(856) 686-9910Understanding Information Subpoenas in New Jersey
Lawyers seeking to recover a debt are interested in obtaining your financial details, such as your bank account, employment information, and a list of assets. In New Jersey, this is typically done through a form known as an "information subpoena," which they will send to you. Despite originating from the law firm, this document holds legal authority as it is a court document and should be handled appropriately. Upon receiving this subpoena, you are legally obligated to fill it out entirely, sign it, and send it back to the law firm within a 14-day period. As a debt relief lawyer in New Jersey, I can help you understand what you need to do when presented with an information subpoena.
Consequences For Not Answering the Subpoena
If you do not answer the subpoena, you can be held in contempt of court. Continuing to ignore it can and usually does result in a warrant for your arrest being issued by a judge. A sheriff or other New Jersey court officer may come to your home to pick you up. You can get out of trouble by complying and filling out the form to avoid the embarrassment of being arrested.
Responding to the Subpoena
The consequences of your responding to the subpoena depend on your situation. If you are judgment-proof due to being unemployed or disabled, having no real assets (including your home), or some other reason, then it is unlikely anything will happen because you have given the creditor nothing to work with.
On the other hand, if you have a job, a car, a bank account, or a home, a levy is most likely headed your way, and you will want to take action to prevent it. Do something right away; don't wait until the creditor does something severe like a wage execution or a bank levy.
As you can see, this is not something you should ignore. Not only can it get you arrested, but it is also a clear sign that you must address this collection suit before it causes more problems for you.
So What Do I Do?
If this is the only debt out of hand, you should try reaching a deal with the creditor for payments. Getting it under control will certainly make your life much easier and eliminate the stress.
Have you tried this but have been unsuccessful? Have the lawyer or their staff been too aggressive and demanding with you? Help can be a phone call away. As a former creditor's attorney, I have helped many people deal with situations like this by negotiating on their behalf.
If you live in New Jersey, owe more than $10,000 to the creditor, would like to retain me to negotiate with this creditor, and are ready to take action, just click this link to schedule a call to discuss your case with me.
If you want more information on how to deal with your creditors, download my free book, The Biggest Secrets Your Creditors Don't Want You to Know. This explains the collection system and your rights within it.
Are you a visual learner rather than a reader? Do you enjoy watching YouTube to learn new things? Then check out my 3-part video series on how creditors use lawsuits in New Jersey to collect debts. Just click here for more information on how to get the links.
But if this debt is not your only one, and you are wondering whether you need a solution to a bigger problem, then download my free book, Am I In Too Deep? A Guide to Knowing When You Need to File Bankruptcy in New Jersey to determine if bankruptcy might be the right solution. You could also just give me a call and come in to discuss it further.
