Landlord Question and Answer Forum

I was awarded a judgement for damages/past due rent in Butler County Ohio. This person is self-employed through the state of Ohio and I am being told by the employer that they are not required to (by some statute) to perform garnishments on self-employed individuals. I tried the bank acct but it was no longer active. The courts "think" that I should be able to file an attachment w/her employer. Again the contact told me he didn't think that would be approved by the attorney generals office. I called the IRS to inquire as to whether I could garnish a refund only to be treated extremely rude and told I was not forthcoming (I think it was because I told her my SS# was not pertinant to my call). I doubt this prev. tenant would have a refund because she has to pay her own taxes and seeing how she handled her finances I think she probably owes the IRS as well. Anyone have any experience w/a selfemployed person and collecting against a judgement?

Collecting a judgement can be VERY difficult. I have found that making sure that the judgement appears on the credit record of the individual has gotten me payment eventually. The other ooption is to go through a professional collection attorney.

Posted by Donna , NC on Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Collecting can be tricky, but I feel it is because, as is standard w/government and law, there is not a lot of help with the forms and the wording is absurd. I just received a check from another judgement (payroll garn) and was extremely surprised at the amount they had already garnished from his wages. It is really the other person I would love to collect from because she left the house in such a mess (smoked in nonsmoking house/unauthorized pet/carpet exremely dirty etc. damage to window screens, few holes in the walls). May and June were not good months this year!

Posted by Will and Rebecca H, OH on Tuesday, November 24, 2009