My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: Washington
Several years ago following the death of my husband, I hired a local professional businessman to help me with my financial and personal issues. He had been handling my affairs for about 5 years prior to this so I thought I knew him. About 1 year later, he talked me into loaning him 100,000.00 from a real estate sale because he said I owed him for his help in getting me through my nightmare. He pressured me and knew I was still grieving and having a hard time emotionally.
In exchange for this, he gave me a deed of trust (second position) on a house he was buying. Once the economy started to collapse, he asked (begged) me to sign a reconveyance so he could sell the house and promised to give me the deed of trust on a different house he was trying to buy. It has been over two years and still no deed of trust. He has been paying late regularly and is almost 20 days late this month. When I have questioned him, he gets mean and threatens to cause me personal anguish in regards to matters surrounding the settlement of my hasbands estate. At first he told me he had forgotten to record the new deed, then told me I would have it in 3 months. Now he says it is not his fault he can't give it to me and it doesn't matter anyway. He tells me if I make trouble for his profession, he will take me down with him. He assures me that he will not screw me out of the money. I have been in anguish over this. I have his threats in writing and verbally recorded from my answering machine. He makes excuses and accuses me of not trusting him. Lately I have noticed his place of business is closed up and he is operating from his house. He has deed of trust with others on this house which is why I can't get mine back.
He also has a commercial building in another state but I don't know if it has any equity.
I have placed the note with a local contract collection agency and this has infuriated him. He refuses to send the payments to them, continuing to send them to me instead. He has told me he will not pay any late fees or additional interest because he does not agree with their balance owing.
I cannot continue with this as it has caused me an enormous amount of anguish and stress. I need some direction. I am afraid of him.
I need to know how I can find out if he has any assets that I could attach this note to and how to go about it.
He is well known in this area.

