This form is a sample letter in Word format covering the subject matter of the title of the form.
This form is a sample letter in Word format covering the subject matter of the title of the form.
In Florida, a typical creditor cannot take your car without first obtaining a court judgment against you. This means that if you default on an unsecured debt—such as credit cards or medical bills—the creditor must file a lawsuit, win the case, and obtain a judgment before attempting to collect.
Florida is considered one of the best states for asset protection because of its generous creditor exemption laws. Florida law protects an unlimited amount of homestead equity, tenants by entireties property, head of household wages, retirement accounts, annuities, life insurance, and disability insurance.
The lien is good for 10 years, but the creditor can renew the judgment before it expires for another 10 years, meaning the lien will survive for a maximum of 20 years. The good news is that because of Florida's homestead protections, a judgment lien cannot attach to homestead property.
The sheriff's department can seize: Personal property: movable things (e.g., cars, horses, boats, furniture, jewelry) owned by the debtor. Real property: land and buildings owned by the debtor.
If a creditor files a lawsuit against you and wins a judgment, they can seize quite a few assets. They can garnish your wages, levy your bank account, and even go after your personal property. This includes everything from cars and furniture to clothing and household goods.
What types of property can and cannot be levied by the sheriff? The sheriff's department can seize: Personal property: movable things (e.g., cars, horses, boats, furniture, jewelry) owned by the debtor. The sheriff's department cannot seize: An individual's home or homestead.
No one can put a lien on your house unless they have gone through the process of filing a lawsuit for the amount owed, obtained a judgment from the court, and properly lodged that judgment with the proper jurisdiction. At that point, they could put a judgment lien on.
The Florida homestead is the most protected asset in the entire country. The purpose of Florida homestead laws is to shield the primary residence of Florida residents so that they do not lose their homes due to unpaid debts.