diff --git a/src/components/cases/convert-to-collections-dialog.tsx b/src/components/cases/convert-to-collections-dialog.tsx
index 5744a15..a992b8a 100644
--- a/src/components/cases/convert-to-collections-dialog.tsx
+++ b/src/components/cases/convert-to-collections-dialog.tsx
@@ -35,17 +35,26 @@ const STATUS_OPTIONS = [
   { value: "closed", label: "Closed" },
 ];
 
+function extractDefendantSurname(title: string): string | null {
+  if (!title) return null;
+  const m = title.match(/\sv\.?s?\.?\s+([A-Za-z'’\-]+)/i);
+  if (!m) return null;
+  return m[1].trim().toLowerCase();
+}
+
 export function ConvertToCollectionsDialog({
   open,
   onOpenChange,
   caseId,
   clientId,
+  caseTitle,
   onCreated,
 }: {
   open: boolean;
   onOpenChange: (v: boolean) => void;
   caseId: string;
   clientId: string;
+  caseTitle?: string;
   onCreated?: () => void;
 }) {
   const { user } = useAuth();
@@ -80,13 +89,27 @@ export function ConvertToCollectionsDialog({
           .select("homeowner_id")
           .eq("case_id", caseId),
       ]);
-      setHomeowners(hos ?? []);
-      setExistingIds(
-        new Set((cols ?? []).map((c) => c.homeowner_id).filter((id): id is string => !!id)),
+      const hoList = hos ?? [];
+      setHomeowners(hoList);
+      const existing = new Set(
+        (cols ?? []).map((c) => c.homeowner_id).filter((id): id is string => !!id),
       );
+      setExistingIds(existing);
+
+      // Pre-select homeowner if there's exactly one surname match from the case title
+      const surname = extractDefendantSurname(caseTitle ?? "");
+      if (surname) {
+        const matches = hoList.filter(
+          (h) =>
+            (h.last_name || "").toLowerCase() === surname && !existing.has(h.id),
+        );
+        if (matches.length === 1) {
+          setSelected(new Set([matches[0].id]));
+        }
+      }
       setLoading(false);
     })();
-  }, [open, caseId, clientId]);
+  }, [open, caseId, clientId, caseTitle]);
 
   const available = useMemo(
     () => homeowners.filter((h) => !existingIds.has(h.id)),