Simi Valley, CA Bankruptcy Law Firms & Lawyers

This is way too involved to address in a forum like this.  You need to have a consultation with an experienced bankruptcy attorney, or a civil litigation attorney (depending on what you are trying to accomplish--see below) in your area.    Relevant information a bankruptcy attorney will want to know is:  Was this debt listed in your bankruptcy papers?  Was this judgment entered before or after the Chapter 7 case was filed?  Did the creditor obtain an order declaring the debt to be non-dischargeable?  Is there a lien against any real estate?  If so, when was the lien recorded in relation to the bankruptcy filing? If you are merely seeking to vacate the judgment, that would have to be done in the court in which the judgment was entered, and if it was over 6 years ago, I can't imagine that you are within the statute of limitations for doing so. Anyway, if your bankruptcy case was filed in the Greater Los Angeles Area, feel free to contact me for a consultation to go over your bankruptcy options.

Failing to pay a debt is NOT a crime, unless it's specifically made a crime by State law - for example, many states make it a misdemeanor to issue a check for which you know there are not sufficient funds in the account to cover it. Unfortunately, MANY collectors say horrible things like what were you told. I strongly recommend you keep a record of exactly who you talk to, when (date and time), and what they said. You can also consider recording the call, but in many states (including California, where I practice), you have to tell people you're recording the call and get their agreement before you're allowed to do it.

You may be able to do so, but the amount of equity you have in your home could make it difficult to discharge your other debts and still keep the home.