diff --git a/src/components/cases/collections-tab.tsx b/src/components/cases/collections-tab.tsx
index 23d48cd..65dceac 100644
--- a/src/components/cases/collections-tab.tsx
+++ b/src/components/cases/collections-tab.tsx
@@ -847,12 +847,35 @@ function BucketCell({ value, danger, positive }: { value: number; danger?: boole
 }
 
 
+// Extract defendant surname from a case title like
+// "Corner Lake Estates HOA v Benitez [2074 Corner Glen Drive]"
+function extractDefendantSurname(title: string): string | null {
+  if (!title) return null;
+  // Match " v " or " v. " or " vs " (case-insensitive)
+  const m = title.match(/\sv\.?s?\.?\s+([A-Za-z'’\-]+)/i);
+  if (!m) return null;
+  return m[1].trim().toLowerCase();
+}
+
+function findUniqueHomeownerByTitle(
+  title: string,
+  homeowners: any[],
+): any | null {
+  const surname = extractDefendantSurname(title);
+  if (!surname) return null;
+  const matches = homeowners.filter(
+    (h) => (h.last_name || "").toLowerCase() === surname,
+  );
+  return matches.length === 1 ? matches[0] : null;
+}
+
 // ─── Add collection dialog ──────────────────────────────────────────
 function AddCollectionDialog({
   open,
   onOpenChange,
   caseId,
   clientId,
+  caseTitle,
   homeowners,
   existingHomeownerIds,
   onCreated,
@@ -861,6 +884,7 @@ function AddCollectionDialog({
   onOpenChange: (v: boolean) => void;
   caseId: string;
   clientId: string;
+  caseTitle: string;
   homeowners: any[];
   existingHomeownerIds: string[];
   onCreated: () => void;
@@ -871,18 +895,21 @@ function AddCollectionDialog({
   const [notes, setNotes] = useState("");
   const [submitting, setSubmitting] = useState(false);
 
-  useEffect(() => {
-    if (open) {
-      setHomeownerId("");
-      setStatus("none");
-      setNotes("");
-    }
-  }, [open]);
-
   const available = homeowners.filter(
     (h) => !existingHomeownerIds.includes(h.id),
   );
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (open) {
+      // Try to pre-select a homeowner whose surname matches the case title
+      const match = findUniqueHomeownerByTitle(caseTitle, available);
+      setHomeownerId(match ? match.id : "");
+      setStatus("none");
+      setNotes("");
+    }
+    // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
+  }, [open, caseTitle]);
+
   const submit = async () => {
     if (!homeownerId) {
       toast.error("Pick a homeowner");