Can a lawyer help settle credit card debt?
Isabella Turner
Updated on January 28, 2026
A debt settlement attorney should be able to lower the amount of unsecured debt that you have to pay back. However, hiring an attorney gives you a much better chance than if you handle your creditors on your own or with a debt settlement service.
What does a debt collection attorney do?
A debt collection attorney can represent you if you’re a creditor or a debtor. A lawyer can help come up with strategies either to get back money that you’ve loaned out or to protect yourself from overeager creditors. Your attorney can handle paperwork for you or represent you in court.
What do you do when a credit card company sues you?
Here’s how to respond when you are sued for credit card debt:
- Don’t ignore the summons. When you get a court summons for credit card debt, pay attention to it—and make a plan of action.
- Verify the debt.
- Consider debt settlement.
- Contact an attorney.
- Look at your budget.
- Request a payment plan.
- Make a lump-sum payment.
What to do if you get sued for credit card debt?
You have to either hire a lawyer or go to court to file papers within the period of time provided for under the law (a phone call to the credit card company’s lawyers won’t protect you). If the court schedules a hearing, you or your lawyer have to appear in the right place and at the right time.
Why do I need a lawyer for my credit card company?
For example, some defenses that could require the assistance of an attorney include: The statute of limitations has passed. Under state law, a creditor or debt collector gets a limited amount of time to sue you for an unpaid debt.
What to do when you get a call from a debt collector?
Calls from debt collectors can be overwhelming and intimidating. But learning some do’s and don’ts about handling debt collector calls—and understanding your rights when it comes to debt collection agencies—can ease your anxiety.
When do you get court papers about a credit card lawsuit?
When you get court papers about a credit card lawsuit, you have a choice: take no action, or use the laws to level the playing field. The debt collectors have done everything possible to convince you they have all the power, but that’s not true.
