Collecting when a Judgment Debtor Fled the State

[disbelief]

My question involves judgment recovery in the State of: Indiana

I won a judgement after the defendant no-showed after both of his motions to set aside a default judgement (didn't show then either). My problem is that he picked up and moved to Michigan in order to avoid having to pay me, but I have no idea where in Michigan or where to begin to track him down. His family and friends won't tell me anything. He does own a trailor that is in a trailor park here in my county, but they're telling me that I need a judgement signed by a judge with the VIN number specifically stating that I can put a lein on his trailor. How do I obtain this? Is there any way for me to track him down from his last employer here? And although I filed a Proceedings Supplemental, if he is not at the address he gave to the court, is he still considered served with it (because I hear that if he doesn't show, a body attachment is then in effect)? Thank you so much. I appreciate it.

[Mr. Knowitall]

You can use whatever means are available to you, from Google to private investigators to pulling credit reports as a judgment creditor to whatever else you can think of, to try to locate him and his assets.

It looks like Indiana judgments are automatic liens against real property; I don't know if he owns the lot or just the trailer. If you want to try to seize and sell the trailer you should explore getting an order of execution from the court that issued your judgment. Note that the costs of executing can be substantial, so you should investigate those costs and whether the sale of the trailer is likely to both cover those costs and at least part of the balance of your judgment before proceeding.

If you do not know his current address for service and personal service is necessary, either to commence post-judgment proceedings or as part of seeking certain types of relief, you can bring a motion with the court to permit substituted service.