Can you sue someone for more money than they owe you?

In short, yes you can sue for more than is owed, but you need to make sure what you are claiming is permissible in the court.

Who pays when you win a lawsuit?

Most judgments order the judgment debtor to pay the winner the total amount due in one lump sum. However, in most states, the judge can order the judgment debtor to pay the award in installments over time if requested.

How can I get money after suing someone?

Real estate, bank accounts, stocks and bonds, and motor vehicles are other common collection sources. And if you’ve sued a business, you can often collect by ordering the sheriff or marshal to take the amount of the judgment right out of the debtor’s cash register.

What should I do if someone sues me for more money?

If you are sued for more money than you have, first fight it. You have the upper hand. If you win and they negotiate, you’ve paid for less. If you lose, you’ve paid less than owed. Lawyers are funny people they don’t like getting phone calls. Figure out what you can pay, call them up and offer that.

What happens if you can’t pay a lawsuit?

What happens is that you work out a payment schedule with the claimant of the lawsuit, or the claimant can wait for you to have enough assets to pay him/her. Or, if your situation is too severe and you’re basically penniless, you will be considered judgment proof or incapable of fulfilling the court’s judgment.

Is it possible to sue someone with no assets?

Although it’s not a very wise decision, it is possible to sue someone, even if the person being sued has no valuable assets. However, most people investigate the possibility of collecting from the individual they are considering suing before they go through the time consuming and expensive process of a lawsuit.

How much does it cost to file a civil lawsuit?

Second, some courts charge a graduated percentage fee, so whereas it may only cost $100 to file a claim for a few thousand dollars, a claim for millions of dollars might cost several thousand dollars to file, discouraging excessive demands.