Judgment Debtor Disappeared: How to Find & Collect From Missing Debtors

Q: Can I find the debtor's employer to garnish wages?

Yes. Employment can be discovered through skip tracing databases, social media investigation, professional license lookups, and post-judgment discovery. Once you identify the employer, you can serve a wage garnishment order. Most states allow garnishment of 25% of disposable wages.

Q: What if the debtor filed bankruptcy?

If the debtor files bankruptcy, collection efforts must stop immediately (automatic stay). However, not all debts are dischargeable—debts from fraud, intentional injury, certain taxes, and child support typically survive bankruptcy. Check whether your judgment falls into a non-dischargeable category and file appropriate objections in the bankruptcy case.

Updated 📖 30 min read

You won your lawsuit and have a judgment—but the debtor has vanished. No forwarding address, disconnected phone, maybe even moved out of state. This is frustratingly common: approximately 80% of civil judgments go uncollected, often because creditors don’t know how to find and pursue debtors who’ve disappeared. But your judgment isn’t worthless. This comprehensive guide shows you exactly how to locate missing debtors, discover their hidden assets, and turn your paper judgment into real money.

📌 Key Takeaways

Professional skip tracing locates 85%+ of missing debtors
Judgments can be domesticated to collect in other states
Post-judgment discovery forces debtors to disclose assets under oath
Debtors who flee often have assets worth protecting—pursue them
Judgments can be renewed before expiration (varies by state: 5-20 years)
Don’t rely on debtor’s claims of being “judgment proof”—verify independently
Even partial collection is better than abandoning the judgment

80% Judgments Go Uncollected

85%+ Skip Trace Success Rate

10-20 Years Judgment Valid

25% Max Wage Garnishment

🏃 Why Judgment Debtors Disappear

Understanding why debtors vanish helps you predict their behavior and find them more effectively.

Common Reasons Debtors Flee

Protecting assets: They have property or income they want to shield from collection
Buying time: Hoping you’ll give up or the judgment will expire
Fresh start: Moving to a new area to escape creditors
Embarrassment: Avoiding the stigma of financial problems
Multiple creditors: You’re not the only one pursuing them
Criminal activity: Sometimes debtors are also evading law enforcement

What Their Disappearance Tells You

💡 Key Insight: Flight Suggests Assets

Debtors who truly have nothing don’t usually bother running. The effort of changing addresses, disconnecting phones, and moving away suggests they have something to protect. People who go to great lengths to avoid you often have assets worth finding. This should motivate your pursuit, not discourage it.

Typical Debtor Behavior Patterns

Initial avoidance: Screen calls, ignore mail, hope you go away
Local move: Change address within same area to avoid process
State relocation: Move to new state, thinking judgment doesn’t follow
Asset transfer: Move assets to family members or hidden accounts
Bankruptcy consideration: File or threaten to file to discharge debt

📋 First Steps When Your Debtor Vanishes

Take these actions immediately when you discover your debtor has disappeared:

Document What You Know

Compile all information: last known address, phone numbers, employer, vehicle info, relatives’ names, social media accounts, email addresses. Everything helps skip tracing efforts.

Check Court Records

Search for the debtor in other court cases—they may have provided updated addresses in other lawsuits, divorce filings, or criminal matters.

Verify Judgment Status

Confirm your judgment is still valid and hasn’t expired. Check if any liens are properly recorded. Ensure you have certified copies available.

Run Preliminary Searches

Try free resources: social media, Google searches, voter registration, property records. This may locate them without cost.

Order Professional Skip Trace

If free methods fail, engage a professional skip tracer for current address, employer, and asset information.

🔍 Skip Tracing Missing Debtors

Skip tracing is the process of locating people who have “skipped” or disappeared. For judgment debtors, this is often the critical first step.

What Skip Tracers Search

Data Source	What It Reveals	Accuracy
Credit Headers	Current address from credit activity	Very High
Utility Records	Where they’ve turned on services	High
DMV Records	Vehicle registration and license address	High
Employment Data	Current employer from wage reporting	Medium-High
Phone Records	Current phone numbers and associated addresses	Medium
Property Records	Real estate ownership nationwide	High
Court Filings	Addresses in other legal matters	High

Skip Trace Report Contents

A comprehensive skip trace report typically includes:

Current address: Most recent verified residence
Address history: Previous addresses with dates
Phone numbers: Current and historical
Employment: Current employer if available
Relatives/associates: Connected individuals who may know location
Vehicles: Registered cars, boats, etc.
Property ownership: Real estate in their name

Expected Success Rates

Basic cases (recent move, good starting info): 90%+ success rate
Moderate cases (older info, some evasion): 75-85% success rate
Difficult cases (deliberate hiding, minimal info): 60-75% success rate
Very difficult (years gone, almost no info): 40-60% success rate

🗺️ When the Debtor Moves Out of State

A debtor moving to another state doesn’t void your judgment. You can pursue them through domestication.

Domesticating Your Judgment

Domestication (also called registration or enrollment) makes your judgment enforceable in another state:

Obtain Certified Judgment Copy

Get an authenticated or certified copy of your judgment from the original court. This proves the judgment exists and is valid.

Research New State’s Rules

Each state has specific procedures for registering foreign judgments. Most follow the Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act (UEFJA).

File in New State

File the certified judgment copy with the court in the county where the debtor now lives or has assets. Pay required filing fees.

Serve Notice on Debtor

Most states require you to notify the debtor that the judgment has been domesticated. They have limited time to challenge.

Enforce Under New State Law

Once domesticated, enforce the judgment using the new state’s collection tools: garnishment, levies, liens.

Domestication Costs

Expense	Typical Cost
Certified judgment copy	$25-75
Filing fee in new state	$50-200
Service of notice	$50-150
Attorney assistance (if used)	$300-1,000
Total (DIY)	$125-425
Total (with attorney)	$500-1,500

💡 Full Faith and Credit

Under the U.S. Constitution’s Full Faith and Credit Clause, states must honor valid judgments from other states. The debtor cannot escape your judgment just by crossing state lines. Once properly domesticated, your judgment has the same force as if it were originally entered in the new state.

💰 Finding Hidden Assets

Debtors who disappear often hide assets too. Finding those assets is essential for collection.

Asset Search Targets

🏠

Real Property

Homes, land, commercial property, rental income properties. Searchable through county assessor records nationwide.

High Value

🚗

Vehicles

Cars, trucks, boats, RVs, motorcycles. Registration records reveal ownership and can be levied.

Medium Value

💼

Employment

Current wages can be garnished up to 25% of disposable income. Find employer through skip trace.

Ongoing Income

🏢

Business Interests

Ownership in corporations, LLCs, partnerships. Secretary of State records reveal interests.

Variable Value

Professional Asset Search Reports

Professional asset searches access databases unavailable to the public:

Nationwide real property ownership
All registered vehicles
Aircraft and watercraft registration
Business entity ownership (all 50 states)
UCC filings (secured debts)
Judgment and lien records
Corporate officer/director positions

📋 Post-Judgment Discovery

Post-judgment discovery uses court processes to force debtors to reveal information about their assets.

Judgment Debtor Examination

Also called a debtor’s exam, supplemental proceeding, or order to appear:

What it is: Court-ordered examination where debtor must answer questions about assets under oath
How it works: You (or your attorney) ask questions; debtor must bring financial documents
Power: Lying is perjury; failure to appear is contempt of court
Documents to request: Tax returns, bank statements, pay stubs, property deeds

Information Subpoenas

Written questions the debtor must answer under oath:

All bank accounts and balances
Employment information
Real property owned
Vehicles owned
Other income sources
Safety deposit boxes

Third-Party Subpoenas

Subpoenas to institutions and others who have information about the debtor:

Banks: Account information, balances, recent transactions
Employers: Salary, benefits, bonus information
Accountants: Tax returns, financial records
Business partners: Partnership income, distributions
Stock brokers: Investment account information

⚠️ Contempt of Court

If a debtor fails to appear for a judgment debtor examination or refuses to answer questions, they can be held in contempt of court. This can result in fines or even jail time. The threat of contempt often motivates cooperation from previously uncooperative debtors.

🔧 Collection Tools & Strategies

Once you’ve located the debtor and identified assets, use these tools to collect.

Collection Method Comparison

Method	Best For	Pros	Cons
Wage Garnishment	Employed debtors	Ongoing, reliable income	Max 25% of wages
Bank Levy	Known bank accounts	Can grab full balance	One-time; debtor can move funds
Property Lien	Real estate owners	Secured; paid at sale/refi	May wait years for payment
Vehicle Levy	Valuable vehicles	Immediate asset seizure	Exempt amounts may apply
Till Tap	Cash businesses	Accesses cash flow	Requires sheriff coordination

💼 Wage Garnishment

Wage garnishment takes money directly from the debtor’s paycheck before they receive it.

How Wage Garnishment Works

Obtain writ of execution or garnishment order from court
Identify debtor’s employer (skip trace can help)
Serve garnishment order on employer
Employer withholds portion of wages each pay period
Employer sends withheld funds to you (or court)

Garnishment Limits

Federal limit: 25% of disposable earnings, or amount exceeding 30x minimum wage (whichever is less)
Some states: Lower limits (Texas protects 100% of wages from garnishment for most debts)
Multiple garnishments: Total can’t exceed 25% even with multiple creditors
Priority debts: Child support and taxes may take more, reducing what’s available for your judgment

🏦 Bank Levies

A bank levy freezes and seizes funds in the debtor’s bank account.

Bank Levy Process

Obtain writ of execution from court
Identify bank where debtor has accounts
Deliver writ to bank (usually via sheriff)
Bank freezes account and reports balance
After holding period, funds transferred to satisfy judgment

Bank Levy Considerations

Timing matters: Best right after payday when account balances are highest
Exemptions: Some funds may be protected (Social Security, disability, etc.)
One-time grab: Only captures what’s there at moment of levy
Multiple levies: May need to levy multiple times
Joint accounts: May only be able to reach debtor’s portion

🏠 Property Liens

Recording a judgment lien against real property secures your claim and ensures payment when the property is sold or refinanced.

How Judgment Liens Work

Record abstract of judgment with county recorder
Lien attaches to all real property debtor owns in that county
When property is sold, your lien must be paid (or assumed by buyer)
When property is refinanced, your lien must often be paid off

Strategic Considerations

Record everywhere: File in every county where debtor owns or might acquire property
Wait time: May take years before property sells
Priority: Earlier liens get paid first (mortgage usually has priority)
Forced sale: You may be able to force sale of property to satisfy lien (varies by state)

🔄 Judgment Renewal

Judgments don’t last forever. Know your state’s rules and renew before expiration.

Judgment Duration by State

State	Initial Term	Renewal Term	Renewal Deadline
California	10 years	10 years	Before expiration
New York	20 years	20 years	Before expiration
Texas	10 years	10 years	Within 2 years of expiration
Florida	20 years	20 years	Before expiration
Illinois	7 years	7 years	Before expiration
Ohio	5 years	5 years	Before expiration

🚫 Don’t Let Your Judgment Expire

Once a judgment expires, it cannot be renewed. You lose all collection rights permanently. Calendar the expiration date and renewal deadline. Renew early—don’t wait until the last minute when unexpected delays could cause you to miss the deadline.

📑 When the Debtor Files Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy can complicate collection, but doesn’t always eliminate your judgment.

Automatic Stay

When bankruptcy is filed, an automatic stay immediately stops all collection activity:

You cannot garnish wages
You cannot levy bank accounts
You cannot pursue lawsuits
You cannot even contact debtor about the debt

Debts That Survive Bankruptcy

Not all debts are dischargeable. Your judgment may survive if it arose from:

Fraud: Debts obtained through fraud, false pretenses, or misrepresentation
Willful injury: Intentional harm to you or your property
Embezzlement or larceny: Theft or misappropriation
Domestic support: Child support and alimony
DUI injuries: Injuries caused by intoxicated driving
Certain taxes: Recent income taxes and tax fraud

What to Do When Debtor Files

Stop all collection activity immediately
File a proof of claim in the bankruptcy case
Determine if your debt is non-dischargeable
If non-dischargeable, file adversary proceeding to except from discharge
Attend 341 meeting if useful for information

⏰ Best Times to Collect

Some times are better than others for collection efforts:

Tax Refund Season (Feb-April)

Bank accounts often have higher balances from tax refunds. Levy timing can capture this windfall.

After Pay Day

Best time for bank levies—accounts are at their fullest right after direct deposit.

Before Major Purchases

If you know debtor is buying a house or car, they must clear liens or disclose judgments.

Inheritance or Windfall

Monitor obituaries of debtor’s relatives. Inheritances can be reached.

New Employment

When debtor starts new job, wage garnishment becomes possible. Monitor for employment changes.

👔 Getting Professional Help

Consider professional assistance for complex collection efforts.

Types of Professionals

Skip tracers: Locate missing debtors and identify assets
Collection attorneys: Handle legal aspects of judgment enforcement
Collection agencies: May purchase or collect on contingency (typically 25-50%)
Asset recovery specialists: Comprehensive location and collection services

When to Use Each

Professional	Best For	Typical Cost
Skip Tracer	Locating debtor, basic asset info	$75-200 per search
Collection Attorney	Complex enforcement, domestication	$200-400/hour or contingency
Collection Agency	High-volume, smaller judgments	25-50% of collected amount
Asset Recovery Specialist	Large judgments, comprehensive service	Contingency (20-40%)

🔍 Need to Find a Missing Judgment Debtor?

Our professional skip tracing services locate debtors who have disappeared. Current addresses, employment, assets—we find what you need to collect. Over 20 years of experience helping judgment creditors.

Find Your Debtor → Learn More

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What do I do if my judgment debtor has disappeared?

Start with a professional skip trace to locate their current address and employment. Once found, use post-judgment discovery tools (debtor examination, information subpoenas, third-party subpoenas) to identify assets. Then pursue collection through wage garnishment, bank levies, or property liens. Don’t assume they’re judgment proof—people who take the trouble to move often have assets worth protecting.

How do skip tracers find missing judgment debtors?

Skip tracers use specialized databases that track credit activity (addresses on credit applications), utility connections (where they’ve turned on services), DMV records (vehicle registration and license addresses), employment data (from wage reporting), and court filings. They can trace address changes, identify new employers, and find assets through property and business entity searches. Even debtors who deliberately hide leave digital footprints.

Can I still collect a judgment if the debtor moved out of state?

Yes. You can domesticate (register) your judgment in the new state where the debtor lives or has assets. This process involves filing a certified copy of your judgment with the new state’s court, paying filing fees, and serving notice on the debtor. Once domesticated, your judgment is enforceable in the new state using that state’s collection tools—garnishment, levies, liens. The Constitution requires states to honor valid judgments from other states.

How long is a judgment valid?

Judgment validity periods vary by state, typically ranging from 5-20 years. California judgments last 10 years, New York 20 years, Texas 10 years, and some states as few as 5 years. Most states allow renewal before expiration, often extending the judgment for another full term. Always renew before expiration to preserve your rights—once expired, a judgment cannot be revived.

What if the debtor claims they have no assets?

Don’t take their word for it. Use post-judgment discovery to compel disclosure of assets under oath—lying is perjury. Conduct an independent asset search to verify their claims. Watch for lifestyle indicators of hidden wealth: nice car, expensive vacations, dining out frequently. People who claim to be judgment proof while maintaining a comfortable lifestyle are often hiding assets or have unreported income.

Can I find the debtor’s employer to garnish wages?

Yes. Employment can be discovered through: skip tracing databases (which access employment records), social media investigation (LinkedIn profiles, Facebook posts), professional license lookups (many licenses list employers), and post-judgment discovery (compel debtor to disclose under oath). Once you identify the employer, serve a wage garnishment order. Most states allow garnishment of 25% of disposable wages.

What if the debtor filed bankruptcy?

If the debtor files bankruptcy, stop all collection efforts immediately (automatic stay). However, not all debts are dischargeable in bankruptcy. Debts arising from fraud, intentional injury, embezzlement, DUI injuries, and domestic support obligations typically survive bankruptcy. Check whether your judgment falls into a non-dischargeable category and file appropriate objections (adversary proceeding) in the bankruptcy case to preserve your claim.