 6th. The court entered a 750$ judgment in favor of me.
Now, the question.... My exlandlord showed no intention in returning the money. I actually knew that even before I had sued him. He lost his job and never seemed to have any chance of employment again. So he doesn't care anything about his credit loss.
What should I do next??? What is the best cost-effective way to do the collection? I read the selfservice website and filed the "ORDER TO PRODUCE STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND TO APPEAR FOR EXAMINATION". What information do you suggest I shall ask? Anyway, is that the correct way to proceed?
I prefer to garnish the money from his bank account. I suppose he still have one. My major concern is what if he choose to lie on that？He could just lie that he even doesn't have the bank account anymore. How could I argue with that???
I'd be very appreciated for your help. I'm just a student and on a tight budgut. That's why I care some much about the 750$.

 

[Gail_in_Georgia]

This form seems pretty cut and dried. It is a notification to the court system that you wish another hearing in which the landlord must present information on his assets and property. The information you need to provide includes where the landlord lives so he can be served, the case number of the previous hearing and the information that you have received nothing from him yet in terms of paying this debt.

Gail

 

[red_devils]

Thank you. But what's your point? Do you think it's necessary to do the examination? I'm going to do it anyway, as I've already filed. I'll hire a process server to serve the debtor. I know very well about his address and other relavant information.
My concern still is what if he lied? What if he doesn't admit that he has a bank account, which in fact he does, how can I argue with that?

 

[Gail_in_Georgia]

My point is that you are not getting any of this judgement paid back from the landlord now. The next logical step would be to file for this information. Will the landlord lie and say he doesn't have a bank account? Perhaps. However, he is less likely to the court than he would to you.

This may sound harsh but, unfortunately, welcome to the world of attempting to collect on a judgement. Landlords often have to face the same issue with tenants. I have; luckily the folks I filed against were nice enough to leave many important papers behind when the took off on the middle of the night. This paperwork included their new lease and a copy of their bank account which made serving them and, eventually, filing for garnishment much easier.

Most folks aren't so lucky. It is unlikely that a bank will willingly give out information to someone who calls requiring if a particular person has an account with them. One suggestion that has been made on other forums is to send a small check (or have a friend do the same) to the person in question. If they cash it at their bank and the check eventually gets returned to the person who wrote it with their monthly statement it should have the bank it was cashed at stamped on the back of the check.

Gail

 

[red_devils]

Thank you, Gail.
Actually I'm going to have a second hearing this Thursday. I have already prepared a set of questions to ask including his personal information, real estates, assets and most importantly to me his bank account. (he lost his job so I assume he is not receiving any salary) Other than that, do you think there is anything I should put forward when questioning him? Once I get his account information, it's much easier to file the 'writ of execution' for final collection...
Sending him a small check maybe a very good idea, should I do that after if he says on the court that he doesn't have a valid bank account?
Thank you for the reply.