"can i go to jail for not paying my debts?"

Often, the first notice that you have that someone is suing you is a visit from the local sheriff’s office with “papers”.   If the company or person suing you is successful in court, can you be sent to jail for not paying?  The short answer is no.  Serving legal papers is one of the jobs performed by most sheriff departments.  This does not mean that the lawsuit is a criminal action which would result in you going to jail.  However, creditors have been known to use this fear to collect their debts.  Creditors have been known to falsely imply that they were actually filing criminal charges against you in order to scare you into paying.  Know your rights.  If you receive a lawsuit, call an attorney that can provide you with information about your situation.   A consultation with a Bankruptcy Attorney is free and can provide you with information about how you can handle the current lawsuit and all your other debt.