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View Full Version : How do creditors know who home contents belong to in order to seize them?


ChericeCarr
Mar 27, 2012, 02:06 AM
If creditors want to seize your home contents (if unemployed), how do they know who the contents belong to if the person they want to seize it from says it doesn't belong to them? And if you are the person in question, how can you protect yourself from them seizing your possessions?

ScottGem
Mar 27, 2012, 03:17 AM
First, it is very rare that a creditor will seize home contents. Generally such contents are not worth the money to try and seize then sell.

Second, the creditor would first need to get a judgment against you and a judge to issue a writ of execution allowing the seizure.

But if a writ is obtained it will be against anything you have an ownership interest in. So, if you are the owner or leaseholder of the home, then it would be considered that you had an ownership interest in just about anything in the home.

You can protect yourself by making some settlement to pay the bill.

tickle
Mar 27, 2012, 03:28 AM
This would never be an actuality. Creditors don't seize contents, that is not getting them their money. If they are awarded a judgment they go after your money, not furniture. Do you actually think they would waste time haggling over who owns the couch ?

ScottGem
Mar 27, 2012, 04:43 AM
This would never be an actuality. Creditors don't seize contents, that is not getting them their money. If they are awarded a judgment they go after your money, not furniture. Do you actually think they would waste time haggling over who owns the couch ?

Never say never. I agree it would be rare and unlikely, but the law does allow it in certain circumstances. Many places have a homestead law that allows a debtor to protect up to x amount of personal belongings. The OP should look into that for his area.

But it has happened. Usually it's a very vindictive creditor and its done just to make a point. So it can happen.