State Specific Question About: MASSACHUSETTS (MA)

Went through an eviction in court. Got my execution and a judgement in my favor. Tenant left on her own with no forwarding address. Is there a way to locate the tenant to try and collect on the back rent. I know it's a losing battle, but this particular tenant does have a job so I'm willing to try.

If you know where she works you could try following her home from work.

If you have a proper signed rental application you could pull her credit record. If you decide do this, wait several months for their address to show up.

Try calling her emergency contacts from her rental application.

If it's a multi family ask the other tenants if they have her new address.

See if you can find her on FaceBook.

Try sending a letter to her last know address & ask for an address correction. Again you might want to wait a while before doing this.

"If you have a proper signed rental application you could pull her credit record."

Actually Federal law is clear absent a Judgment a LL cannot pull an ex-tenant credit report

I have found going through the trash to be useful (although perhaps messy).

First tenant we ever had skipped out one weekend. She and her daughter took all the "important" stuff (silk flowers) but left behind the "unimportant" stuff including their new lease, the granddaughters birth certificate, dads death certificate and a bunch of unwritten checks (so I knew the account number and bank to garnish when I won my judgment).

I was able to file against them using the address on their new lease.

A little confused why you want tenant's forwarding address. If you have the judgement, you should call the court IMMEDIATELY to get the next step. For example, I received a judgment of $1300 in December. I had to wait 10 days in case tenant wanted to contest (property not in CA). I paid the court and process server to serve tenant's employer. To date, I have collected $740 including a check today $285. Don't procrastinate.

This works occasionally. Most times. Call the X tenny and tell them you don't want to send the Sheriff to their job for service as that would embarrass them in front of their co workers and boss. You've done it in the past and it causes all kinds of problems. Problem that can be avoided if you have a legitimate address for me.

Not sure why you want to give her another opportunity to pay you. She has shown you who she is. You have the tools to force her hands.

The judgement is your ticket to garnish her wages. My suggestion is call the human resourses dept to verify that tenant is still employed and where to serve the judgement. Call court to understand the next step to collect on a judgement in your state. I had to pay court fees and have document served. You don't have to serve tenant, you serve the human resources dept or accountant dept. They process the judgement. This is my second time serving an employer and collecting on a judgement, successfully.

By the way, the employer deducts money from tenant's pay, send a check to the court who sends check to me. And, what's important to me, I know my former tenant's pay days (marked on the calendar) and my court cuts checks every Thursday. Good luck

I was just thinking of having her served where she lives as opposed to at work to save her from the embarrassment. Plus, I would potentially get the forwarding address I was looking for in case she ends up quitting or getting fired from her job. Bad idea?

Dear Joe,

I hope we are still friends after this tough love I'm about to dish out. Charge it to my head not my heart because I truly want you to collect on that judgement.

Why are you concerned about embarrassing your tenant at work? I wish she was as concerned about you, ie honoring the contract and not even being evicted. What about your valuable time? I once read on this form "take the emotion out of it". Hmmmm.

I'm an out of state landlord and it has worked for me, sometimes frustrating but it works.

I have a good relationship with my court and the clerks are very helpful. I don't know the process for MA but I had to file a "Statement for Judgement Creditor Requesting Garnishment Execution" document. It just confirmed the amount owed including interest, court fees, etc. It cost me $25.00. After I was granted eviction and judgement, I had to wait 10 days just in case tenant want to appeal. In the meantime, the court sent me the documents and I had them notarized and sent back so on the 11th day I could serve her employer. The human resources officer did their internal paperwork and sent them to accounting so monies can be deducted from her payroll check. I have the names and numbers of those employees. I confirmed paydays with employer and watched the calendar.

I understand you want address and phone # but you are waisting precious time now. Serve employer and then obtain that info as it's not need to serve her employer.

Yesterday, I learned through a friend my tenant went to jail. I was given the website and sure enough, there's her picture. She's married with three beautiful little girls. I felt for the children but I had to stay focused. It's business. She was released last night and I hope back at work today.

Keep us posted, Joe.

Your friend,

Nell