Probably the best understanding of the basics of why and how people in the US can protect themselves is right here http://voidjudgements.net/. It will take a moment to read and understand, but it is right in this website. The only thing that this site leaves out is law regarding when you sign up as a client of an attorney. When you sign up with an attorney, you have just agreed that the court battle is between the judge and the attorneys (plaintiff and defendant attorneys). You have no say in your own matter except that they accept what you say. Your only recourse is to fire your attorney, stand unrepresented, and take yourself into a common law court of record.