Do I need a judgement to hire a Debt Collection agency

[Dan Trinh]

Hi all,

I have an ex-tenant that owes back rent and damages after they left that the security deposit doesn't cover.
I read some forums here and am getting some mixed signals on the process of collecting debt.

The way I read it is you can just go to a debt agency with in my case the signed lease and also the security deposit transmittal showing what's owed and the collections agency can legally take it from there. Am I correct in that or do I need to go to court and get a judgement first?