New Debt Collection Law

    The law in Kansas which covers most debt collection suits was significantly changed effective January 1, 2001. The Kansas Credit Attorneys Association played a significant role in passage of the bill.

    Key points of the new law are:

• Continuing wage garnishment. Once a garnishment is in place, it remains until the judgment is paid. This will greatly reduce the workload in both the clerk’s office and ours'.

• Multiple garnishments can be filed against same debtor. If you and I both have judgments against Joe Blow, now we can share equally each month in the garnished funds.

• Debtor must file a written answer to dispute the claim. This should help weed out those claims where there is no valid defense.

• Each county can adopt an electronic filing procedure which ultimately will lead to the elimination of most paper in this business.

    For more details about the new law, go to the KCAA website.