I can't afford to pay the debt. Can I afford a lawyer?

Often, yes. Where the collector has broken the law, the law makes them pay our fees. For straight defence we quote a fixed fee up front, so you know the cost before you decide.

What if I do owe the money?

Owing something does not mean owing what they claim, to the people who are claiming it, within the time the law allows. Even where the debt is real, making them prove it usually leads to a far better settlement.

Should I talk to the collector first?

Be careful. A payment or written acknowledgment can restart the clock on an old debt. Talk to us before you talk to them.

They already got a judgment. Is it over?

Not always. If you were never properly served, or didn't know about the case, a default judgment can sometimes be set aside. Bring every document you have.

Can they take my wages or my car?

With a judgment, a creditor can garnish part of your wages and levy bank accounts, within limits the law sets. Without a judgment, they cannot. That is why answering the lawsuit matters so much.

What we handle · Los Angeles

Debt Collection Defense Lawyer in Los Angeles

Neva pay what you don't owe.

If you're bringing the claim

Yes, you can be the one bringing it. Collectors who call at all hours, threaten arrest, contact your employer, or chase a debt that isn't yours break California and federal law, and the law pays you for it. If a collector has crossed the line, you may have a claim of your own.

If you're defending one

More often, you've been served. A debt buyer you have never heard of says you owe thousands on a card you closed years ago, and the paperwork looks official. Most people ignore it, and most of those lose by default. A debt collection defense lawyer in Los Angeles makes them prove the debt, the amount and that they are the ones entitled to collect it — and a surprising number cannot.

Common situations we handle

“I've been sued by a company I've never dealt with.”
“The amount is far more than I ever borrowed.”
“This debt is years old — can they still sue?”
“They're threatening to take my wages.”
“The debt isn't mine — it's identity theft or a mix-up.”
“A collector keeps calling my work and my family.”

What the law says

A debt buyer suing in California must prove the chain of ownership from the original creditor to itself, the balance and how it was calculated, and the date of the last payment. California's Fair Debt Buying Practices Act requires specific documents before suit, and the Rosenthal Act and the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act forbid harassment, false threats and collecting amounts not owed. A debt that is too old to sue on is "time-barred", and a collector who sues on one anyway is breaking the law.

If you were served, you generally have thirty days to file a written response in court. Nothing else — not a phone call, not a letter to the collector — stops a default judgment.

What's at stake

Defending: a judgment that can grow with interest, lead to wage garnishment and bank levies, and sit on your record for years. Bringing a claim: statutory damages, your actual losses, and your attorney's fees paid by the collector. Many defended cases end in dismissal or a settlement for a fraction of the demand, but no one can promise that in advance.

How long you have

Thirty days from service to respond to a lawsuit. On the other side, the creditor generally has four years from your last payment or written acknowledgment to sue on a written agreement; a collector who sues after that is suing on a time-barred debt. Claims against a collector for breaking the law generally have one year.

What happens next

1
Tell us what happened
The quiz, a text, or a call. Fifteen minutes, free.
2
We tell you straight
Whether you have a case, what it would take, and which way of working applies.
3
Clear terms in writing
If we take it, you get clear terms in writing before anything starts.

Three ways we work. Some cases we take on contingency — no fee unless we win; if there's no recovery you don't pay us a fee, though you may still be responsible for case costs, which we explain in writing before anything starts. Some cases we do for a fixed fee you know before we begin. Some are hourly. We tell you which applies in the first call.

Why Cirkveni 2.0

Trial training

Neva trained on the plaintiffs' trial team at a top Los Angeles litigation firm. Every case is prepared as if it will go to trial.

Direct access

You deal with the lawyer. Your calls and texts reach Neva, not a queue.

Straight talk

Plain English, honest about the odds, and a fee you know before we start.

Second generation

The first Cirkveni law office opened in 1992. Same instinct, rebuilt for now.

What a client said

“I would recommend Neva. She is knowledgeable, detailed, patient, and did a great job of explaining the process and answering my questions. I was very pleased with the experience and settlement.”

— Cathy P., Google review

5.0 on Google

Results depend on the facts of each case.

Questions people ask

Find out where you stand.

Text or call +1 (424) 230-3912, or take the five-question quiz.

Do I have a case?Text +1 (424) 230-3912 Call +1 (424) 230-3912