Michael J. Lucas & Associates, LLC assists clients with lawful collection of business and other valid obligations through demand, litigation, and judgment enforcement where appropriate.
Verify the Debt Before Collecting
The amount claimed should be supported by contracts, invoices, account statements, notes, guaranties, delivery records, or other documentation.
Errors in interest, credits, payments, or fees can complicate an otherwise valid claim. A careful accounting at the beginning can prevent unnecessary disputes later.
Demand Letters and Payment Arrangements
A demand can identify the amount due, legal basis, supporting documents, and a reasonable opportunity to resolve the matter. Depending on the debtor's circumstances, a payment plan or negotiated settlement may produce a better practical result than immediate litigation.
Any agreement should clearly address payment dates, default consequences, releases, and whether judgment or security is involved.
Collection Litigation
If voluntary payment is unsuccessful, the creditor may consider filing suit. The claim may arise from a written contract, oral agreement, account, promissory note, guaranty, or other obligation.
Applicable limitation periods vary depending on the type of debt. Written contracts and unwritten obligations are not always governed by the same deadline, and sales of goods may involve Uniform Commercial Code rules.
Judgment Collection
Winning a case does not automatically produce payment. After judgment, Illinois law permits procedures such as citations to discover assets, wage deductions, garnishment, liens, and turnover of nonexempt property.
The debtor retains statutory exemptions and procedural protections. Collection must be conducted within those limits.
Consumer Collection Rules
Federal and state debt collection laws can regulate communications and collection conduct, particularly in consumer matters. The applicability of those laws depends on the creditor, collector, type of debt, and activity involved.
Our office approaches collection with the goal of enforcing valid rights without using improper pressure or practices.
If you are dealing with unpaid obligations, Michael and his team can review the documents, assess the likely cost and collectability, and help you choose a collection strategy that makes business sense.
Areas We Serve
Michael J. Lucas & Associates, LLC assists clients throughout Boone County, Cook County, DuPage County, Kane County, Lake County, McHenry County, and Will County.
Our office serves clients throughout Northern Illinois, including Addison, Algonquin, Antioch, Arlington Heights, Aurora, Barrington, Bartlett, Batavia, Belvidere, Bloomingdale, Bolingbrook, Buffalo Grove, Carpentersville, Cary, Chicago, Crystal Lake, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Downers Grove, Elgin, Elk Grove Village, Elmhurst, Evanston, Fox Lake, Fox River Grove, Frankfort, Geneva, Glen Ellyn, Glenview, Grayslake, Gurnee, Hanover Park, Hampshire, Harvard, Highland Park, Hoffman Estates, Huntley, Joliet, Lake Barrington, Lake Forest, Lake in the Hills, Lake Zurich, Libertyville, Lincolnshire, Lisle, Lockport, Lombard, Marengo, McHenry, Mokena, Mount Prospect, Mundelein, Naperville, New Lenox, Northbrook, Palatine, Park Ridge, Plainfield, Poplar Grove, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows, Romeoville, Roselle, Schaumburg, Shorewood, South Elgin, St. Charles, Streamwood, Sugar Grove, Vernon Hills, Waukegan, West Chicago, Wheaton, Wheeling, Wilmette, Winfield, Wood Dale, Woodridge, and Woodstock.