Do You Need a Debt Collection Attorney?
We are Texas Collections Lawyers. We collect delinquent accounts and unpaid debts, and we move quickly.
Our debt collection attorneys have developed a collections system to quickly collect unpaid debts. That system is the product of more than 25 years of collections work in Texas, a state that is, by design, friendly to debtors. We know every tool the debtor has and every tool the creditor has, and we know which ones work.
We represent businesses owed money for goods and services delivered, judgment holders who cannot collect, creditors with foreign judgments that need Texas enforcement, and, in a smaller portion of our practice, debtors who need counsel when a judgment has been entered against them.
Getting the Debtor’s Attention
A Texas collections lawyer’s practice is only successful if it can get the debtor’s attention. The only way to collect a debt is to keep yourself on the front burner for the debtor.
The squeaky wheel gets the most grease. We understand human nature. The only way to get the debtor’s attention in debt collection matters is to be the number one item on the debtor’s agenda.
This takes many forms. Maybe it’s something as simple as basic discovery, or something more aggressive, like a turnover order. Either way, we are like the splinter you cannot get out of your finger. You always know it’s there and will eventually do whatever is necessary to get rid of it. In the debt collection world, that splinter is us.
What We Collect
We reduce invoices and unpaid debts to judgments. And we collect judgments.
Our practice areas include collecting money owed due to:
- Delinquent invoices
- Accounts receivable
- Unpaid promissory notes
- Existing judgments
- Foreign judgments from other states
Texas lawyers know that Texas is generally a debtor’s haven. But we have developed a system for collecting debt specifically designed to overcome the obstacles Texas law puts in a creditor’s path.
You can read about our system here.
Our Collections System
We approach every collection matter the same way we approach a judgment: with a plan, and we work that plan.
The process begins with a demand letter, which produces results in 15% to 20% of cases without a lawsuit. When demand does not resolve the matter, we file quickly. A petition is typically filed within 30 days of the demand letter, and often within 10 days.
Once a judgment is obtained, we begin enforcement. That means written discovery, depositions, writs of garnishment, writs of execution, turnover orders, and, when necessary, contempt proceedings that can result in the debtor being brought before a judge. We have used every tool Texas law provides. We know which ones produce results and when.
Learn more about how we collect:
- Our Debt Collection System
- Collecting Judgments in Texas
- Post-Judgment Written Discovery
- Texas Order for Turnover
What Makes Cook Keith & Davis Different
Collections is the primary focus of this firm, not a sideline practice alongside unrelated work. We have been doing this in Texas since 1994. Today the firm has 15 lawyers whose practices span the full range of collection and enforcement work: pre-suit demand, litigation, post-judgment discovery, garnishment, turnover orders, contempt proceedings, foreign judgment registration, and appeal-period collection.
That depth means a client is never limited to one tool or one approach. Whatever the debtor’s situation, whether resistant, asset-concealing, in bankruptcy, appealing the judgment, or operating across state lines, we have lawyers who have handled it.
Our system is built for efficiency. We pursue debtors more aggressively than most firms and at lower cost than a general practice firm that handles collections occasionally. We are direct with clients about what a matter is worth pursuing, and equally direct when it is not.
One capability worth noting: when a debtor files a net worth affidavit during an appeal to reduce the bond they are required to post, we have the accounting background to challenge it. We have convinced judges to strike those affidavits entirely and, at minimum, have consistently forced debtors to post larger bonds than they claimed were necessary. That is not a common capability in a collections firm.
The Cost of Waiting
The biggest obstacle for us in helping our clients is the client’s own delay. This legal process should be begun as soon as possible. Every month you delay significantly impacts your ability to collect the judgment.
Debtors move assets, bank accounts change, and businesses dissolve or restructure. Statutes of limitations run. A Texas judgment has a ten-year life that must be actively managed to preserve. The earlier we are involved, the more tools are available to us, and the more likely we are to collect what you are owed.
How long does a Texas judgment last?
When the Debtor Needs Counsel Too
Cook Keith & Davis primarily represents creditors. But we also represent debtors who need counsel when a judgment has been entered against them or a collection action is underway. Our knowledge of every tool a creditor can use makes us effective on either side of the table.
Get Started
If you have any questions or are interested in a free consultation at our law office in Dallas, please fill out the form below or send us an email.
Common Questions
I have been trying to collect this debt myself for months. At what point should I call a lawyer?
The moment your calls and letters are being ignored is the right moment. Every month of additional delay narrows your options. Debtors move assets, bank accounts change, and businesses dissolve or restructure. Our experience is that earlier involvement consistently produces better outcomes than waiting to see if the debtor comes around on their own. Once communication has broken down, it rarely restarts without legal pressure.
Do you handle pre-suit collections, or only cases where there is already a judgment?
Both. We handle matters from the very beginning — before any lawsuit is filed — through the full post-judgment enforcement process. A demand letter from our office produces results in 15% to 20% of cases before suit is ever necessary.
What types of debts do you collect?
We collect delinquent invoices, accounts receivable, unpaid promissory notes, and existing judgments. Our clients are primarily businesses owed money for goods or services delivered. We also handle foreign judgments from other states that need to be enforced in Texas.
Is Texas considered a good state for debt collection?
Texas is generally considered a debtor-friendly state — it has strong exemptions that protect certain property from collection. But our system is specifically built around the tools Texas law does provide, and we have collected debts here successfully for over 25 years. Knowing the exemptions is as important as knowing the enforcement tools.
What makes Cook Keith & Davis different from a general practice firm that handles collections?
Collections is our primary focus, not a sideline. We have 15 lawyers whose practices span the full range of collection and enforcement work — pre-suit demand, litigation, post-judgment discovery, garnishment, turnover orders, contempt proceedings, foreign judgment registration, and appeal-period collection. That depth means a client is never limited to one tool or one strategy. We have also built a system specifically designed for efficiency, which means lower cost than a general practice firm approaching collections occasionally. And we are more aggressive. Creditors who have been ignored long enough need a firm that gets the debtor's attention. That is what we do.
How do I get started?
Gather your documents — invoices, contracts, correspondence, and anything you know about the debtor — and contact us. The sooner you call, the more tools are available to us.