채권추심법 (Debt Collection) 2 – “채무자의 파산가능성 분석”

 

 

   지난번 칼럼 에서는 채권추심 소송을 시작하기 전 미리 준비해야 할 사항에 대해서 살펴 보았습니다.  이번 칼럼에서는 채무자의 현 재산상태 파악을 위한 여러가지 분석 중에서 먼저  “파산 가능성 분석”에 대해서 간략히 살펴 보도록 하겠습니다.

   저번 칼럼을 읽지 않은 분들을 위해서 지난번 칼럼내용을 간단히 복습해 보도록 하겠습니다 .  채권 추심 소송을 원할히 진행 시키기 위해서는 최소한 다음 사항을 미리 준비합니다.

첫째, 차용증(Promissory Note or IOU)을 반드시 챙겨야 합니다; 
둘째, 전화가 아닌 문서(편지)로 채무 해결을 요청해야 합니다; 
셋째, 형사소송(criminal bad check claim)도 미리 고려 하셔야 합니다.; 
넷째, 채무자의 현재 재산 상태를 파악하셔야 합니다.

   저번 칼럼을 읽으신  분들 중에, 차용증을 한글로 작성해도 되냐고 문의 하시는 분들이 많았습니다.   한글로 작성된 문서도 영문으로 작성된 문서와 동일한 법적 효력이 있습니다. 따라서, 영어가 불편하신 분들은 한글로 라도 반드시 차용증을 작성하셔야 합니다.  다만, 한글 차용증이 법원에 증거로 들어가기 위해서는 결국 한글차용증이 영문으로 번역되어야 하는데,  번역과정에서 본래의 법적 의미가 달라지거나 모호해 질 위험이 있습니다.  따라서, 가능한 한 차용증을 영문으로 작성하시는 것이 좋습니다.

 

 파산가능성 분석

 

   자 이제 위에 말씀 드린 사항들을 철저히 준비하여 채권 채무 관계를 증명할 수 있는 모든 요건들이 갖추어 졌다고 가정합시다.  사실 관계가 확실하고 모든 증거 자료가 확보 되었으니, 바로 소송에 들어가기만 하면 될까요?  그렇지 않습니다.  채권 추심의 최종 목적은 자신의 돈을 채무자로부터 최대한 모두 회수 하는 것이지 단지 소송에 이기는 것이 목적이 되어서는 “닭 쫓던 개 지붕 쳐다보는 격”이 될 수 있습니다. 따라서, 본격적인 소송에 들어가기 전에 반드시 몇 가지 법률적인 사항들이 면밀히 검토되어야 하며 그 중 한가지가  “파산가능성”에 대한 법률분석(Legal Analysis)입니다.

   일반적으로 효과적인 채권 추심을 위해서는 법률지식 보다는,  협상이나 혹은 “합법적인 협박(?)”을 잘해야 한다고 생각하시는 분들이 많은 것 같습니다. 하지만, 채권 추심 협상을 잘 하기 위해서는 단순한 협상기술 보다는 제반 법률을 정확히 이해하고 있어야 합니다. 왜냐하면, 사실을 알고 보면, 채권 추심만큼 종합적이고 총체적인 법률분석이 필요한 분야도 없기 때문입니다. 

   본론으로 돌아가서, 파산가능성의 정확한 분석과 대비를 위해서는 어떤 법을 알고 있어야 할 까요: 바로 연방법인 파산법(Bankruptcy Law)을 잘 이해하고 있어야 합니다. 또한 파산법이 연방법임에도 불구하고 파산법원은 각 주마다 특성을 가지고 운영되기 때문에, 해당 법원의 절차나 Rule에 대해서 도 잘 이해하고 있어야 하며, 기타 연계된 분야의 법들과 함께 종합적으로 검토하여 정확한 소송 타이밍과 전략을 수립해야  합니다.

   파산가능성에 대한 제고 없이, 채권추심 소송을 진행하여 아무리 유리한 판결을 받아냈다 하더라도,  채무자가 파산 신청에 들어간다면 파산 법원이 자동정지(Automatic Stay) 명령을 내려 모든 채권이 동결되고 재판에 이긴 채권이라 하더라도 받기 힘들 수 있습니다. 설사, 채권자가 채권액을 이미 회수 했다 하더라도,  회수 후 90일 이내에 채무자가 파산을 한다면 파산 법원은 그 해당 채권자에게 지급 받은 금액을 반환하라는 명령까지도 내릴 수도 있습니다. 따라서 이러한 파산가능성을 미리 분석하고 대비하지 않는 다면 소송 비용만 날리고 채권을 한 푼도 회수하지 못하는 최악의 사태에 직면할 가능성도 있는 것입니다. 

   채권 추심 절차는 이렇게 채무자의 파산 가능성, 채무자의 재정 건전성과 함께, 채무자의 거래 상황 등을 면밀히 검토해야 하고, 종합적으로 판단해야 하기 때문에 채권추심법 은 물론, 파산법과 민사소송절차를 모두 잘 알아야 하는 나름 대로 복잡한 분야입니다. 

   일단 파산가능성을 분석한 후 소송대책이 수립되면, 다음에 해야 할 것이 “재산 이전 가능성”에 대한 분석 입니다. 이는,쉽게 말하면, 채무자가 재산을 빼돌릴 가능성과 이에 대한 대비책에 대해서 면밀히 분석하는 것인데, 이의 정확한 분석을 위해서는  “사기성재산이전방지법(Fraudulent Transfer Act)” 에 대해서 잘 알고 있어야 합니다.  사기성 재산 이전 방지법에 대해서는 지면 관계상 다음 칼럼에서 알아보도록 하겠습니다.

   조금이나마 도움이 되셨기 바랍니다.  혹, 독자 분들께서 알고 싶으신 법률이 있으면 주저 마시고 song@songlawfirm.com으로 문의해 주세요. 다음에 쓸 칼럼에 반영하겠습니다.  감사합니다.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

송동호 변호사

Dongho Song, Esq.

 

 

Mr. Dongho Song manages Fort Lee, and Seoul office of Fahy Choi LLC.He studied
political science at the State University of New York, Buffalo, from which he graduated
with honors, cum laude. He then went on to receive his Juris Doctor degree from
California Western School of Law, focusing on international law, commercial law, and
immigration law Before being admitted to practice, he served as the CEO of the
International Trading Group,Inc. He has a tremendous network of clients and associates
and he has significant experience in the area of international business Prior to joining
with Fahy Choi LLC, Mr. Song established the Song Law Firm and served as its managing
partner. Song Law Firm had a great reputation as a fast growing law firm with a great
care of its clients.Mr. Song focuses on immigration law and international business law.
He is admitted in the State and Federal Courts of New Jersey and the U.S. Immigration Courts.

 

Web: www.songlawfirm.com
Tel : 201-461-0031        이메일: song@songlawfirm.com

 

 

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