frequently asked questions

What services does Creditor Solutions provide?

At Creditor Solutions, we take control of the recovery process for judgment creditors. Our sole focus is on claiming funds owed to our clients from outstanding judgment awards as quickly as possible. As a result, our network of motivated analysts, investigators and attorneys are able to deliver personalized attention to every claim.

How much experience does Creditor Solutions have in judgment enforcement?

The members of Creditor Solutions have years of experience and thousands of successful enforcements. In fact, judgment enforcement is all that we do. Our in-house team of investigation agents, financial analysts, negotiation coaches, legal support staff and account representatives are solely focused on the goal of satisfaction of outstanding awards.

Will I have to assign my judgment award to Creditor Solutions?

We do not purchase or take ownership of any judgment awards we enforce. As our clients, we work with the Judgment Creditors, as partners, to resolve the outstanding judgment debt.

How does Creditor Solutions recover my judgment award?

The enforcement process begins in the onboarding department. There, an onboarding agent evaluates the judgment, determines its suitability for enforcement and generates a request for background information from numerous sources, including information included in the judgment creditor’s submission, the judgment awarding court, the county clerks where transcripts were filed and even the corresponding Sheriff’s and Marshal’s offices.

Once suitability for enforcement is established, the judgment is transferred to our investigations department, where it is matched with a judgment investigator who matches the information to locate the correct debtor. From there, the matched investigation expert will begin constructing a thorough profile of the debtor to find any useful information necessary to our enforcement.

After the debtor profile is completed, the judgment investigator is equipped to begin the task for debtor assets. There are an overwhelming number of tools available to New York State judgment enforcement agencies like ours to uncover debtor assets and enforce our clients’ rights. To employ all of those tools for each instance would be costly and time consuming.

That is why our investigation agents take the time to determine the most appropriate route for recovery. This determination is guided by their familiarity with the nature of the judgment, the information compiled for the judgment debtor using the investigative tools at their disposal, and the probability of a successful outcome using one method over another.

Each one of our judgment investigators is trained not just to uncover, but to analyze data related to the debtor and to synthesize it for enforcement purposes. Our agents delve into publicly accessible databases, subpoenaed financial records, property transfer records, social media and proprietary databases, among other sources.

Once an enforceable asset is uncovered, our experts take immediate steps for leveraging it for enforcement. That could mean by working closely with the New York City Marshals and New York State Sheriffs offices, or negotiating a settlement with the debtor directly. This process continues until we achieve the result of complete satisfaction of judgment, meaning the judgment is entirely paid.

How long does it take Creditor Solutions to recover?

There is no specific time-frame that we can guarantee, or even that we’ll be able to successfully enforce the judgment on your behalf. Each judgment is unique and requires differing approaches for enforcement, which translates to either longer or shorter recovery periods. Additionally, we rely heavily on the responsiveness of the New York State Courts, which vary considerably. With that in mind, a median range for productive enforcement typically takes between six to twelve months.

Why use a third-party like Creditor Solutions to recover my judgment award?

Using a third-party, like Creditor Solutions, simply allows the judgment a higher chance of recovery. It allows for access to and application of any and all investigations and enforcement tools available in the industry, use of our network of attorneys and law firms, law enforcement agencies and licensed investigation experts. Most importantly, we cover all up-front enforcement costs for our clients and if we don’t succeed, there is no cost for our services.

Why should I use Creditor Solutions instead of a law firm?

Using Creditor Solutions means including a consortium of experts in the recovery process, rather than just one. Creditor Solutions works closely with New York State enforcement attorneys and law firms to provide the missing pieces of the puzzle and assist them in their actions. We utilize a number of law firms specializing in judgment enforcement, arming us with a network of attorneys to provide individualized attention to each of our claims, without any additional cost to you. This assistance is crucial to successfully employing any enforcement strategy.

How do I receive payment from Creditor Solutions?

Once payment is received from the judgment debtor, Creditor Solutions promptly notifies the creditor and remits payments by mailing a check made out to the Judgment Creditor using the address provided within thirty (30) days of receipt of an executed satisfaction of judgment.

What is the likelihood that Creditor Solutions will succeed in enforcing my judgment?

The likelihood that we will be successful in recovery varies . For example, older judgments are harder to enforce because there is a higher likelihood that the debtor, if an individual, has passed away or, if a corporate entity, has dissolved. Other factors that play a part in enforceability include the size of the judgment, whether the debtor has unencumbered assets, whether there are prior unsatisfied judgments against the debtor and whether the debtor resides within the state.

All of the potential roadblocks will become apparent after we’ve received the application for enforcement and our onboarding agents have conducted a thorough workup. Once the judgment profile is established, an agent will be better able to understand the judgment and let you know how probable a successful outcome may be. With that said, the more information you are able to provide regarding the debtor, such as where the debtor banks, or the debtor's primary customers or clients, the better the chances of recovery. For more information, contact us by calling (646) 814-1614 or emailing [email protected].

How much does it cost to hire Creditor Solutions?

We only get paid if you do. There are absolutely no up-front costs associated with hiring Creditor Solutions to enforce your judgment. We will never demand payment up-front or out-of-pocket fees for our services. Instead, the payment for our services is rendered as a contingency fee. Creditor Solutions receives a portion of settlement funds once our enforcement efforts yield a successful recovery of the judgment. If our recovery efforts are unsuccessful, you do not owe us anything.

Can I use Creditor Solutions if I don’t have a judgment?

At this time, Creditor Solutions is only accepting judgment enforcement claims. Once your judgment is entered and recorded by the county clerk’s office, we can begin working on your behalf.

How much time do I have to recover on my judgment award?

rom the moment a judge or clerk of court signs and files a decision, it becomes an enforceable judgment. A recorded judgment is enforceable for a period of twenty (20) years from either the date of entry or the date of the most recent post-judgment payment by the debtor(s). Under New York law (NY CPLR section 211(b)), the prevailing party is presumed to have been paid in full “after the expiration of 20 years from the time when the party recovering it was first entitled to enforce it.” To find out whether your judgment is enforceable, contact us by calling (646) 814-1614 or emailing [email protected].

Does Creditor Solutions enforce judgments awarded out of state?

Creditor Solutions enforces judgments awarded in New York State, as well as out-of-state judgments, once they have been domesticated. To find out if your judgment is enforceable by Creditor Solutions, contact us by calling (646) 814-1614 or emailing [email protected].

Does Creditor Solutions enforce judgments awards for unpaid child support?

Unfortunately, we do not enforce judgments awarded for support enforcement. Please contact the Child Support Enforcement’s Support Collection Unit for assistance in collecting child support arrears. For more information on assistance with State Child Support, visit the New York State website by clicking here. Alternatively, contact your local Child Support Office. Click here for the contact information of your nearest Child Support Office.

Can Creditor Solutions enforce a judgment if the debtor has made partial payments towards it?

Creditor Solutions can enforce partially satisfied judgment awards. However, any payments made by the debtor towards satisfaction of the judgment need to be disclosed when submitting the judgment for enforcement. If a judgment that has been partially or completely satisfied is submitted for enforcement without disclosing such fact, Creditor Solutions reserves the right to to bring suits, claims, and actions for any and all causes of action arising from the client agreement against the judgment creditor.

Does Creditor Solutions enforce judgment verdicts that are currently under review?

After a judgment is awarded, the losing party can file an appeal, asking a higher court to review and reverse the decision of a trial court. Although filing an appeal does not stop the trial court’s order, if the trial court’s decision is overturned on appeal, it’s likely that any money paid by the judgment debtor during the appeal will have to be returned. The appeals process is very complicated and inviting a judgment enforcement agency only hinders the process.

For these reasons, Creditor Solutions does not accept submissions for enforcement of judgment awards currently on appeal or where the judgment debtor has stayed the judgment.

On the other hand, the court to which a verdict is appealed only reviews whether a legal mistake was made and whether this mistake changed the final decision in the case. The court only reviews the decision to make sure that the legal processes were executed properly. It cannot change the trial court’s decision just because it may not agree with it. Therefore, appeals do not usually change the trial court’s decision and will be upheld. Once the trial court’s decision is upheld, Creditor Solutions can begin its enforcement! For more information, contact us by calling (646) 814-1614 or emailing [email protected].

Does Creditor Solutions enforce judgment awards against bankrupt debtors?

Normally, judgments discharged through bankruptcy are not enforceable. In some cases, however, a judgment awarded after a bankruptcy discharge may still be enforceable against a judgment debtor. Whether or not Creditor Solutions is able to enforce a judgment involving bankruptcy will become apparent during our evaluation, where we will uncover any hindering factors and notify the judgment creditor in the event that we cannot proceed with enforcement. For more information, contact us by calling (646) 814-1614 or emailing [email protected].

Does Creditor Solutions enforce judgment awards against a debtor’s estate?

According to the New York Estates, Powers & Trusts Law, creditors have a maximum of seven months from the date the executor is appointed to file any claim against an estate. If a claim is brought after the seven-month period and the executor has distributed assets to the beneficiaries or paid other claims, then the executor is not responsible for the claim if no money is available to pay such claim (SCPA §1802). Although there are certain exceptions to this rule, the process of enforcing a judgment against an estate often proves costly and fruitless. For this reason, unless already handling the enforcement at the time of a judgment debtor’s death, Creditor Solutions will not proceed in an enforcement against the estate of a deceased judgment debtor.

Can I use Creditor Solutions if my judgment award is in a different state, but the debtor lives in New York?

Judgments from other states or countries, also known as “foreign judgments,” need to be domesticated in New York State before pursuing enforcement against a debtor who is domiciled or has assets within the state. This is a straightforward process requiring registering the foreign judgment in New York under Article 54 of the CPLR, also known as the “Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act.” Creditor Solutions has experience in domesticating judgments as well as enforcement of domesticated judgments. For more information, contact us by calling (646) 814-1614 or emailing [email protected].

Does Creditor Solutions enforce judgments involving state or government entities?

Creditor Solutions does not accept judgments issued against state or government agencies. However, where the Plaintiff is the State, acting on behalf of an individual or entity, wins a judgment award for damages, Creditor Solutions is able to assist in the recovery. For more information, contact us by calling (646) 814-1614 or emailing [email protected].

What do I need in order to get started with Creditor Solutions?

In order to begin enforcement, submit a completed schedule A: judgment recovery submission form and signed client service agreement. Our Judgment Recovery Submission is comprehensive and provides us with the information we need to begin enforcement. Though responses to all questions may not be readily available, please include as much information as you can comfortably recall to get started. The submission can always be supplemented with additional information in the future.

Submit your application using one of the following methods or call (646) 814-1614 to speak with a representative that will guide you through the process.

Fill out an application online by clicking on the “Enforce Judgment” button at the top of the screen.
Fax your completed schedule A: judgment recovery submission form and signed client service agreement to (646) 777-1710.
Email your completed schedule A: judgment recovery submission form and signed client service agreement to [email protected].
Mail your completed schedule A: judgment recovery submission form and signed client service agreement to our office, located at 1441 Broadway, 5th Fl New York, NY 10018.