How to Collect Money Owed: The DIY Playbook (2026)
Someone owes you money and the polite reminders stopped working. This is the full playbook for how to collect money owed: document the debt, send a demand letter, try free court mediation, file in small claims if the amount fits, and then the step most guides skip, enforcing the judgment when the court hands you a ruling instead of a check. Verified 2026 state limits, a decision table, and official sources inside.