What happens if the person responsible for identity theft is a family member and i don’t want them to go to jail?

This is a deeply sensitive situation. Many clients fear that trying to clean their credit report will automatically send a loved one to jail. It is important to understand that our work focuses on civil justice and compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) - not criminal prosecution.

When correcting a credit report after identity theft committed by a family member, the legal strategy centers on the following principles:

Credit bureau negligence (15 U.S.C. §1681i)

Our legal action is directed at Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion for failing to conduct a reasonable investigation. The law requires them to delete accounts you did not authorize. The key issue is that the information on your credit report is false, regardless of who committed the fraud.

Civil dispute vs. criminal prosecution

Every identity theft case involving a family member is unique and emotionally difficult. The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes only and is not intended as criminal or legal advice regarding any specific individual.

Our firm’s role is limited to civil credit-report correction and enforcement of consumer rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). We do not initiate criminal proceedings, press charges, or control whether law enforcement chooses to act after an official report is filed.

Our objective is to restore your credit score and seek financial compensation from corporations for their errors. The civil justice system exists to repair financial harm, not to incarcerate individuals. We pursue accountability from credit bureaus, not punishment of family members.

Transparency about police involvement

To give an identity theft dispute full legal weight, an FTC Identity Theft Report or, in some cases, a police report is often required. While our role is strictly focused on cleaning your credit report, we cannot guarantee that law enforcement will not independently review the matter once an official report is filed. Although criminal action is uncommon in lower-level family fraud cases, authorities do retain discretion once a report enters the public system.

The bottom line

You have the legal right to a clean and accurate credit report and should not be burdened with debts that are not yours. We help you navigate this process by focusing on the legal responsibility of credit bureaus, advising you on how to minimize risk, and ensuring your financial future is restored professionally and responsibly.