What can happen if you don’t have a job or income and cannot pay a civil judgement?
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What can happen if you don’t have a job or income and cannot pay a civil judgement?
Is it possible to be arrested for not paying? I don’t currently have an income. Don’t have a car, so i’m not worried about that. All I do have is an exempt amount in savings and personal belongings (nothing of real expensive value like art or real jewelry) would they try and come after my personal belongings or even try going after the exempt savings?
Asked on June 19, 2012 under Bankruptcy Law, Massachusetts
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
If a judgment debtor has no real assets to be levied upon with respect to the judgment in place against him or her, there really is nothing that the judgment creditor can receive to pay down the debt.
In the United States, there are no longer debtor's prisons so you cannot be arrested for the simple fact that you have no money to satisfy or even pay down a judgment.
However, if you are served to attend an order of examination where you are questioned about your assets, you need to attend. Failure to do so could result in the issuance of a bench warrant against you.
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