an assignment of the debt

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• Corporate Debt

Debt Assignment: How They Work, Considerations and Benefits

Daniel Liberto is a journalist with over 10 years of experience working with publications such as the Financial Times, The Independent, and Investors Chronicle.

Charlene Rhinehart is a CPA , CFE, chair of an Illinois CPA Society committee, and has a degree in accounting and finance from DePaul University.

Katrina Ávila Munichiello is an experienced editor, writer, fact-checker, and proofreader with more than fourteen years of experience working with print and online publications.

Investopedia / Ryan Oakley

What Is Debt Assignment?

The term debt assignment refers to a transfer of debt, and all the associated rights and obligations, from a creditor to a third party. The assignment is a legal transfer to the other party, who then becomes the owner of the debt . In most cases, a debt assignment is issued to a debt collector who then assumes responsibility to collect the debt.

Key Takeaways

• Debt assignment is a transfer of debt, and all the associated rights and obligations, from a creditor to a third party (often a debt collector).
• The company assigning the debt may do so to improve its liquidity and/or to reduce its risk exposure.
• The debtor must be notified when a debt is assigned so they know who to make payments to and where to send them.
• Third-party debt collectors are subject to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), a federal law overseen by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

How Debt Assignments Work

When a creditor lends an individual or business money, it does so with the confidence that the capital it lends out—as well as the interest payments charged for the privilege—is repaid in a timely fashion. The lender , or the extender of credit , will wait to recoup all the money owed according to the conditions and timeframe laid out in the contract.

In certain circumstances, the lender may decide it no longer wants to be responsible for servicing the loan and opt to sell the debt to a third party instead. Should that happen, a Notice of Assignment (NOA) is sent out to the debtor , the recipient of the loan, informing them that somebody else is now responsible for collecting any outstanding amount. This is referred to as a debt assignment.

The debtor must be notified when a debt is assigned to a third party so that they know who to make payments to and where to send them. If the debtor sends payments to the old creditor after the debt has been assigned, it is likely that the payments will not be accepted. This could cause the debtor to unintentionally default.

When a debtor receives such a notice, it's also generally a good idea for them to verify that the new creditor has recorded the correct total balance and monthly payment for the debt owed. In some cases, the new owner of the debt might even want to propose changes to the original terms of the loan. Should this path be pursued, the creditor is obligated to immediately notify the debtor and give them adequate time to respond.

The debtor still maintains the same legal rights and protections held with the original creditor after a debt assignment.

Special Considerations

Third-party debt collectors are subject to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). The FDCPA, a federal law overseen by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), restricts the means and methods by which third-party debt collectors can contact debtors, the time of day they can make contact, and the number of times they are allowed to call debtors.

If the FDCPA is violated, a debtor may be able to file suit against the debt collection company and the individual debt collector for damages and attorney fees within one year. The terms of the FDCPA are available for review on the FTC's website .

Benefits of Debt Assignment

There are several reasons why a creditor may decide to assign its debt to someone else. This option is often exercised to improve liquidity  and/or to reduce risk exposure. A lender may be urgently in need of a quick injection of capital. Alternatively, it might have accumulated lots of high-risk loans and be wary that many of them could default . In cases like these, creditors may be willing to get rid of them swiftly for pennies on the dollar if it means improving their financial outlook and appeasing worried investors. At other times, the creditor may decide the debt is too old to waste its resources on collections, or selling or assigning it to a third party to pick up the collection activity. In these instances, a company would not assign their debt to a third party.

Criticism of Debt Assignment

The process of assigning debt has drawn a fair bit of criticism, especially over the past few decades. Debt buyers have been accused of engaging in all kinds of unethical practices to get paid, including issuing threats and regularly harassing debtors. In some cases, they have also been charged with chasing up debts that have already been settled.

Federal Trade Commission. " Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ." Accessed June 29, 2021.

Federal Trade Commission. " Debt Collection FAQs ." Accessed June 29, 2021.

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Assignment Of Debt Agreement: Definition & Sample

Jump to section, what is an assignment of debt agreement.

An assignment of debt agreement is a legal document between a debtor and creditor that outlines the repayment terms. An assignment of debt agreement can be used as an alternative to bankruptcy, but several requirements must be met for it to work.

In addition, if obligations are not met under a debt agreement, it might still be necessary to file for bankruptcy later on. Therefore, consulting with an attorney specializing in debt agreements is always recommended before entering into one of these contracts.

Assignment Of Debt Agreement Sample

Reference : Security Exchange Commission - Edgar Database, EX-10 5 exhibit1024f10qsbmay04.htm EXHIBIT 10.24 , Viewed December 20, 2021, View Source on SEC .

Who Helps With Assignment Of Debt Agreements?

Lawyers with backgrounds working on assignment of debt agreements work with clients to help. Do you need help with an assignment of debt agreement?

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ContractsCounsel is not a law firm, and this post should not be considered and does not contain legal advice. To ensure the information and advice in this post are correct, sufficient, and appropriate for your situation, please consult a licensed attorney. Also, using or accessing ContractsCounsel's site does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and ContractsCounsel.

Meet some of our Assignment Of Debt Agreement Lawyers

John Arthur-Mensah is a highly skilled attorney with extensive expertise in drafting contracts, information law, international law, insurance defense, and complex civil litigation. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a keen eye for detail and a strong ability to craft well-structured, comprehensive legal agreements. John's track record includes successfully managing the entire contract drafting process, from initial negotiation to final execution. His proficiency in legal research and documentation enables him to ensure that contracts comply with applicable laws and regulations. With a strategic approach and persuasive communication skills, John excels in negotiating contract terms and providing valuable counsel on contractual matters. Admitted to the Maryland Bar and the United States District Court in Maryland, he is well-equipped to handle a diverse range of legal challenges, making him a valuable asset in contract drafting and beyond.

Construction lawyer practicing in Southern California since 1988. Have extensive experience in construction contracts and forms drafting, negotiating. I also serve as counsel for large material suppliers and have extensive experience in commercial transactions, drafting and negotiation of commercial documents including dealerships, NDAs, etc.

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At Whalen Legal Group, PC, we strive to ensure that our clients are provided with the highest quality legal representation. Our team is committed to providing you with personalized and effective legal advice. We specialize in Business Law, Estate Planning and Trust, and Real Estate Law and have years of experience in these fields.Our goal is to provide our clients with the best possible service and to ensure that their legal matters are handled with compassion, integrity, and transparency. We understand that every situation is different and we take the time to listen and understand each and every one of our clients’ needs.

I represent business owners throughout California with their business, IP and employment law matters.

I attended the University of Illinois- College of Law on a full merit scholarship. While in law school, I was a 711 Attorney at the Lake County State's Attorney's Office, specializing in traffic and misdemeanor cases. After graduation, I served as in-house counsel for one of the largest insurance companies in the world, managing thousands of cases from initial intake to trial. Upon leaving this position, I accepted a role as Legal Counsel to the Illinois Senate Minority Leader. There, I advised Senators on legislative matters, labor and employment law, and complex constitutional questions. After leaving public service, I accepted a role at a mid-size Chicago-based law firm, where I practice insurance defense and litigation. In addition to this, I also serve as outside general counsel to a food brokerage business, where I handle all of their labor and employment matters.

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• How Does Debt Assignment Work?

Chloe Meltzer | December 07, 2023

Legal Expert Chloe Meltzer, MA

Chloe Meltzer is an experienced content writer specializing in legal content creation. She holds a degree in English Literature from Arizona State University, complemented by a Master’s in Marketing from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo.

Edited by Hannah Locklear

Editor at SoloSuit Hannah Locklear, BA

Hannah Locklear is SoloSuit’s Marketing and Impact Manager. With an educational background in Linguistics, Spanish, and International Development from Brigham Young University, Hannah has also worked as a legal support specialist for several years.

Summary: What are your options when your debt has been assigned to a debt collector? Find out why a creditor might have assigned your debt and how to deal with it.

Debt assignment refers to a transfer of debt. This includes all of the associated rights and obligations, as it goes from a creditor to a third party. Debt assignment is essentially the legal transfer of debt to a debt collector (or debt collection agency). After this agency purchases the debt, they will have the responsibility to collect the debt, meaning you will pay your debt to them.

File a response with SoloSuit to win against debt collectors.

Find Out How Debt Assignment Works

When a creditor or lender no longer wants to be responsible for attempting to collect your debt, they will sell your debt to a third party. When this occurs, a Notice of Assignment (NOA) is sent out to you. This should inform you of who is responsible for collecting the rest of your loan or debt.

Legally you must be notified if your debt is assigned to someone new. This is to ensure that you know where to make payments to. If you are not aware of the new assignment, you may send payments to the wrong location which could force you into unintentional default.

Know How the FDCPA Protects You

Third-party debt collectors must act according to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). This federal law restricts the methods by which a debt collector can contact you, and attempt to collect debts. The FDCPA regulates the time of day or night a collector can make contact, how often they can call, as well as what they say and how they say it.

If you believe that a debt collector has violated the FDCPA, then you may be able to file a suit against that company. You may also be able to sue for damages or attorney fees.

Stand up to debt collection agencies with SoloSuit.

Learn Why a Creditor Assigns Debt

There are a few reasons why a creditor may assign your debt. Typically, the most common reason is to reduce their risk. By assigning and selling the debt it is no longer their liability. They can ensure they recoup some of their money, and appease investors as well.

Discover How Purchasing a Debt Differs from Debt Assignment

The purchase of debt occurs before assignment. Before the assignment of delinquent debt, a collection agency will be required to purchase it. This is often done at a far lower price, while they still attempt to recoup the entire debt. Because of this, it allows you to attempt to settle your debt for less.

Understand Why Debt Assignment Is Often Criticized

The process of assigning debt is often seen as unethical. With threats, harassment, and lies of all kinds, many debt buyers have been accused of violating the FDCPA. Because of this, debt assignment has seen a good amount of criticism. Some cases have even seen consumers charged with debts that have already been settled or paid .

Nevertheless, this shows how important it is to be on top of your debts. The number one choice you should make with any debt or debt assignment is to respond to all correspondence. This will ensure that you stay in compliance, and act when you need to.

What is SoloSuit?

SoloSuit makes it easy to respond to a debt collection lawsuit.

How it works: SoloSuit is a step-by-step web-app that asks you all the necessary questions to complete your answer. Upon completion, you can either print the completed forms and mail in the hard copies to the courts or you can pay SoloSuit to file it for you and to have an attorney review the document.

Respond with SoloSuit

"First time getting sued by a debt collector and I was searching all over YouTube and ran across SoloSuit, so I decided to buy their services with their attorney reviewed documentation which cost extra but it was well worth it! SoloSuit sent the documentation to the parties and to the court which saved me time from having to go to court and in a few weeks the case got dismissed!" – James

>>Read the FastCompany article: Debt Lawsuits Are Complicated: This Website Makes Them Simpler To Navigate

>>Read the NPR story on SoloSuit: A Student Solution To Give Utah Debtors A Fighting Chance

How to Answer a Summons for debt collection in all 50 states

Here's a list of guides on how to respond to a debt collection lawsuit in each state:

The Ultimate 50 State Guide

• Connecticut
• Massachusetts
• Mississippi
• New Hampshire
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Vermont ; Vermont (Small Claims court)
• West Virginia

Guides on how to resolve debt with every debt collector

Are you being sued by a debt collector? We’re making guides on how to resolve debt with each one.

• 11 Charter Communications
• AAA Collections
• Aargon Agency Inc
• Absolute Resolutions Investments LLC
• ACEI Collections
• Account Services
• Accredited Collection Services
• Advanced Recovery Systems
• AFNI Collections
• Alco Capital Group LLC
• Aldous and Associates
• Alliance Collections
• Alliance One
• Alliant Capital Management
• Alpha Recovery Corp
• Alltran Financial
• Alltran Health
• Alorica Inc.
• Amcol Clmbia in Court
• American Coradius International
• American Profit Recovery
• American Recovery Service
• Americollect
• AmSher Collection Services
• Apelles LLC
• AR Resources
• ARC Collections
• ARM Solutions
• Arrow Financial Services
• ARS National Services
• ARSC Debt Collectors
• AscensionPoint Recovery Services
• Asset Acceptance LLC
• Asset Recovery Solutions
• Associated Credit Services
• Atlantic Credit and Finance
• Atradius Collections
• Automated Collection Services, Inc.
• Autovest LLC
• AWA Collections
• Balekian Hayes
• Bay Area Receivables
• BCA Financial Services
• BC Services
• Benuck and Rainey
• Berlin-Wheeler
• Bluebonnet Financial LLC
• Bonneville Collections
• Bull City Financial
• Bureaus Investment Group
• Caine and Weiner
• Capio Partners
• Capital Accounts
• Capital Collections
• Capital Management Services
• Carmel Financial/New Coast Direct
• Cavalry SPV I LLC
• CBCS Collections
• CBV Collections
• CCB Credit Services
• CCS Collections
• CCS Offices
• Central Mediation Services
• Central Portfolio Control
• Cerastes LLC
• Choice Recovery
• Choice Recovery Inc
• CKS Financial
• CKMS Financial
• Client Services
• CMRE Financial Services
• Coast Professional
• Comenity Bank Debt Collection
• Commonwealth Financial
• ConServe Debt Collection
• Consumer Collection Management
• Contract Callers Inc
• Convergent Healthcare Recoveries
• Convergent Outsourcing
• Couch Conville & Blitt
• Covington Credit
• Credco in Court
• Credence Resource Management
• Credit Bureau Systems
• Credit Control Corporation
• Credit Management Company
• Credit Management LP
• Credit Systems
• CTC Debt Collector
• CVCS Debt Collection
• Cypress Financial Recoveries
• D&A Services
• Daniels, Norelli, Cecere & Tavel P.C.
• DCM Services
• Debt Recovery Solutions
• Delanor Kemper & Associates
• Department Stores National Bank
• Direct Recovery Associates
• Discover Collections
• Diversified Adjustment
• Diversified Consultants
• Diversified Recovery Bureau
• DNF Associates, LLC
• Dynamic Collectors
• Eagle Accounts Group, Inc.
• Eastern Account System
• Ellington and Associates Collections
• Encore Capital Group
• Enerson Law
• Enerson Law LLC
• Enhanced Recovery Company
• ERC Collections
• ERSolutions
• Estate Information Services
• Equable Ascent Financial
• Everest Business Funding
• Executive Credit Management
• Faber and Brand
• Factual Data
• Falls Collection Service
• FCO Collections and Outsourcing
• FIA Card Services
• fin rec svc (Financial Recovery Services)
• First Federal Credit Credit Control
• First Financial Bank
• First Portfolio Ventures LLC
• First Progress
• FirstPoint Collection Resources
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• Forster & Garbus
• Franklin Collection Services
• Freedom Plus
• Freshview Solutions
• Frontline Asset
• Frost Arnett
• Fulton Friedman & Gullace LLP
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• GC Debt Collection
• GC Services
• General Revenue Corporation
• GLA Collections
• Glass Mountain Capital
• Glasser and Glasser
• Global Credit Collection Corp
• Global Trust Management
• GMAC Financing
• Golden 1 Credit Union
• Grant and Weber
• Grant Mercantile Agency
• Gulf Coast Collection Bureau
• Halsted Financial Services
• Harris and Harris
• Harvard Collection
• Harvest Credit Management
• Helvey and Associates
• Hollis Cobb
• Holloway Moxley
• Hosto Buchan
• Howard Lee Schiff
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• Hudson & Keyse LLC?
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• Innovative Recovery
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• Javitch Block
• JHPDE Finance 1 LLC
• JP Receivables Management Partners
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• Kirschenbaum, Phillips & Levy P.C.
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• Lincoln and Morgan Kabbage
• Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson LLP
• Lockhart Collection Agency
• LJ Ross Associates
• LTD Collections
• Malcolm S. Gerald and Associates
• Malen & Associates
• Mandarich Law Group
• Mannbracken
• Marcam Associates
• MARS Inc. Collections
• MCA Management Company
• McCarthy, Burgess & Wolff
• Meade & Associates
• Mercantile Adjustment Bureau
• Merchants Credit Association
• MGM Collections
• Michael J Adams PC
• Midland Funding LLC
• Mid-South Adjustment
• Monarch Recovery
• Monterey Financial
• Moss Law Firm
• Mountain Land Collections
• MRS Associates
• MSW Capital LLC
• Mullooly, Jeffrey, Rooney & Flynn
• Nathan and Nathan PC
• National Collegiate Trust
• National Credit Adjusters
• National Credit Care
• National Credit Systems
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• National Recovery Agency
• National Recovery Solutions
• Nationwide Credit
• Nationwide Recovery Services
• Nationwide Recovery Systems
• NCO Financial Systems Incorporated
• North American Recovery
• Northland Group
• Northstar Capital Acquisition
• Northstar Location Services
• NRC Collection Agency
• Oliver Adjustment Company
• Oliphant Financial, LLC
• P&B Capital Group
• PCB Collections Agency
• Palisades Collection LLC
• Pallida LLC
• Paragon Contracting Services
• Paragon Revenue Group
• Payday Loan Debt Collectors
• Pendrick Capital Partners
• Penn Credit
• Perdue Brandon
• Persolve LLC
• Phillips & Cohen Associates
• Phoenix Financial Services
• Pioneer Credit Recovery
• PRA Group, Inc.
• Pressler, Felt & Warshaw LLP
• Prestige Services, Inc.
• Prince Parker and Associates
• Professional Finance Company
• Progressive Management Systems
• Provest Law
• Quaternary Collection Agency
• RAB Collection Agency
• Rash Curtis and Associates
• Radius Global SOL
• Radius Global Solutions
• Rawlings Company
• Razor Capital
• Real Time Resolutions
• Receivables Performance Management
• Regents and Associates
• Reliant Capital Solutions
• Resurgent Capital Services and LVNV Funding
• Revco Solutions
• Revenue Enterprises LLC
• Revenue Group
• RGS Financial, Inc.
• RMP LLC in Court
• RMP Services
• RS Clark and Associates
• RTR Financial Services
• Rubin & Rothman
• Salander Enterprises LLC
• Samara Portfolio Management
• SCA Collections
• Scott Parnell and Associates
• Second Round Collections
• Second Round Sub LLC
• Selip & Stylianou LLP
• Sequium Asset Solutions
• Sessoms and Rogers
• Sherman Acquisition
• Sherman Financial Group
• SIMM Associates
• Source Receivables Management
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• Spire Recovery Solutions
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• Stillman Law Office
• Summit Account Resolution
• Sunrise Credit Services
• Superlative RM Debt Collector
• Suttell and Hammer
• Synergetic Communication
• Synerprise Consulting
• The Law Office of Michael J Scott
• Trellis Company
• Troy Capital
• TRS Recovery Services
• Tulsa Teachers Credit Union
• UCB Collection
• Unifin Debt Collector
• Universal Credit Services
• US Bank Collections
• USAA collections
• USCB America
• Valentine and Kebartas
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• Vance & Huffman LLC
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• Velocity Investments
• Viking Client Services
• Wakefield and Associates
• Waypoint Resource Group
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• Weltman, Weinberg & Reis
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Resolve your debt with your creditor

Some creditors, banks, and lenders have an internal collections department. If they come after you for a debt, Solosuit can still help you respond and resolve the debt. Here’s a list of guides on how to resolve debt with different creditors.

• American Express ; American Express – Debt Collection
• Bank of America
• Best Buy Credit Card
• Capital One
• Credit One Bank
• Old Navy Credit Card
• PayPal Synchrony Card
• Regional Finance
• Retailers National Bank
• Reunion Student Loan Finance Corporation
• SYNCB/PPEXTR
• Synchrony Bank
• Synchrony Walmart Card
• Target National Bank
• Wells Fargo
• Can I Pay My Original Creditor Instead of a Debt Collection Agency?
• Can I Settle a Debt with the Original Creditor?

Settle your medical debt

Having a health challenge is stressful, but dealing medical debt on top of it is overwhelming. Here are some resources on how to manage medical debt.

• Am I Responsible for My Spouse's Medical Debt?
• Do I Need a Lawyer for Medical Bills?
• Do I Need a Lawyer to Fight Medical Bill Debt?
• Does Bankruptcy Clear Medical Debt?
• How Much Do Collection Agencies Pay for Medical Debt?
• How to Find Medical Debt Forgiveness Programs
• Is There a Statute of Limitations on Medical Bills?
• Medical Debt Statute of Limitations by State
• Summoned to Court for Medical Bills — What Do I Do?
• Summoned to Court for Medical Bills? What to Do Next

Guides on arbitration

If the thought of going to court stresses you out, you’re not alone. Many Americans who are sued for credit card debt utilize a Motion to Compel Arbitration to push their case out of court and into arbitration.

Below are some resources on how to use an arbitration clause to your advantage and win a debt lawsuit.

• How Arbitration Works
• How to Find an Arbitration Clause in Your Credit Agreement
• How to Make a Motion to Compel Arbitration
• How to Make a Motion to Compel Arbitration in Florida
• How to Make a Motion to Compel Arbitration Without an Attorney
• How Credit Card Arbitration Works
• Sample Motion to Compel Arbitration

Stop calls from debt collectors

Do you keep getting calls from an unknown number, only to realize that it’s a debt collector on the other line? If you’ve been called by any of the following numbers, chances are you have collectors coming after you, and we’ll tell you how to stop them.

• 1-800-390-7584
• 800-289-8004
• 800-955-6600
• 877-366-0169
• 877-591-0747
• 800-278-2420
• 800-604-0064
• 800-846-6406
• 877-317-0948
• 888-899-4332
• 888-912-7925
• 202-367-9070
• 502-267-7522

Federal debt collection laws can protect you

Knowing your rights makes it easier to stand up for your rights. Below, we’ve compiled all our articles on federal debt collection laws that protect you from unfair practices.

• 15 USC 1692 Explained
• Does the Fair Credit Reporting Act Work in Florida?
• FDCPA Violations List
• How to File an FDCPA Complaint Against Your Debt Collector (Ultimate Guide)
• How to Make a Fair Debt Collection Practices Act Demand Letter
• How to Submit a Transunion Dispute
• How to Submit an Equifax Dispute
• How to Submit an Experian Dispute
• What Debt Collectors Cannot Do — FDCPA Explained
• What Does Account Information Disputed by Consumer Meets FCRA Requirements Mean?
• What does “meets FCRA requirements” mean?
• What does FCRA stand for?
• What is the Consumer Credit Protection Act

Get debt relief in your state

We’ve created a specialized guide on how to find debt relief in all 50 states, complete with steps to take to find relief, state-specific resources, and more.

Debt collection laws in all 50 states

Debt collection laws vary by state, so we have compiled a guide to each state’s debt collection laws to make it easier for you to stand up for your rights—no matter where you live.

• Debt Collection Laws in Alabama
• Debt Collection Laws in Alaska
• Debt Collection Laws in Arizona
• Debt Collection Laws in Arkansas
• Debt Collection Laws in California
• Debt Collection Laws in Colorado
• Debt Collection Laws in Connecticut
• Debt Collection Laws in Delaware
• Debt Collection Laws in Florida
• Debt Collection Laws in Georgia
• Debt Collection Laws in Hawaii
• Debt Collection Laws in Kansas
• Debt Collection Laws in Idaho
• Debt Collection Laws in Illinois
• Debt Collection Laws in Indiana
• Debt Collection Laws in Iowa
• Debt Collection Laws in Kentucky
• Debt Collection Laws in Louisiana
• Debt Collection Laws in Massachusetts
• Debt Collection Laws in Michigan
• Debt Collection Laws in Minnesota
• Debt Collection Laws in Mississippi
• Debt Collection Laws in Missouri
• Debt Collection Laws in Montana
• Debt Collection Laws in Nebraska
• Debt Collection Laws in Nevada
• Debt Collection Laws in New Hampshire
• Debt Collection Laws in New Jersey
• Debt Collection Laws in New Mexico
• Debt Collection Laws in New York
• Debt Collection Laws in North Carolina
• Debt Collection Laws in North Dakota
• Debt Collection Laws in Ohio
• Debt Collection Laws in Oklahoma
• Debt Collection Laws in Oregon
• Debt Collection Laws in Pennsylvania
• Debt Collection Laws in Rhode Island
• Debt Collection Laws in South Carolina
• Debt Collection Laws in South Dakota
• Debt Collection Laws in Tennessee
• Debt Collection Laws in Texas
• Debt Collection Laws in Vermont
• Debt Collection Laws in Virginia
• Debt Collection Laws in Washington
• Debt Collection Laws in West Virginia
• Debt Collection Laws in Wisconsin
• Debt Collection Laws in Wyoming

Statute of limitations on debt state guides

Like all debt collection laws, the statute of limitations on debt varies by state. So, we wrote a guide on each state’s statutes. Check it out below.

Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection by State (Best Guide)

• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Alabama
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Alaska
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Arizona
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Arkansas
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in California
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Connecticut
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Colorado
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Delaware
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Florida
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Georgia
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Hawaii
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Illinois
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Indiana
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Iowa
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Kansas
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Louisiana
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Maine
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Maryland
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Michigan
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Minnesota
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Mississippi
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Missouri
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Montana
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Nebraska
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Nevada
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in New Hampshire
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in New Jersey
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in New Mexico
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in New York
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in North Carolina
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in North Dakota
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Oklahoma
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Oregon
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Oregon (Complete Guide)
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Pennsylvania
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Rhode Island
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in South Carolina
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in South Dakota
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Tennessee
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Texas
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Utah
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Vermont
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Virginia
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Washington
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in West Virginia
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Wisconsin
• Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection in Wyoming

Check the status of your court case

Don’t have time to go to your local courthouse to check the status of your case? We’ve created a guide on how to check the status of your case in every state, complete with online search tools and court directories.

• Alabama Court Case Search—Find Your Lawsuit
• Alaska Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Arizona Court Case Search - Find Your Lawsuit
• Arkansas Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• California Court Case Search- Find Your Lawsuit
• Colorado Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Connecticut Case Lookup — Find Your Court Case
• Delaware Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Florida Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Georgia Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Hawaii Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Idaho Court Case Search – Find Your Lawsuit
• Illinois Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Indiana Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Iowa Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Kansas Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Kentucky Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Louisiana Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Maine Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Maryland Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Massachusetts Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Michigan Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Minnesota Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Mississippi Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Missouri Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Montana Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Nebraska Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Nevada Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• New Hampshire Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• New Jersey Court Case Search—Find Your Lawsuit
• New Mexico Court Case Search - Find Your Lawsuit
• New York Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• North Carolina Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• North Dakota Court Case Search �� Find Your Lawsuit
• Ohio Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Oklahoma Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Oregon Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Pennsylvania Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Rhode Island Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• South Carolina Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• South Dakota Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Tennessee Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Texas Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Utah Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Vermont Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Virginia Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Washington Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• West Virginia Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Wisconsin Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
• Wyoming Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit

How to stop wage garnishment in your state

Forgot to respond to your debt lawsuit? The judge may have ordered a default judgment against you, and with a default judgment, debt collectors can garnish your wages. Here are our guides on how to stop wage garnishment in all 50 states.

• Stop Wage Garnishment in Alabama
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Alaska
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Arizona
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Arkansas
• Stop Wage Garnishment in California
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Colorado
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Connecticut
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Delaware
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Florida
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Georgia
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Hawaii
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Idaho
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Illinois
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Indiana
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Iowa
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Kansas
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Kentucky
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Louisiana
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Maine
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Maryland
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Massachusetts
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Michigan
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Minnesota
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Mississippi
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Missouri
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Montana
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Nevada
• Stop Wage Garnishment in New Hampshire
• Stop Wage Garnishment in New Jersey
• Stop Wage Garnishment in New Mexico
• Stop Wage Garnishment in New York
• Stop Wage Garnishment in North Carolina
• Stop Wage Garnishment in North Dakota
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Ohio
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Oklahoma
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Oregon
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Pennsylvania
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Rhode Island
• Stop Wage Garnishment in South Carolina
• Stop Wage Garnishment in South Dakota
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Tennessee
• Stop Wage Garnishment In Texas
• Stop Wage Garnishment In Utah
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Vermont
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Virginia
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Washington
• Stop Wage Garnishment in West Virginia
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Wisconsin
• Stop Wage Garnishment in Wyoming

Other wage garnishment resources

• Bank Account Garnishment and Liens in Texas
• Can I Stop Wage Garnishment?
• Can My Wife's Bank Account Be Garnished for My Debt?
• Can Payday Loans Garnish Your Wages?
• Can pensions be garnished?
• Can Private Disability Payments Be Garnished?
• Can Social Security Disability Be Garnished?
• Can They Garnish Your Wages for Credit Card Debt?
• Can You Stop a Garnishment Once It Starts?
• Guide to Garnishment Limits by State
• How Can I Stop Wage Garnishments Immediately?
• How Long Before a Creditor Can Garnish Wages?
• How Long Does It Take to Get Garnished Wages Back?
• How to Fight a Wage Garnishment
• How to Prevent Wage Garnishment
• How to Stop a Garnishment
• How to Stop Social Security Wage Garnishment
• How to Stop Wage Garnishment — Everything You Need to Know
• New York Garnishment Laws – Overview
• Ohio Garnishment Laws — What They Say
• Wage Garnishment Lawyer
• What Is Wage Garnishment?

How to settle a debt in your state

Debt settlement is one of the most effective ways to resolve a debt and save money. We’ve created a guide on how to settle your debt in all 50 states. Find out how to settle in your state with a simple click and explore other debt settlement resources below.

• How to Settle a Debt in Alabama
• How to Settle a Debt in Alaska
• How to Settle a Debt in Arizona
• How to Settle a Debt in Arkansas
• How to Settle a Debt in California
• How to Settle a Debt in Colorado
• How to Settle a Debt in Delaware
• How to Settle a Debt in Florida
• How to Settle a Debt in Hawaii
• How to Settle a Debt in Idaho
• How to Settle a Debt in Illinois
• How to Settle a Debt in Indiana
• How to Settle a Debt in Iowa
• How to Settle a Debt in Kansas
• How to Settle a Debt in Kentucky
• How to Settle a Debt in Louisiana
• How to Settle a Debt in Maryland
• How to Settle a Debt in Massachusetts
• How to Settle a Debt in Michigan
• How to Settle a Debt in Minnesota
• How to Settle a Debt in Mississippi
• How to Settle a Debt in Missouri
• How to Settle a Debt in Montana
• How to Settle a Debt in Nebraska
• How to Settle a Debt in Nevada
• How to Settle a Debt in New Hampshire
• How to Settle a Debt in New Jersey
• How to Settle a Debt in New Mexico
• How to Settle a Debt in New York
• How to Settle a Debt in North Carolina
• How to Settle a Debt in North Dakota
• How to Settle a Debt in Ohio
• How to Settle a Debt in Oklahoma
• How to Settle a Debt in Oregon
• How to Settle a Debt in Pennsylvania
• How to Settle a Debt in South Carolina
• How to Settle a Debt in South Dakota
• How to Settle a Debt in Tennessee
• How to Settle a Debt in Texas
• How to Settle a Debt in Utah
• How to Settle a Debt in Vermont
• How to Settle a Debt in Virginia
• How to Settle a Debt in West Virginia
• How to Settle a Debt in Wisconsin
• How to Settle a Debt in Wyoming

How to settle with every debt collector

Not sure how to negotiate a debt settlement with a debt collector? We are creating guides to help you know how to start the settlement conversation and increase your chances of coming to an agreement with every debt collector.

• American Express
• Capitol One
• Cavalry SPV
• Midland Funding
• Moore Law Group
• Navy Federal
• NCB Management Services
• Portfolio Recovery

Other debt settlement resources

• Best Debt Settlement Companies
• Can I Settle a Debt After Being Served?
• Can I Still Settle a Debt After Being Served?
• Can You Settle a Warrant in Debt Before Court?
• Debt Management vs. Debt Settlement
• Debt Settlement Pros and Cons
• Debt Settlement Scam
• Do I Need to Hire a Debt Settlement Lawyer?
• Do You Need a Debt Settlement Attorney in Houston Texas?
• Do You Owe Taxes on Settled Debt?
• Here’s a Sample Letter to Collection Agencies to Settle Debt
• How Can I Settle My Credit Card Debt Before Going to Court?
• How Do I Know if a Debt Settlement Company Is Legitimate?
• How Long Does a Lawsuit Take to Settle?
• How Much Do Settlement Companies Charge?
• How I Settled My Credit Card Debt With Discover
• How to Make a Debt Settlement Agreement
• How to Make a Settlement Offer to Navient
• How to Negotiate a Debt Settlement with a Law Firm
• How to send Santander a settlement letter
• How to Settle Debt for Pennies on the Dollar
• How to Settle Debt in 3 Steps
• How to Settle Debt with a Reduced Lump Sum Payment
• How to Settle a Credit Card Debt Lawsuit — Ultimate Guide
• How to Settle Credit Card Debt When a Lawsuit Has Been Filed
• If You Are Using a Debt Relief Agency, Can You Settle Yourself with the Creditor?
• Largest Debt Settlement Companies
• Should I Settle a Collection or Pay in Full?
• Summary of the Equifax Data Breach Settlement
• The Advantages of Pre-Settlement Lawsuit Funding
• The FTC Regulates Debt Settlement Through the Telemarketing Sales Rule
• The Pros and Cons of Debt Settlement
• What Happens if I Reject a Settlement Offer?
• What Happens if You Don't Pay a Debt Settlement?
• What Happens When You Settle a Debt?
• What Is A Debt Settlement Agreement?
• What is Debt Settlement?
• What Percentage Should I Offer to Settle Debt?
• What to Ask for in a Settlement Agreement
• Who Qualifies for Debt Settlement?
• Will Collection Agencies Settle for Less?
• 5 Signs of a Debt Settlement Scam

Personal loan and debt relief reviews

We give a factual review of the following debt consolidation, debt settlement, and loan organizations and companies to help you make an informed decision before you take on a debt.

• Accredited Debt Relief Debt Settlement Reviews
• Advance America Loan Review
• ACE Cash Express Personal Loan Review
• BMG Money Loan Review
• BMO Harris Bank Review: Pros and Cons
• Brite Solutions Debt Settlement Reviews
• Caliber Home Loans Mortgage Review
• Cambridge Debt Consolidation Review
• Campus Debt Solutions Review
• CashNetUSA Review
• Century Debt Settlement Reviews
• ClearPoint Debt Management Review
• Click N Loan Reviews
• CuraDebt Debt Settlement Review
• CuraDebt Reviews: Debt Relief Assistance For California Residents
• Debt Eraser Review
• Debtconsolidation.com Debt Settlement Reviews
• Eagle One Debt Settlement Reviews
• Freedom Debt Relief Debt Settlement Reviews
• Global Holdings Debt Settlement Reviews
• Golden 1 Credit Union Personal Loan Review
• Honda Financial Services Review
• iLending Reviews
• Infinite Law Group Debt Settlement Reviews
• JG Wentworth Debt Settlement Reviews
• LoanMart Reviews
• Mastriani Law Firm Review
• Milestone ® Mastercard ® Review
• ModoLoan Review
• Money Management International Reviews
• M&T Mortgage Company Review
• National Debt Relief Debt Settlement Reviews
• New Era Debt Settlement Reviews
• OppLoans Review
• Pacific Debt Relief Reviews
• Palisade Legal Group Debt Settlement Reviews
• PCG Debt Consolidation Review
• PenFed Auto Loan Review
• Priority Plus Financial Reviews
• Roseland Associates Debt Consolidation Review
• SDCCU Debt Consolidation Review
• Speedy Cash Loans Review
• Symple Lending Reviews
• Tripoint Lending Reviews
• TurboDebt Debt Settlement Reviews
• Turnbull Law Group Debt Settlement Reviews
• United Debt Settlement Reviews
• Upgrade Auto Loans Reviews

How to repair and improve your credit score

Debt has a big impact on your credit. Below is a list of guides on how to repair and improve your credit, even while managing major debt.

• 3 Ways to Repair Your Credit with Debt Collections
• 5 Pros and Cons of Credit Cards & How to Use Them Wisely
• 6 Reasons Your Credit Score Isn't Going Up
• Bankruptcy vs Debt Settlement: Which is Better for Your Credit Score?
• Does Debt Consolidation Hurt Your Credit Score?
• Does Wage Garnishment Affect Credit?
• Guide to Disclosing Income on Your Credit Card Application
• How Long Does It Take to Improve My Credit Score After Debt Settlement?
• How Often Does Merrick Bank Increase Your Credit Limit?
• How to fix your credit to buy a house
• How to Handle Debt and Improve Credit
• How to Raise My Credit Score 40 Points Fast
• If I Settle with a Collection Agency, Will It Hurt My Credit?
• Is 600 a Good Credit Score?
• Obama Credit Card Debt Relief Program – How to Use It
• Sample credit report dispute letter
• Should I Use Credit Journey?
• Understanding myFICO: Your Gateway to Better Credit
• What Does "DLA" Mean on a Credit Report?
• What Is A Good Credit Score For Businesses?
• What is American Credit Acceptance?
• What is CBNA on my credit report?
• What is CreditFresh?
• Who Made the Credit Score?
• Why is THD/CBNA on my credit report?

How to resolve student loan debt

Struggling with student debt? SoloSuit’s got you covered. Below are resources on handling student loan debt.

• Budgeting Strategies for Students: How to Manage Your Finances Wisely
• Can You Go to Jail for Not Paying Student Loans?
• Can You Settle Student Loan Debt?
• Do Student Loans Go Away After 7 Years? (2022 Guide)
• Do You Need a Student Loan Lawyer? (Complete Guide)
• Does Student Debt Die With You?
• How to Manage a Student Debt
• How to Get Rid of Student Loan Debt
• Mandatory Forbearance Request Student Loan Debt Burden
• Negative Economic Effects of Student Loan Debt on the US Economy
• Pros and Cons of Taking a Student Loan
• Regional Adjustment Bureau Student Loans – How to Win
• The Real Impact of Student Debt: How Our Brains Handle It
• Why It's Important to Teach Students How to Manage Debt
• 5 Alternatives to Taking a Student Loan
• 5 Tips for Students: How to Create a Realistic and Effective Budget
• 7 College Financial Planning Tips for Students
• 7 Things to Consider When Taking a Student Loan
• 7 Tips to Manage Your Student Loans

Civil law legal definitions

You can represent yourself in court. Save yourself the time and cost of finding an attorney, and use the following resources to understand legal definitions better and how they may apply to your case.

• Accleration Clause — Definition
• Adjuster - Defined
• Adverse Action — Definition
• Affidavit — A Definition
• Annulment vs. divorce – what's the difference?
• Anticipatory Repudiation — Definition
• Bench Trial — Defined
• Certificate of Debt: A Definition
• Commuted Sentence – Definition
• Constructive Eviction - Defined
• Constructive Discharge - Definition
• Defendant - Definition and Everything You Need to Know
• Demurred – Definition
• Dischargeable - Definition
• Disclosures — Definition
• False Imprisonment Defined
• Good Faith Exception – Definition
• Hearsay — A Definition
• HOEPA – Definition
• Implied Contract – Definition
• Injunctive Relief — A Definition
• Intestate–Defined
• Irrevocable Agreement — Defined
• Joint Custody–Defined
• Litigator — A Definition
• Mediation - Definition
• Medical Malpractice — Definition
• Mistrial — A Definition
• Mitigating Circumstances — Definition
• Motion for Summary Judgment — Definition
• Nolle Prosequi – Definition
• Nunc Pro Tunc — A Definition
• Plaintiff - Definition and Everything You Need to Know
• Pro Se - Defined
• Probable Cause Hearing — Definition
• Restitution – Definition
• Sole Custody-Defined
• Statute of Limitations—Definition and Everything You Need to Know
• Summons—Definition
• Tenancy in Common – Defined
• Time Is of the Essence – Definition
• What Is the Bankruptcy Definition of Consumer Debt?
• Wrongful Termination–Defined

Get answers to these FAQs on debt collection

• Am I Responsible for My Husband's Debts If We Divorce?
• Am I Responsible for My Parent's Debt if I Have Power of Attorney?
• Can a Collection Agency Add Fees on the Debt?
• Can a Collection Agency Charge Interest on a Debt?
• Can a Credit Card Company Sue Me?
• Can a Debt Collector Freeze Your Bank Account?
• Can a Debt Collector Leave a Voicemail?
• Can a Debt Collector Take My Car in California?
• Can a Judgment Creditor Take my Car?
• Can a Process Server Leave a Summons Taped to My Door?
• Can an Eviction Be Reversed?
• Can Credit Card Companies Garnish Your Wages?
• Can Credit Cards Garnish Wages?
• Can Debt Collectors Call From Local Numbers?
• Can Debt Collectors Call You at Work in Texas?
• Can Debt Collectors Call Your Family?
• Can Debt Collectors Leave Voicemails?
• Can I Pay a Debt Before the Court Date?
• Can I Rent an Apartment if I Have Debt in Collection?
• Can I Sue the President for Emotional Distress?
• Can the SCRA Stop a Default Judgment?
• Can the Statute of Limitations be Extended?
• Can You Appeal a Default Judgement?
• Can You Get Unemployment if You Quit?
• Can You Go to Jail for a Payday Loan?
• Can You Go to Jail for Credit Card Debt?
• Can You Negotiate with Westlake Financial?
• Can You Record a Call with a Debt Collector in Your State?
• Can You Serve Someone with a Collections Lawsuit at Their Work?
• Can You Sue Someone Who Has Filed Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?
• Capital One is Suing Me – How Can I Win?
• Debt Snowball vs. Debt Avalanche: Which One Is Apt for You?
• Do 609 Letters Really Work?
• Do Debt Collectors Ever Give Up?
• Do I Have Too Much Debt to Divorce My Spouse?
• Do I Need a Debt Collection Defense Attorney?
• Do I Need a Debt Negotiator?
• Do I Need a Legal Coach?
• Do I Need a Payday Loans Lawyer?
• Does a Living Trust Protect Your Assets from Lawsuits?
• Does Chase Sue for Credit Card Debt?
• Does Debt Consolidation Have Risks?
• Does Midland Funding Show Up to Court?
• How Can I Get Financial Assistance in PA?
• How do Debt Relief Scams Work?
• How Do I Find Out If I Have Any Judgments Against Me?
• How Do I Get Rid of a Judgment Lien on My Property?
• How Do I Register on the Do Not Call List?
• How Does a Flex Loan Work?
• How Does Debt Affect Your Ability to Buy a Home?
• How Does Finwise Bank Work?
• How does Navy Credit debt forgiveness work?
• How Does Payments.tsico Work?
• How Important is it to Protect your Assets from Unexpected Events?
• How is Debt Divided in Divorce?
• How Long Do Creditors Have to Collect a Debt from an Estate?
• How long do debt collectors take to respond to debt validation letters?
• How Long Does a Judgement Last?
• How Long Does a Judgment Last?
• How Long Does a Levy Stay on a Bank Account?
• How Long Does an Eviction Stay on Your Record?
• How Many Calls from a Debt Collector is Considered Harassment?
• How Many Times Can a Judgment Be Renewed in North Carolina?
• How Many Times Can a Judgment be Renewed in Oklahoma?
• How Much Do Collection Agencies Pay for Debt?
• How Much Do You Have to Be in Debt to File Chapter 7?
• How Much Does College Actually Cost?
• How Often Do Credit Card Companies Sue for Non-Payment?
• How Should You Respond to the Theft of Your Identity?
• I am being sued because my identity was stolen - What do I do?
• If a Car is Repossessed Do I Still Owe the Debt?
• Is Debt Forgiveness Taxable?
• Is Freedom Debt Relief a Scam?
• Is it Legal for Debt Collectors to Call Family Members?
• Is it Smart to Consolidate Debt?
• Is LVNV Funding a Legitimate Company? - Them in Court
• Is My Case in the Right Venue?
• Is Portfolio Recovery Associates Legit? — How to Win
• Is Severance Pay Taxable?
• Is SoloSuit Worth It?
• Is Someone with Power of Attorney Responsible for Debt After Death?
• Is the NTB Credit Card Safe?
• Is There a Judgment Against Me Without my Knowledge?
• Is transworld systems legitimate? — How to win in court
• Liquidate–What Does it Mean?
• Litigation Finance: Is it a Good Investment?
• Received a 3-Day Eviction Notice? Here's What To Do
• Should I File Bankruptcy Before or After a Judgment?
• Should I Hire a Civil Litigation Attorney?
• Should I Hire a Civil Rights Lawyer?
• Should I Hire a Litigation Attorney?
• Should I Marry Someone With Debt?
• Should I Pay Off an Old Apartment Debt?
• Should I Send a Demand Letter Before a Lawsuit?
• Should I Use My IRA to Pay Off Credit Card Debt?
• Should You Communicate with a Debt Collector in Writing or by Telephone?
• Should You Invest in Stocks While In Debt?
• Subsidized vs. Unsubsidized Loans: Which is Better?
• The Truth: Should You Never Pay a Debt Collection Agency?
• What are the biggest debt collector companies in the US?
• What are the different types of debt?
• What Bank Is Behind Best Buy's Credit Card?
• What Bank Issues Kohl's Credit Card?
• What Bank Owns Old Navy Credit Card?
• What Credit Bureau does Aqua Finance Use?
• What Credit Bureau Does Truliant Use?
• What Does “Apple Pay Transaction Under Review” Mean?
• What Does a Debt Collector Have to Prove in Court?
• What Does BAC Stand For?
• What does HAFA stand for?
• What Does Payment Deferred Mean?
• What Does Reaffirmation of Debt Mean?
• What Happens After a Motion for Default Is Filed?
• What Happens at a Motion for Summary Judgment Hearing?
• What Happens If a Defendant Does Not Pay a Judgment?
• What Happens If a Process Server Can't Serve You?
• What Happens if a Tenant Wins an Eviction Lawsuit?
• What Happens If Someone Sues You and You Have No Money?
• What Happens If You Avoid Getting Served Court Papers?
• What Happens If You Don’t Pay Speedy Cash?
• What Happens If You Ignore a Debt Collector?
• What Happens If You Never Answer Debt Collectors?
• What Happens When a Debt Is Sold to a Collection Agency
• What Happens When a Debt Is Sold to a Collection Agency?
• What If a Summons Was Served to the Wrong Person?
• What If an Order for Default Was Entered?
• What if I default on an Avant payment?
• What If the Wrong Defendant Is Named in a Lawsuit?
• What Is a Case Number?
• What is a Certificate of Judgment in Ohio?
• What Is a Certificate of Service?
• What Is a Civil Chapter 61 Warrant?
• What is a Civil Litigation Lawyer?
• What Is a Consent Judgment?
• What Is a CPN Number?
• What Is a Debt Brokerage?
• What Is a Debt-to-Sales Ratio?
• What Is a Defamation Lawsuit?
• What is a default judgment?— What do I do?
• What Is a Libel Lawsuit?
• What is a Lien on a House?
• What is a Lien Release on a Car?
• What is a Lien?
• What Is a Motion to Strike?
• What Is a Motion to Suppress?
• What Is a Non-Dischargeable Debt in Tennessee?
• What Is a Nonsuit Without Prejudice?
• What Is a Preliminary Hearing?
• What Is a Reaffirmation Agreement?
• What Is a Request for Dismissal?
• What Is a Rule 3.740 Collections Defense in California?
• What Is a Slander Lawsuit?
• What is a Stipulated Judgment?
• What Is a Warrant in Debt?
• What is ABC Financial Club Charge?
• What is ACS Ed Services?
• What is Advanced Call Center Technologies?
• What is Alimony?
• What Is Allied Interstate's Phone Number?
• What is an Affirmative Defense?
• What Is an Assignment of Debt?
• What Is an Attorney Malpractice Lawsuit?
• What Is an Unlawful Detainer Lawsuit?
• What is Bank of America CashPro?
• What is Bitty Advance?
• What Is Celtic Bank?
• What is Consumer Portfolio Services?
• What Is Credence Resource Management?
• What Is Debt Internment?
• What Is Discover's 60/60 plan?
• What is Evading the Police?
• What Is Extinguishment of Debt?
• What is First Investors Financial Services?
• What is Global Lending Services?
• What is homicide?
• What Is Lexington Law Firm?
• What is LGFCU Personal Loan?
• What is Moral Turpitude?
• What is Online Information Services?
• What is Oportun?
• What Is Service of Process in Texas?
• What is sewer service?
• What Is Summary Judgment?
• What is Synchrony Bank's Hardship Program?
• What Is T-Mobile's Phone Number for Debt Collection?
• What Is the Amount of Money You Still Owe to Their Credit Card Company Called?
• What is the Deadline for a Defendant's Answer to Avoid a Default Judgment?
• What Is the Formula for Calculating Closing Costs?
• What Is the Minimum Amount That a Collection Agency Will Sue For?
• What Is the Phone Number for IQ Data?
• What is the Purpose of the Truth in the Lending Act?
• What is the status of my case?
• What Is the Statute of Limitations on Debt in Washington?
• What is the Telemarketing Sales Rule?
• What is Unsecured Credit Card Debt?
• What is WCTCB?
• What is WFDS?
• What is WUVISAAFT?
• What is Zombie Debt, and How Do I Deal With It?
• What Personal Property Can Be Seized in a Judgment?
• What Should I Do If Crown Asset Management Suing Me?
• What Should I Do If OneMain Financial Is Taking Me to Court?
• What Should You Do if You Can't Pay Your Mortgage?
• What states require a professional licensing number for debt collectors?
• When Does Exeter Finance Repo Cars?
• When Is My Rent Due Legally?
• Where’s My Amended Tax Return?
• Which Bank Does Macy's Credit Card Use?
• Who is EOSCCA?
• Who is Over the Loan Forgiveness Program at KHESLC?
• Who is Synchrony Bank? — Beat Them in Court
• Who is Jefferson Capital Systems LLC — How to win in court
• Why Being Judgment Proof Is Not a Defense to a Lawsuit
• Why Can't Lawyers Give Legal Advice?
• Who is Synchrony Bank? — Them in Court
• Why Do Debt Collectors Block Their Phone Numbers?
• Why Do Lawyers Charge So Much?
• Why Is the Sheriff Looking for Me?
• Why Would a Sheriff Come to My House with Papers?
• Will Bankruptcy Stop a Judgment?

How-to debt guides

• How to Beat Westlake Portfolio Management
• How to Access Free Debt Relief
• How to Answer a Lawsuit for Debt Collection
• How to Appear in Court by Phone
• How to Apply For Unemployment Benefits in Florida
• How to Avoid Getting Served
• How to Beat a Bill Collector in Court
• How to Beat a Debt Collector in Court
• How to Beat a Lawsuit From a Debt Collector
• How to Cancel a Merrick Bank Credit Card
• How to Cancel an American Eagle Credit Card: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Cancel JCPenney Credit Card
• How to Deal with Debt Collectors
• How to decide what to do next in a lawsuit
• How to Defend Yourself in Court
• How To Develop A Debt Repayment Plan That Works
• How to Discharge a Debt with UCC
• How to Dispute a Debt and Win
• How to Dispute a False Positive Drug Test
• How to dispute a rental collection
• How to Drag Out an Eviction
• How to Fight a Motion for Relief From Automatic Stay
• How to Fight an Eviction
• How to Fight Debt Collectors in Court and Win
• How to File a Civil Answer in Kings County Supreme Court
• How to File a Civil Answer With the Duval Clerk of Courts - Florida
• How to File a Motion to Extend Time
• How to File a Motion to Satisfy Judgment in Utah
• How to File a Motion to Set Aside Judgment
• How to File Chapter 13 Without an Attorney
• How to File in Bergen County Superior Court
• How to File in Deschutes County Circuit Court
• How to File in Josephine County Courthouse
• How to File in Miamisburg Municipal Court
• How to File in Monmouth County Courthouse
• How to File in Oak Grove Courthouse
• How to File in Oregon Small Claims Court
• How to File in Small Claims Court in Iowa
• How to File in the Houston County Superior Court
• How To Fill Out the PLD-C-001
• How to Find My Bridgecrest Login
• How to Find Out If You're Being Sued
• How to Find Out What Collection Agency Owns Your Debt
• How to Find the Attorney That is Suing You (Secret)
• How to get a case dismissed without prejudice on statute of limitations
• How to Get a Divorce in Florida
• How to Get Credit Card Debt Relief
• How to Get Debt Relief (Ultimate 50 State Guide 2023)
• How to Get Out of a Bridgecrest Loan
• How to get out of a RISE loan
• How to Get Out of Debt Before Retirement
• How to Get Out of Paying HOA Dues
• How to Get Relief From a Gambling Debt
• How to Hire a Mediator
• How to Identify Age Discrimination in the Employment Act
• How to identify fake and abusive debt collectors
• How to Liquidate Credit Cards Into Cash
• How to liquidate your assets to pay off debt
• How to Make a 609 Letter That Really Works
• How to Make a Debt Validation Letter - The Ultimate Guide (2023)
• How to Make a Motion to Dismiss
• How to Make a Motion to Lift Stay
• How to Make a Motion to Vacate Judgment
• How to Make a Will
• How to Make an Eviction Appeal
• How to Make Motion to Set Aside — Ultimate Guide
• How to Negotiate a Lien on a House
• How to Negotiate Credit Card Debts
• How to Paramount Recovery
• How To Pay for College and Avoid Debt
• How to Pay off Your Destiny Credit Card
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Assigning debts and other contractual claims - not as easy as first thought

Harking back to law school, we had a thirst for new black letter law. Section 136 of the Law of the Property Act 1925 kindly obliged. This lays down the conditions which need to be satisfied for an effective legal assignment of a chose in action (such as a debt). We won’t bore you with the detail, but suffice to say that what’s important is that a legal assignment must be in writing and signed by the assignor, must be absolute (i.e. no conditions attached) and crucially that written notice of the assignment must be given to the debtor.

When assigning debts, it’s worth remembering that you can’t legally assign part of a debt – any attempt to do so will take effect as an equitable assignment. The main practical difference between a legal and an equitable assignment is that the assignor will need to be joined in any legal proceedings in relation to the assigned debt (e.g. an attempt to recover that part of the debt).

Recent cases which tell another story

Why bother telling you the above?  Aside from our delight in remembering the joys of debating the merits of legal and equitable assignments (ehem), it’s worth revisiting our textbooks in the context of three recent cases. Although at first blush the statutory conditions for a legal assignment seem quite straightforward, attempts to assign contractual claims such as debts continue to throw up legal disputes:

• In  Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp Europe Ltd v Euler Hermes Europe SA (NV) [2019] EWHC 2250 (Comm),  the High Court held that a performance bond issued under a construction contract was not effectively assigned despite the surety acknowledging a notice of assignment of the bond. Sadly, the notice of assignment failed to meet the requirements under the bond instrument that the assignee confirm its acceptance of a provision in the bond that required the employer to repay the surety in the event of an overpayment. This case highlights the importance of ensuring any purported assignment meets any conditions stipulated in the underlying documents.
• In  Promontoria (Henrico) Ltd v Melton [2019] EWHC 2243 (Ch) (26 June 2019) , the High Court held that an assignment of a facility agreement and legal charges was valid, even though the debt assigned had to be identified by considering external evidence. The deed of assignment in question listed the assets subject to assignment, but was illegible to the extent that the debtor’s name could not be deciphered. The court got comfortable that there had been an effective assignment, given the following factors: (i) the lender had notified the borrower of its intention to assign the loan to the assignee; (ii) following the assignment, the lender had made no demand for repayment; (iii) a manager of the assignee had given a statement that the loan had been assigned and the borrower had accepted in evidence that he was aware of the assignment. Fortunately for the assignee, a second notice of assignment - which was invalid because it contained an incorrect date of assignment - did not invalidate the earlier assignment, which was found to be effective. The court took a practical and commercial view of the circumstances, although we recommend ensuring that your assignment documents clearly reflect what the parties intend!
• Finally, in Nicoll v Promontoria (Ram 2) Ltd [2019] EWHC 2410 (Ch),  the High Court held that a notice of assignment of a debt given to a debtor was valid, even though the effective date of assignment stated in the notice could not be verified by the debtor. The case concerned a debt assigned by the Co-op Bank to Promontoria and a joint notice given by assignor and assignee to the debtor that the debt had been assigned “on and with effect from 29 July 2016”. A subsequent statutory demand served by Promontoria on the debtor for the outstanding sums was disputed on the basis that the notice of assignment was invalid because it contained an incorrect date of assignment. Whilst accepting that the documentation was incapable of verifying with certainty the date of assignment, the Court held that the joint notice clearly showed that both parties had agreed that an assignment had taken place and was valid. This decision suggests that mistakes as to the date of assignment in a notice of assignment may not necessarily be fatal, if it is otherwise clear that the debt has been assigned.

The conclusion from the above? Maybe it’s not quite as easy as first thought to get an assignment right. Make sure you follow all of the conditions for a legal assignment according to the underlying contract and ensure your assignment documentation is clear.

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What is an Assignment of Debt?

By Sej Lamba

Updated on 23 July 2024 Reading time: 5 minutes

This article meets our strict editorial principles. Our lawyers, experienced writers and legally trained editorial team put every effort into ensuring the information published on our website is accurate. We encourage you to seek independent legal advice. Learn more .

When Could an Assignment of Debt Happen?

Key issues on assignment of debt, drafting the correct documentation, giving notice, key takeaways.

Debts are increasingly common in today’s financial climate, and unfortunately, many people struggle to repay what they owe. Debts owed can be sold to third parties and a lot of companies in the UK purchase debts. However, this can be complicated as specific legal formalities apply when assigning debts. This article will explain some of the critical issues around the assignment of debt. 

Debt collection can be a complex process. There are various reasons as to why debt is assigned. For example, a company owed debt may want to avoid putting in time and effort to chase it or want to take legal action to recover it. 

To picture a scenario, imagine this:

• Joe Bloggs gets a brand-new shiny credit card. Joe purchases lots of nice things for his family with the credit card. Usually, he can keep up with payments as he keeps track of them and earns enough to pay them back;
• suddenly, Joe has an injury and cannot work anymore. He has to give up his job and now can’t afford to pay the credit card company back;
• Joe ignores various letters chasing the debt and hopes the problem will disappear. Ultimately, after months, the credit card company gives up and sells Joe’s debt to a debt collection agency.  

So, in summary – after the debt sale, Joe now owes money to a different company. 

In practice, debt assignments can be complex, and the parties must follow the relevant legal rules and draft the correct documentation.

An assignment of debt essentially transfers the debt from one party (the assignor) to a third party (an assignee). 

In practice, this will mean the original debtor (e.g. Joe Bloggs) will now owe the debt to a new third-party creditor (e.g. the debt collection business). Therefore, in the scenario above, Joe must now repay the debt to the third-party debt collection business.

This process can be complex. There have been several legal cases in the courts where this process has given rise to disputes.

To avoid lengthy and expensive disputes, it’s important to have up-to-date legal contracts in place. Our contract lawyers can review and update your contracts to ensure your business is protected. Book a complimentary consultation today by filling out the form on this page.

There are two different types of assignment of debt – a legal assignment of debt and an equitable assignment of debt. 

In simple terms:

• a legal assignment of debt will transfer the right for enforcement of the debt; and
• an equitable assignment of debt will transfer only the benefit of the debt without the right to enforce it. 

Let us explore each type below.

Legal Assignment of Debt 

If the assignment complies with specific legal requirements under the Law of Property Act 1925, it will be a ‘legal assignment’. This means that the assignee will be the new owner of the debt. 

A legal assignment requires various formalities to be effective. For example, it must:

• be in writing and signed by the assignor;
• the debtor must be given written notice of the assignment;
• be absolute with no conditions attached to it;
• relate to the whole of the debt and not just part of it; and
• not be a charge.

After the transfer of the debt, the assignor can sue the debtor in its own name. 

Equitable Assignment of Debt

It is also possible to have an equitable debt transfer – the requirements for this are much less strict. For example, this can be done informally by the assignor informing the assignee that the rights are transferred to them. 

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For an equitable assignment, giving notice is not essential, but still always highly advisable. 

Where an equitable assignment is made, the assignee won’t have the right to pursue court action for the debt. In this case, the assignee will have to join forces with the assignor to sue for the debt to sue for the debt. 

The debtor should receive notice of any debt transfer so they know to whom the money is owed. Following notice, the new debt owner can pursue the debt owed. 

A legal assignment is the best option for an assignee of debt – this will give them full rights to enforce the debt. 

Assignments of debts can be very complex. For a legal assignment of debt, you need to follow various formalities. Otherwise, it may be unenforceable and lead to disputes. If you need help executing a debt assignment correctly, you should seek legal advice from an experienced lawyer.

If you need help with an assignment of debt, LegalVision’s experienced business lawyers can assist as part of our LegalVision membership. You will have unlimited access to lawyers to answer your questions and draft and review your documents for a low monthly fee. Call us today on 0808 196 8584 or visit our membership page .

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Deed of Assignment of Debt – Everything You Need to Know

Scott Nelson

Debt Expert

Scott Nelson is a renowned debt expert who supports people in debt with debt management and debt solution resources.

Janine Marsh

Financial Expert

Janine is a financial expert who supports individuals with debt management, cost-saving resources, and navigating parking tickets.

Total amount of debt?

For free & impartial money advice you can visit MoneyHelper . We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options. This isn’t a full fact-find, some debt solutions may not be suitable in all circumstances, ongoing fees might apply & your credit rating may be affected.

For free & impartial money advice you can visit MoneyHelper . We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options. This isn’t a full fact-find, some debt solutions may not be suitable in all circumstances, ongoing fees might apply & your credit rating may be affected.

Are you facing a ‘deed of assignment of debt’? Are you worried about a debt collector knocking on your door?

You’re in the right place. Each month, over 170,000 people visit our site looking for guidance on debt issues, just like this one. 

In this article, we’ll explain:

•  What a ‘deed of assignment’ is
•  What it means for your debts
•  Different types of assignment
•  Why companies sell their debts
•  Ways to handle your debt situation

We know how scary it can be when debt collectors get involved; some of our team have faced similar situations. We’re here to help you understand your situation and make the best choices.

There are several debt solutions in the UK, choosing the right one for you could write off some of your unaffordable debt , but the wrong one may be expensive and drawn out.

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Deed of Assignment of Debt – the basics

Being in debt is confusing enough as it is. And it can get even more complicated when you get a letter through the door from a company you may never have heard of demanding (often in quite a strongly-worded way) that you make your payments to them instead.

What’s going on, you might ask yourself?

At the end of the day, the creditor will want the money that you owe back.

However, sometimes when an account falls into arrears , they won’t have the capabilities or resources to claim it back . This is when the original company you owe money might ‘ assign’ your debt . 

What is a Deed of Assignment of Debt?

This is notice that tells you that you now owe a debt collection agency or another collection service the money you originally owed to the creditor .

Instead of paying the company you might have originally owed money to, you now owe a third party company. 

A deed of assignment of debt is a legal documen t alerting you of the transfer of ownership of your debt to another person. The right to receive payment from the debt you owe is transferred over to this new party as well.

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What does it mean?

A deed of assignment of debt is used to transfer or sell the right to recover a debt .

Without a deed of assignment of debt, the two companies are not able to do this – you need a written transfer document. 

Once the transfer document, or deed of assignment of debt, has been signed by the assignee (the party transferring the debt) and the party receiving the debt ( assignor ), they must give notice to the debtor (the person that owes the company the sum of money).

Notice must be given within 7 days of assigning the debt. Unless someone gives notice to the debtor, then the new owner of the debt can’t enforce the debt by suing in court.

Is there more than one type of assignment? 

Confusingly, there are actually two different sorts of assignment that a creditor can make. These are Legal and Equitable.

Both types of assignment fall under the Law of Property Act 1925 , and both require the creditor to inform you of the change in writing – this is known as a notice of assignment of debt .

1. Legal Assignment

Legal assignment of debt gives the company who are purchasing the debt the power to enforce it .

Basically it means that you make payments to this company instead of the original creditor, and they can send you letters and make calls to your home.

2. Equitable

If a debt is an equitable assignment, only the amount you owe is transferred , and the original creditor will still retain the original rights and responsibilities .

The purchasing company will not be able to enforce the debt either.

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Why do companies sell their debts?

A deed of assignment of debt can be a real headache, as you now have another layer of money owed. You will probably rightly ask yourself – why? And how can they sell it?

It may seem strange and confusing, but it’s actually completely legal for them to sell your debt . When you sign a credit agreement, there is almost always a clause in fine print that states that the original creditor has the power to assign their rights to a third party.

As you have signed this agreement, they don’t actually need to ask for your permission to assign your debt.

This also means that you cannot dispute it or make a complaint about it either. The only exception to this rule is if you have given evidence of mental health issues .

» TAKE ACTION NOW:  Fill out the short debt form

What are the next steps?

So that’s the basics about a Deed of Assignment of Debt. But what does this mean for you? 

If your creditor passes one of your debts onto a third party company or debt collection agency, it will be officially noted that this new company is now responsible for collection .

You will be able to see this change on your credit report , and any defaults will also be registered in their name too. 

While it certainly adds another layer of confusion to proceedings and you may be unsure of what’s going on when you find out about a deed of assignment of debt, it can occasionally be a bit of a blessing in disguise. 

You may find it much easier dealing with the new company, as they could be more flexible when it comes to discussing interest and additional charges.

There is also the likelihood that these companies actually specialise in collecting debts , and so know how to approach you as the customer with more tact and delicacy than the original creditor.

Is there something missing? We’re all ears and eager to improve. Send us a message and let us know how we can make our article more useful for you.

You can email us directly at [email protected] to share your feedback.

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Debt Assignment and Assumption Agreement

A Debt Assignment and Assumption Agreement is a very simple document whereby one party assigns their debt to another party, and the other party agrees to take that debt on. The party that is assigning the debt is the original debtor; they are called the assignor. The party that is assuming the debt is the new debtor; they are called the assignee.

The debt is owed to a creditor.

This document is different than a Debt Settlement Agreement , because there, the original debtor has paid back all of the debt and is now free and clear. Here, the debt still stands, but it will just be owed to the creditor by another party.

This is also different than a Debt Acknowledgment Form , because there, the original debtor is simply signing a document acknowledging their debt.

How to use this document

This document is extremely short and to-the-point. It contains just the identities of the parties, the terms of the debt, the debt amount, and the signatures. It is auto-populated with some important contract terms to make this a complete agreement.

When this document is filled out, it should be printed, signed by the assignor and the creditor, and then signed by the assignee in front of a notary. It is important to have the assignee's signature notarized, because that is the party that is taking on the debt.

Applicable law

Debt Assignment and Assumption Agreements are generally covered by the state law where the debt was originally incurred.

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Assignment of debts, statutory demands and offsetting claims

It is not uncommon for a creditor (assignor) to transfer their right to receive payment of a debt (assignment) to a third party (assignee). The assignee will then seek payment from the debtor.

The assignee of the debt can issue to the debtor company a statutory demand for the payment of the debt if the debt exceeds the statutory minimum, which is currently $2,000.

For the assignee issuing the statutory demand, there will be threshold issues as to whether notice of the assignment has been given to the debtor and whether appropriate details of the assignment are contained in the statutory demand.

Assignee has the same rights and obligations as the assignor

The assignee of the debt takes the assignment subject to the rights and obligations of the assignor.

This was demonstrated in the recent decision of Mascarene Pty Ltd v Slater [2016] VSC 395 relating to a building dispute.

In Mascarene a judgment debt was assigned and the assignee issued a statutory demand.

The Court held that the assignee was not prevented from seeking payment of interest as it had the same rights as the assignor, as if the assignment had not taken place.

However, the assignee also took the assignment subject to the obligations that would have applied to the assignor in respect of the debt.

In seeking to set aside the statutory demand the debtor company claimed it had an offsetting claim against the assignor for reinstatement costs relating to building works.

Although the assignee was not a party to the building contract and not personally liable for the reinstatement costs, the debtor company was successful in claiming the setoff and reducing the amount of the statutory demand by the amount of the reinstatement costs.

It is clear that an offsetting claim cannot be sidestepped by assigning the debt.

The assignee of a debt receives the benefit of the debt subject to the rights of the assignor but also subject to the assignor’s obligations in respect of the debt.

A statutory demand can be issued in respect of an assigned debt however the assignment does not prevent the debtor company from disputing the existence or amount of the alleged debt or seeking to raise an offsetting claim.

If you would like more information about these issues, please contact Graham Roberts on +61 7 3231 2404.

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Deeds of Assignment of a Debt – Your Top Questions Answered

Posted by david cammack on february 7, 2020.

Home / Blog / Deeds of Assignment of a Debt – Your Top Questions Answered

( Revised for 2023. )

Do you want to know more about what a deed of assignment of a debt is, if you need one, or what to include in it? If so, our blog article has all the answers. So today, we are answering the top questions from the Internet about deeds of assignment of a debt.

1. Can a debt be assigned? How do I assign a debt in the UK?

Yes. Banks regularly buy and sell debts. If you are a creditor, then you can do so too. But you need to do so in writing. A deed of assignment of a debt is the document to use for this. You would need to assign the whole of a debt, as you cannot assign only part of it. The debtor cannot assign the debt to someone else unless the creditor agrees and you would then do this via a deed of novation.

2. What is an assignment of a loan?

This means the same thing as an assignment of a debt. It is always the right to receive repayment of the debt or loan that you are assigning.

3. What is a deed of assignment of a debt?

This is a legal document that transfers the ownership of the debt to another person. By ‘ownership’ we mean the right to receive repayment of that debt from the same original debtor or borrower.

4. What does assignment of debt mean?

The assignment of a debt will mean that the original debtor or borrower now owes the debt to a different creditor. So the debtor will now need to repay that debt to a new person, because you have transferred the debt.

5. Is a deed of assignment of a debt a legal document?

If prepared correctly, yes, a deed of assignment is a legally-binding document. In order to make the assignment legally binding on the debtor, the creditor should give notice of the assignment to the debtor. Our template includes a notice of the assignment of the debt, so you can complete it and send it to the debtor.

6. What is a notice of assignment of a debt? What do I need to do to give notice of an assignment of a debt?

Once you have assigned a debt, then you need to give the debtor notice of the transfer of the debt. Otherwise, how will they know to repay the new owner of the debt? Ideally, the deed of assignment of debt will mention this and include a form for the notice. (Legalo’s template does.) Wikipedia explains why such notice is necessary here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_in_Dearle_v_Hall#Criticisms .

7. How do you draft a deed of assignment of a debt?

If you require this deed, then the quickest way to get one is with a template from Legalo. Find our great template here: just click on this link .

8. What are the contents of a deed of assignment of a debt?

If you click on this link and scroll down to the section about the Guide to the template, then you will see the contents of our template for a deed of assignment of a debt.

9. Who can prepare a deed of assignment of a debt? Can a non-lawyer prepare a deed of assignment of a debt?

A non-lawyer can use any of the documents we sell as templates. So this includes a deed of assignment of a debt.

10. Does a deed of assignment of a debt need to be signed by both parties?

The parties who do need to sign it are (a) the original creditor and (b) the one buying (or otherwise taking) the debt from the original creditor. The debtor does not sign it.

11. Does a deed of assignment of a debt need to be witnessed?

All deeds need to be signed correctly with an adult witness, preferably one who none of the persons signing are related to.

12. Does an assignment of debt need to be a deed?

If there is no price being paid for the purchase of the debt, then the document does need to be a deed, in order to ensure it is legally binding. Otherwise, technically it does not need to be prepared and signed as a deed, but generally it is better to do it as a deed in case there is any doubt. Legalo’s template is set up to be signed as a deed.

13. Does a deed of assignment of a debt need to be registered?

Not unless you have secured the debt, for example on a property in the UK at the Land Registry. In such a case, then you would need to register the transfer of the security separately at the Land Registry. You do not register the assignment of the debt itself.

14. How long does a deed of assignment of a debt take to draft?

Legalo’s template makes it easy, so you should only need a few minutes to draft your deed of assignment.

15. How much does a deed of assignment of a debt cost? How much does a notice of assignment of a debt cost? How much do lawyers charge for deed of assignment of a debt?

Our template for a deed of assignment includes a notice of assignment and costs only £24.95. Solicitors would charge an estimated £500 plus VAT for one, so ours represents a significant cost saving.

In just a few minutes yours can be ready. What’s more, Legalo’s templates each come with a guide to make it clear how to complete it. We also provide a free helpline just in case you need any extra assistance to use it. So it could not be easier.

So if you need one, you know where to find it.

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Assignment of debts - take care with cross-referencing

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In the recent High Court decision in Nicoll -v- Promontoria (Ram 2) Ltd [2019] EWHC 2410 (Ch), the validity of an assignment of debts and the notice requirements is considered.

The High Court in this case considered whether a notice of assignment in relation to a debt, which mentioned an unverifiable date of assignment, was still valid and enforceable against the debtor. 

The debt in question originally arose between the debtor and the Co-operative Bank (Bank) and was evidenced in various facility letters between September 2010 and May 2013. A sum of over £10 million was advanced by the Bank to the debtor, and security was taken by the Bank in the form of charges over certain property. The overall balance was repayable by May 2015, but the debtor defaulted on the payment terms.

On 29 July 2016, the Bank assigned (or purported to assign) its debt and security to Promontoria. Both the Bank and Promontoria provided joint notice of the assignment in a single document to the debtor on 2 August 2016, with wording that the debt had been assigned ‘on and with effect from 29 July 2016’. There was no express reference to the date of the assignment or the assignment effective date, but rather this was defined by reference to the completion date in a related but unreferenced loan sale deed, so a more complicated analysis of a series of documents was required to reach the actual date of the assignment.

Promontoria proceeded to pursue the debtor for the debt by serving a statutory demand, dated 27 January 2017, and referred to the deed of assignment within its contents for payment of the outstanding debt.

The debtor’s attempt to have the statutory demand set aside was dismissed at the initial hearing, but the debtor received leave to appeal to the High Court on one issue. The debtor sought to challenge the effectiveness of the assignment of the debt based on an inability to work out from the notice of assignment whether the completion date for assignment had actually occurred. The debtor argued that:

• the case of WF Harrison -v- Burke [1956] 1 W.L.R. 419 is authority that a notice of assignment that gets the date of assignment wrong is invalid and, as a result, the assignment is not good against any debtor; and
• the date of assignment stated in the notice given to him was unverifiable, and therefore potentially wrong, rendering the notice invalid

The High Court agreed that the documentation disclosed by Promontoria to the debtor after the notice of assignment was insufficient to verify the date on which assignment had occurred, due to cross-referencing to other documents and there being conditions for completion. However, the High Court distinguished this case from WF Harrison -v- Burke case as the joint notice of assignment did not specify the date of the deed of assignment. It specified the date on which the assignment took effect, which is different. In WF Harrison -v- Burke , the notice of the assignment (given by the assignee only) specified the date of the assignment document (as opposed to the assignment itself) and got it wrong. In the present case, the notice of assignment was from both Promontoria and the Bank, i.e. assignor and assignee and made clear that the parties considered the assignment to be complete. In the circumstances, the debtor was not entitled to challenge Promontoria’s title to the debt.

The High Court accepted that while Promontoria had not produced evidence which in terms showed what the effective date of the assignment was, the joint notice clearly showed that both the Bank and Promontoria agreed and accepted that the assignment had taken place, and was sufficient evidence for the present purposes to be valid. The judge said: ‘The question is not whether Promontoria have provided a chain of proof through the wording of the documents. If that were the question then Promontoria would fail. The question is whether Promontoria has demonstrated that there is a completed assignment. I consider that it has. The crucial matter is the notice of assignment, against the background of the assignment document. The assignment documentation demonstrates a clear intention to assign even if the documents do not match up as they ought to. The notice of assignment provides clear evidence that the assignment has taken place.’ Accordingly, the High Court concluded that there was no arguable case that the assignment’s effective date had not occurred and considered that the assignment had been sufficiently demonstrated to be effective as against the debtor.

The High Court clearly held that a notice of assignment of a debt given to a debtor was valid, even though the assignment effective date, referred to in the notice, could not be verified by the debtor. The judgment provides strong support for the proposition that it is not open to debtors to seek to find alleged defects in any assignment, as long as they have been properly notified of the assignment and most importantly that the assignor and assignee both agree that the assignment is valid. This is a welcome decision for all creditors.

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Dispute resolution

We can help you resolve business disputes through negotiation, mediation, arbitration or litigation. Our aim is to achieve resolution quickly and efficiently and to minimise the impact of a dispute on your day-to-day operations.

Where possible, we try to settle disputes without recourse to legal proceedings. However, when this is unavoidable, our very experienced and tenacious team will vigorously pursue a strategy set to achieve a successful outcome for you.

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Personal Finance

Debt settlement: a comprehensive guide.

Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we may earn a commission from our partners’ links. This content is created by TIME Stamped, under TIME’s direction and produced in accordance with TIME’s editorial guidelines and overseen by TIME’s editorial staff. Learn more about it .

Debt settlement is an agreement between you and a creditor to pay less than what you owe. When a debt is settled, the remaining amount due is forgiven.

You might consider debt settlement if you've fallen behind on credit cards or other unsecured debts. Creditors aren't obligated to agree to a settlement—but if they do, you could get out of debt faster without paying in full.

Why opt for debt settlement?

There are several reasons why someone might consider debt settlement in place of other debt solutions.

• Debt settlement can help you clear outstanding balances if you've fallen behind on payments.
• Negotiating a settlement shows your creditors that you're trying to pay something toward what you owe, which may stop collection calls.
• Settling debt could help you avoid bankruptcy if that's an option you'd rather not pursue.

The biggest benefit, of course, is that it lowers your debt. For example, you might owe $5,000 to a credit card company, but get a creditor to agree to accept $3,500 instead. That's a $1,500 savings since you no longer have to pay that amount.

How does debt settlement work?

What the debt settlement process looks like depends on how you choose to approach it. You might negotiate with creditors yourself or hire a debt settlement or debt resolution company to work on your behalf.

If you're negotiating with creditors, the process might go something like this:

• You contact your creditor to offer a settlement for an unpaid debt.
• Your creditor can accept the offer, reject it, or make a counteroffer.
• Once you agree on a settlement amount, you pay the creditor either in a lump sum or in several smaller installments.
• The creditor forgives the remaining debt balance once you pay the agreed amount.

Working with debt settlement professionals is a little different.

• You hire a debt settlement company to negotiate with your creditors.
• Every month, you put money into a secure escrow account.
• The debt settlement company negotiates for you.
• Once an agreement is reached, the debt settlement company uses money from your escrow account to pay your creditor.
• The creditor forgives the remaining amount.

You'll typically pay a fee to the debt settlement company for its services, but you don't have to do any of the work of negotiating yourself.

Pros and cons of debt settlement

• Can reduce what you owe
• You may be able to get out of debt faster
• It could help you avoid bankruptcy
• Professional help is available
• Creditors aren't required to agree
• Forgiven debt may be taxable
• Your credit score will suffer
• Debt settlement fees may be high

Downsides of debt settlement

Credit score damage.

Whether you do it yourself or hire a debt settlement company, settling debts can hurt your credit. There is a simple reason why: Creditors typically won't negotiate unless you're behind on payments.

Payment history makes up 35% of your FICO credit score . The longer debt goes unpaid before you attempt to settle, the more negative marks you'll rack up on your credit for late payments. You may end up with a collection or charge-off on your credit if your creditor writes off the account as bad debt.

Creditors don't have to settle

Technically, a creditor doesn't have to agree to a settlement. If you don't pay a debt, it can use other options to recover the money, including:

• Collection calls and letters.
• Debt lawsuits.
• Wage garnishments, bank-account levies, or liens (if the creditor wins a judgment against you).

Even if a creditor agrees to negotiate, it may not accept the amount you want to offer. You might have to go higher than your original offer to get a creditor to cooperate.

Debt settlement fees

If you don't feel comfortable negotiating debt yourself you might hire a debt settlement company instead. The upside is that you don't have to deal with creditors. The downside: This convenience isn't free.

Debt settlement fees vary by company, but you could easily pay hundreds or thousands of dollars to negotiate down your balances. You're saving money by negotiating debt since you'll pay less than what you owe, but there is still a cost if you're not able or willing to work out a settlement yourself.

Canceled or forgiven debt, including settled debt, may be treated as taxable income by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Having to report canceled debt on your tax return could potentially push you into a higher tax bracket if you're settling large amounts.

The IRS allows an exception to this rule if you can prove that you're insolvent. Essentially, your total debt has to outweigh your assets to qualify.

Other solutions to consider before opting for debt settlement

Debt settlement can take time and some of the cons might outweigh the pros. If you're behind on debt payments or close to falling behind, there are other possibilities you might try before considering a settlement.

Review your budget

If you're struggling with debt payments you may want to start by looking at your budget. Go over your monthly expenses line by line to see where your money goes and what you might be able to cut.

A nonprofit credit counselor can help you evaluate your budget to see if you have the money to pay your debt. And if you don't, your credit counselor can offer solutions that may be a better fit.

Talk to your creditors

It's tempting to dodge your creditors when you're in debt, but they might have solutions they can offer you to help you get back on track.

For example, your creditors may be willing to:

• Waive certain fees for you.
• Lower your interest rate.
• Temporarily pause payments or reduce them.

You'll typically need to be able to prove a financial hardship to qualify for this kind of help.

How to choose a debt settlement company

If you plan to go the professional route with debt settlement it's important to find the right company to work with. As you're comparing companies, consider:

• Which services are offered.
• How they navigate the debt settlement process.
• What fees you might pay, if any.
• Track record and success rates.

Reading consumer reviews from people who have used the company to settle debt can also provide insight. You can check the company's rating on Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau to see what people like or don't like about them.

Be wary of any company that demands payment upfront before services or rendered, or dodges your questions about fees.

Alternatives to debt settlement

Whether debt settlement makes sense for you can depend on your situation. If you're wondering what other options you have, here are a few avenues you might explore.

Debt management

A debt management plan is a structured plan for paying off what you owe. You work with a credit counselor or debt management company to create the plan. Once the plan is finalized, you make payments as scheduled until your debts are paid off.

Debt management is suited to unsecured debts like credit cards, and you might need to have $10,000 or more to qualify. Your creditors also have to agree to the plan.

Enrolling in a debt management plan doesn't allow you to pay less than what you owe. But you might be able to negotiate fee waivers or interest rate reductions that can save a little money.

Debt consolidation or refinancing

Consolidating debt or refinancing means taking out a personal loan to pay off existing balances . Doing so can help you:

• Streamline your monthly payments.
• Make your payments more affordable.
• Save money on interest if you qualify for a lower rate.

Debt consolidation or refinancing won't reduce what you owe. But either option could make your debt easier to manage. Getting personal-loan rate quotes can give you an idea of what terms you might qualify for.

Bankruptcy is often considered a last resort option for dealing with debt, but it can be the best option in certain situations. If you have mostly unsecured debts and very few assets, for instance, then a Chapter 7 filing could erase what you owe.

Filing bankruptcy will hurt your credit, but it can recover with time. There are certain requirements you'll need to meet to file bankruptcy. You'll also have to pay filing fees and attorney's fees if you decide to get legal help with your case.

Debt settlement scams: What to know

The debt settlement industry has plenty of legitimate companies, but it also attracts its fair share of scammers. Debt settlement scams are designed to get you to hand over your money without providing anything to you in return.

Here are some red flags to watch out for if you're worried about falling victim to a debt settlement scam.

• The debt settlement company doesn't have a functioning website or the site looks hastily put together.
• You're asked to share your Social Security number or bank account information before you've agreed to use the company's services.
• There's no transparency and you can't get a straight answer to any of the questions you ask.
• The company requests or demands money from you without doing any work to settle your debt.

If something seems off about a debt settlement company, it probably is. And if you come across what you believe is a debt settlement scam you can report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

TIME Stamp: Debt settlement can offer a way out of debt

Falling behind on debt payments isn't ideal, but it's also not the end of the world. Debt settlement can help you pay off what you owe for less and hit the reset button financially. Researching debt settlement companies thoroughly can help you find a reputable one to work with if you're not ready to tackle negotiations on your own.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Is debt settlement a good option.

Debt settlement can be a good option for managing overwhelming credit card balances if you've fallen behind. You can get out of debt without paying in full and avoid bankruptcy. However, you'll need to be able to come up with the money you need to pay a settlement and your creditors must agree for it to work.

Does debt settlement hurt your credit?

Debt settlement can hurt your credit if you've fallen behind on debt payments or you choose to stop paying so that creditors will be willing to agree to a deal. Payment history accounts for the biggest part of your credit-score pie, and one or more late payments could cost you substantial points. However, your score can recover if you're committed to paying on time consistently once you're finished settling debts

Who qualifies for debt settlement?

Debt settlement companies may only work with you if you have unsecured debts, such as credit cards, and owe a minimum amount. If you're negotiating yourself, then there are no minimum debt requirements. Generally, you must be behind on payments before a creditor will consider a settlement.

The information presented here is created by TIME Stamped and overseen by TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About Us page .

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