I am owed money

There are many ways to collect money that is owed. Your decision on what to do will be governed by the amount that is owed, the nature of the obligation and whether it is documented (that is, do you have a promissory note, is the obligation for services rendered or product sold, is the claim commercial or consumer in nature, how long the obligation has been outstanding) and where the party who owes you money is located. If the obligation falls within the jurisdiction of the small claims court, you can file the action yourself, go to court once a date has been scheduled, and prove up your case. Once that is accomplished, you will then need to seek to locate assets against which you can levy (such as a bank account or place of employment).   If the case is greater than the small claims limit ($5000) you will want to consider filing it with the appropriate superior court in the county where the debtor is located or where the money was loaned. THere are a myriad of rules to follow to make sure you are successful in this venture.   The more money involved, the greater the need for legal representation.