Debt Recovery Lawyers Kerang
Recover unpaid invoices, overdue accounts and business debts with practical legal action from O’Haire Legal.
Book a free 15-minute debt recovery review
Unpaid invoices can place real pressure on your cash flow. At O’Haire Legal, we help Kerang businesses recover outstanding debts through clear, staged and cost-effective legal action. Whether you need a letter of demand, court proceedings, default judgment or enforcement of a court order, we can guide you through the process and help you decide whether the debt is worth pursuing.
Debt recovery for Kerang businesses
We act for the following businesses:
Builders and trades
Accountants and bookkeepers
Medical and allied health practices
Retailers and suppliers
Transport and logistics businesses
Professional service firms
Landlords and property owners
Small businesses owed money by customers or companies
We can assist with:
Unpaid goods or services
Business-to-business debts
Loan repayment disputes
Building and trade debts
Lease and rent arrears
Contract debts
Judgment debts
Debts owed by companies, sole traders or individuals
Our debt recovery services and how they help you
At O’Haire Legal, we provide staged debt recovery services so you can take action in a controlled and cost-effective way. Each step is designed to help you recover the debt while giving you clear advice about cost, risk and commercial benefit.
Initial debt recovery review
We start by reviewing the key documents, including invoices, contracts, quotes, emails, account statements and any communications from the debtor.
This helps us assess whether the debt is properly documented, whether the debtor has raised a genuine dispute, and whether the matter is worth pursuing. The benefit to you is that you receive early, practical advice before spending money on legal action.
Letter of demand
If the debt appears recoverable, we can prepare and send a formal letter of demand to the debtor. The letter sets out the amount owing, the basis of the claim, the deadline for payment and the consequences if payment is not made.
A solicitor’s letter of demand can often prompt payment without the need for court proceedings. It also shows the debtor that the matter is serious and that further legal action may follow if they continue to ignore the debt.
Negotiation and payment arrangements
In some cases, the best outcome is not immediate court action but a negotiated payment plan or settlement. We can communicate with the debtor on your behalf and help document any agreement reached.
This can help you recover money sooner, avoid unnecessary legal costs, and reduce the time spent chasing the debtor yourself.
Court proceedings
If the debtor does not pay and there is no satisfactory resolution, we can prepare and file court proceedings to recover the debt. This may involve preparing the complaint, statement of claim and supporting material required to commence the claim.
The benefit to you is that the matter moves from informal chasing to a formal legal process. This can place pressure on the debtor to pay, settle or formally respond to the claim.
Default judgment
If court proceedings are served and the debtor fails to file a defence within the required time, we can assist with applying for default judgment.
Default judgment gives you a court order confirming the debt is owed. This is important because it allows you to move from proving the debt to enforcing the judgment.
Defended debt claims
If the debtor files a defence, we can advise you on the strength of your case, the evidence required, the likely costs and whether it is commercially sensible to continue.
This helps you make an informed decision. Not every debt should be pursued at all costs. Our role is to help you weigh the legal merits against the practical reality of recovering the money.
Enforcement of judgment debts
Obtaining judgment does not always mean the debtor will pay immediately. If payment is still not made, we can advise on enforcement options, which may include instalment orders, warrants, attachment of earnings, attachment of debts, oral examination, bankruptcy notices or statutory demands, depending on the debtor and the amount owed.
The benefit to you is that we help convert the court judgment into actual recovery action. We also help you choose the enforcement method most likely to produce a commercial result.
Clear advice at each stage
Debt recovery should not involve open-ended legal costs without a clear strategy. At each stage, we explain your options, likely costs, risks and prospects of recovery.
Our aim is to help you recover what you are owed while keeping the process practical, proportionate and commercially sensible.
Debt recovery fees
We offer staged debt recovery pricing so you can decide whether to proceed at each step. This allows you to keep control of legal costs and make a commercial decision about whether the debt is worth pursuing.
Initial review and 15-minute consultation
Free.
We review the basic details of the debt and discuss your options, including whether a letter of demand, negotiation, court proceedings or enforcement action may be appropriate.
Letter of demand
$198 plus GST plus disbursements.
We prepare and send a formal solicitor’s letter of demand to the debtor requiring payment by a specified date. This is often the first step in recovering an unpaid invoice or overdue account without immediately commencing court proceedings.
Court proceedings — Magistrates’/Local Court complaint and statement of claim
Starting at $500 plus GST plus disbursements.
If the debtor does not pay after receiving a letter of demand, we can prepare the court documents required to commence proceedings in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria, including the complaint and statement of claim.
Service of court documents
$99 plus GST plus process server fees.
After court documents are filed, they usually need to be formally served on the debtor. We can arrange service through a process server and manage the service requirements for you.
Default judgment
$550 plus GST plus disbursements.
If the debtor does not file a defence within the required time, we can assist with applying for default judgment. A default judgment gives you a court order confirming that the debt is owed.
Enforcement proceedings
Starting from $1,200 to $2,500 plus GST plus disbursements.
If judgment is obtained and the debtor still does not pay, we can advise on and assist with enforcement options. These may include instalment orders, warrants, attachment of earnings, attachment of debts, oral examination, bankruptcy notices or statutory demands, depending on the debtor, the amount owed and the circumstances of the matter.
Defended matters
If the debtor files a defence or disputes the claim, the matter becomes a defended debt recovery proceeding. In that case, we will provide advice about the strength of the claim, the evidence required, the likely costs and whether it is commercially sensible to continue.
Frequently Asked Questions
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For many simple contract debts, the limitation period is commonly six years, but this depends on the type of debt and whether there has been a payment, written acknowledgment or judgment.
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No, but a solicitor’s letter can show the debtor that you are serious and that court proceedings may follow.
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You may be able to commence court proceedings, usually by filing a complaint in the Magistrates’ Court if the claim is within its jurisdiction.
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O’Haire Legal uses a staged debt recovery model, so you only pay for the step required at the time.
You do not need to commit to an expensive court process from the beginning. We start with the most practical first step, such as an initial review or letter of demand. If the debtor pays at that stage, the matter ends there and you do not pay for further court or enforcement work.
If the debtor does not pay, you can then decide whether to proceed to the next stage, such as court proceedings, default judgment or enforcement. At each point, we explain the likely cost, benefit and commercial risk before you decide whether to continue.
This staged approach gives you greater control over legal costs and helps ensure that the recovery process remains proportionate to the amount owed.
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Sometimes, but usually not all legal costs. Costs depend on the court, the amount claimed, the terms of any contract and the orders made.
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If the debtor is a company, different recovery and enforcement options may be available. This may include a letter of demand, court proceedings, enforcement after judgment, or in some circumstances a statutory demand.
Before taking action, it is important to consider whether the company is still trading, has assets, or may be insolvent.
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Invoices, contracts, quotes, purchase orders, emails, text messages, account statements, proof of supply, payment records and any communications where the debtor admits the debt.
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To get started, click the “Book Free Consult Here” button at the top of this page.
You can book a free initial consultation so we can discuss the debt, review the basic details, and explain the most practical next step. This may include a letter of demand, negotiation, court proceedings or enforcement action, depending on the circumstances.