Dealing with Debt

questions & answers

Question: My now ex-wifes boyfriend drove my car I let her have because of our son and he wrecked it. I had to take a loan out to cover the remainder fees of the car loan and she agreed to help pay it back to me. Now they refuse to pay. What can I do?

Answer: The answer depends on a number of factors not included in your question.  Did the driver have insurance?  Did he have property damage coverage?  Did you have insurance to cover damage to your car?  Was the agreement to pay the damage in writing?  Do you have a copy of the Arizona Crash Report?  Was the boyfriend at fault for the accident?  If not, did the other driver have insurance?  You may want to discuss this with a lawyer to figure out your best options.  There are 3 programs in Arizona that you can use to get some inexpensive legal advice and guidance.  One is the Modest Means Program.  If you are financially qualified for the program, for a $75 fee, Modest Means offers a one hour consult with an attorney.  If you need additional help and the attorney agrees to take your case, the fee charged will not exceed $75 per hour.  The telephone number is (866)637-5341.  Both the Maricopa and Pima County Bar Associations have lawyer referral programs that offer a 30 minute consult with an experienced attorney.  Maricopa County's Lawyer Referral Service offers a 30 minute consult for a fee of $40.  The telephone number is (602) 257-4434.  Pima County's Lawyer Referral Service offers a 30 minute consultation for a fee of $35.  The telephone number is (520) 623-4625.