We lent some good friends (or so we thought) some money, 3 years ago. They signed a letter that says they will pay us back, got it notarized, and still have not paid us. How do we go about getting the money they owe us? ...

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We lent some good friends (or so we thought) some money, 3 years ago. They signed a letter that says they will pay us back, got it notarized, and still have not paid us. How do we go about getting the money they owe us?

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Lending money to friends and

Lending money to friends and family can quickly become awkward if one side does not honor their promise. It sounds as though you have a valid claim and may be successful if you decide to file a lawsuit against your friends. However, consider sitting down with them or discussing this matter one last time before you involve the courts. Depending on the amount, you may be able to file a lawsuit in small claims court. In Hawaii, small claims court hears cases that involve claims of $5,000 or less. If your claim is between $5,000 and $25,000 you will file your case in the Regular Claims Division. The benefit of filing in small claims court is that the court is informal and you can easily represent yourself. For more information about filing a small claims case in Hawaii, see http://www.courts.state.hi.us/self-help/small_claims/small_claims.html.

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Lending money to friends and

Lending money to friends and family can quickly become awkward if one side does not honor their promise. It sounds as though you have a valid claim and may be successful if you decide to file a lawsuit against your friends. However, consider sitting down with them or discussing this matter one last time before you involve the courts. Depending on the amount, you may be able to file a lawsuit in small claims court. In Hawaii, small claims court hears cases that involve claims of $5,000 or less. If your claim is between $5,000 and $25,000 you will file your case in the Regular Claims Division. The benefit of filing in small claims court is that the court is informal and you can easily represent yourself. For more information about filing a small claims case in Hawaii, see http://www.courts.state.hi.us/self-help/small_claims/small_claims.html.