These days, many debts go unpaid. And if you’re a creditor, chances are you’ve also got your own debts to pay. So how can you collect unpaid debts?

Sometimes, a demand letter or meeting is all it takes to convince a debtor to make your account a priority and begin repayment. In fact, in many cases, the debtor acknowledges the debt and is willing to enter into a confession of judgment.

A confession of judgment is an actual judgment through which a debtor agrees to be bound in the same way he would be if a judge or jury handed down a judgment in your favor. In a typical confession-of-judgment scenario, the debtor signs both a confession of judgment and a settlement agreement. The settlement agreement sets forth a mutually agreeable repayment plan and authorizes the creditor to file the confession of judgment in court if the debtor defaults in payment.

When a debt is not in dispute, both parties have an incentive to enter into a confession of judgment. The debtor usually receives more time to repay the debt and can avoid a lawsuit or the adverse credit consequences of having his debts turned over to a collection agency. Likewise, the creditor gets the added security of a judgment to back their collection efforts without having to litigate an expensive and emotionally draining lawsuit or having to pay a steep contingency fee to a collection agency.

If you have uncollected debts, there are often cost-saving alternatives to litigation. Contact an attorney experienced in collection work.

Rod Woodbury can be reached at 933-0777 or by e-mail at rwoodbury@wmb-law.net. To learn more, visit the firm on our website at www.wmb-law.net, on Facebook at facebook.com/WoodburyMorrisBrown, or on Twitter at twitter.com/FullServiceFirm.