Winning a commercial lawsuit and obtaining a money judgment is an important victory. However, it does not mean automatic payment in California. The courts will not collect the debt for you, and many debtors may refuse to pay voluntarily without pressure. Your...
Protecting Your Business
Year: 2026
What happens when a vendor says it won’t deliver?
A supplier calls a week before the deadline and says it won't ship the goods. A clear refusal to perform before the delivery date may amount to anticipatory repudiation under California law. When that happens, a business may have options before the delivery deadline...
3 types of records to support a California B2B collection claim
An unpaid commercial invoice can become harder to resolve when the other business disputes what it agreed to pay or whether you completed the work. In California, organized documentation can help explain what happened and support your position if collection efforts...
Does the Rosenthal Act apply to the commercial debt you are owed?
If you own or manage a business in California, you may have heard of the Rosenthal Act. You may be wondering: Do these strict collection laws apply to business debts? Generally, the answer is no. However, recent changes to the law now cover some business-related...
How long should you wait to escalate a B2B debt to litigation?
Unpaid invoices between businesses are more than a bookkeeping problem. When a client company keeps missing payments, the question of whether to pursue legal action shifts from patience to protecting your bottom line. California law sets your filing deadline The...
How does a writ of attachment protect a creditor before judgment?
When you pursue a commercial debt in court, the gap between filing a lawsuit and getting a judgment can be months or years. A debtor may use that time to transfer property, drain bank accounts or move assets beyond your reach. Fortunately, there is a way for you to...
Can a contract delay allow you to terminate a contract?
A vendor, contractor or business partner just missed a key deadline. For small business owners in California, the ripple effect can be immediate: stalled revenue, frustrated clients and a deal that is no longer delivering what they signed up for. Under this much...
Is it possible to collect from a business that “closed” down?
Business closures do not cancel outstanding commercial debts. Many creditors walk away when a company shutters its doors or stops its services. However, California law provides specific paths to recover money even after a business stops operating. Securing payment is...
Personal guarantees in business contracts: Smart or risky?
When you operate a business in California, most owners frequently need to sign contracts. Landlords ask for them. Lenders and vendors require them. In some of those agreements, you will find a clause that raises the stakes: a personal guarantee. A personal guarantee...
Post-judgment enforcement: Writs, debtor exams and bank levies
If you are a creditor, vendor or in-house counsel that does business in California, winning a lawsuit will not automatically put money in your account. Debtors often delay, hide assets or refuse to pay, and that gap between court judgment and payment is where...

