I'm going to court for a debt that I can't afford to pay. Can you tell me what's going to happen? I live in Atlanta, Ga.

Not being able to afford to pay is not a defense. If the debt is valid, the plaintiff will be awarded a judgement. That judgement may then be used to garnish your salary, attach cash assets or take possession of personal assets.

I'm going to court for a debt that I can't afford to pay. Can you tell me what's going to happen? I live in Atlanta, Ga.


Are they attempting to collect within the legal Statute of Limitation? In Georgia - if this is a credit card - it's 6 years which would be 6 years from the last activity on the account, last use of the card, last payment.

There is one complication - Georgia Court recently ruled that it's 6 years since the payment BECAME due. That decision is being appealed.

Otherwise, echoing Scott - inability to pay is not a defense and once the Judgment is taken a variety of methods can be used to collect, all of them legal.

I'm going to court for a debt that I can't afford to pay. Can you tell me what's going to happen? I live in Atlanta, Ga.
Just curious: Can you afford monthly installments? Are you working? Do you own your home? Do you have a bank account?