Need to file a civil suit to get judgement
I have an ex spouse who I was paying child support. It took the courts over 3 months to approve to stop child support. Now my ex owes me $7k in back payments and refuses to give it back(obviously). I am in NY state, do I need a lawyer? I cannot go to small claims with it since the amount is larger than their limit. Amazing that the support collection bureau that I always paid said that they would not collect the back child support for me. I have the court decision about the end of child support with the retroactive date and the statemenet from SCU that she now owes me the amount. Any help is appreciated. Also after I get the judgement I get conflicting answers on how I can collect it. I have been told just apply the judgement to put a lien on her house. Can I do that?
Thanks