Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member Kelli Potter is facing a financial crisis that got much worse because she ignored it. When ARF Financial sued Potter in 2025 over an unpaid $217,301 business loan tied to her restaurant Nana’s Chicken-N-Waffles, she didn’t respond to the lawsuit. That decision cost her big time: the court entered a default judgment against her, meaning the judge ruled against her without even hearing her side of the story. Now creditors are issuing subpoenas to multiple banks trying to locate and freeze her accounts so they can collect the judgment, which is growing every day with interest.
Potter’s defense is that the debt originated from a business loan she and her ex-husband Mark Ferrell obtained together over five years ago while they were still married. She raised the issue during divorce proceedings and argued that Ferrell should be responsible for repaying it. Unfortunately, Ferrell has denied this claim, leaving Potter in the middle of a legal dispute. Her representative says Potter hasn’t even been officially served with the judgment yet and expressed confidence the matter will be resolved in her favor, but waiting too long to respond to legal action is already putting her in a vulnerable position.
This situation serves as a powerful reminder that financial problems don’t disappear when you ignore them, and business debts from a marriage can create major complications after divorce. Even successful reality TV personalities need solid legal advisors to help them navigate complex financial and legal situations. What’s the biggest financial mistake you’ve seen someone make by not dealing with it right away?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.