Mecklenburg County Circuit Court, Virginia

A subsequent payment plan requires a down payment capped at 10% for debts of $500 or less, or at the greater of 5% or $50 for debts above $500.

The Court shall require a down payment to enter into a subsequent payment plan agreement. If the fines and costs owed are $500 or less, the required down payment may not exceed 10 percent of such amount owed or, if the fines and costs owed are more than $500, the required down payment may not exceed five percent of the amount owed or $50, whichever is greater.

Criminal cases

Page 1 | Deferred Payment Plan Guidelines and Procedures for Court Costs, Fines and Restitution

Fines and costs are due within 30 days after sentencing unless the court orders otherwise.

All fines and costs are due thirty (30) days from the date of sentencing unless otherwise ordered.

Criminal cases

Page 1 | Deferred Payment Plan Guidelines and Procedures for Court Costs, Fines and Restitution

Failure to pay fines or restitution, or to enter and remain current on a payment agreement within 90 days of judgment, incurs a 17% collection penalty.

In accordance with Code Section 19.2-349, failure to pay fines/restitution or entering into and staying current on a payment agreement within 90 days of the date of judgment will incur a 17% penalty to help offset the costs associated with employing such individuals or contracting with such agencies or individuals" assisting in collection.

Criminal cases

Page 2 | Deferred Payment Plan Guidelines and Procedures for Court Costs, Fines and Restitution

The Clerk may not remove, reduce, or alter the delinquent-account fee.

The Clerk cannot remove, reduce, or alter this fee for delinquent accounts.

Criminal cases

Page 2 | Deferred Payment Plan Guidelines and Procedures for Court Costs, Fines and Restitution

Participation in specified correctional programs requires full payment or payments under an installment or deferred plan, and nonpayment may lead to termination of participation.

When a person sentenced to the Department of Corrections or a local correctional facility owes any fines, costs, forfeitures, restitution or penalties, he shall be required as a condition of participating in any work release, home/electronic incarceration or nonconsecutive days program as set forth in § 53.1-60, 53.1-131, 53.1-131.1, or 53.1-131.2 to either make full payment or make payments in accordance with his installment or deferred payment agreement while participating in such program. If, after the person has an installment or deferred payment agreement, the person fails to pay as ordered, his participation in the program may be terminated until all fines, costs, forfeitures, restitution and penalties are satisfied.

Criminal cases

Page 2 | Deferred Payment Plan Guidelines and Procedures for Court Costs, Fines and Restitution

The court must consider a defaulting defendant’s request for a subsequent payment agreement and any change in the defendant’s circumstances.

The Court shall consider a request by a defendant who has defaulted on a payment agreement to enter into a subsequent payment agreement. In determining whether to approve such request for a subsequent payment agreement, the Court shall consider any change in the defendant's circumstances.

Criminal cases

Page 1 | Deferred Payment Plan Guidelines and Procedures for Court Costs, Fines and Restitution

Payments are applied to restitution first, with any remainder applied to court costs and fines.

All payments received will be applied to restitution first and then remaining payments received will be applied to the court costs and fines.

Criminal cases

Page 1 | Deferred Payment Plan Guidelines and Procedures for Court Costs, Fines and Restitution

The court may allow approved community service to reduce fines and costs at $15 per hour, but not restitution or collection fees.

The Court may allow community service work as an option to defray fines and costs, especially when the defendant is indigent or otherwise unable to make substantial meaningful payments. Any court approved community service completed will be credited to the defendant's obligations at the rate of $15.00 per hour. Community service shall not be credited against any amount owed as restitution or any collection fee required.

Criminal cases

Page 1 | Deferred Payment Plan Guidelines and Procedures for Court Costs, Fines and Restitution

Credit or debit card payments may be made online at the listed website, with a 4% convenience fee.

Payment by credit card or debit card may be made online at www.vacourts.gov. A 4% convenience fee will be assessed

Criminal cases

Page 2 | Deferred Payment Plan Guidelines and Procedures for Court Costs, Fines and Restitution

A defendant whose only financial resource is Social Security or SSI need not pay until they have another resource or income, and will not be sent to collections while that remains their sole income; this exception does not apply to restitution, and they must advise the court of additional resources or income.

If a Defendant's only financial resource is a Social Security benefit or Supplemental Security Income, then they are not required to pay until they have another resource or income. As long as their sole income remains unchanged, their account will not go to collections. The defendant is required by statute to advise the court of additional financial resources of income. Any restitution that the Defendant may have been ordered to pay is not included in this exemption of payment and is due as the Court has ordered.

Criminal cases

Page 3 | Deferred Payment Plan Guidelines and Procedures for Court Costs, Fines and Restitution

Unpaid fines or restitution are reported to collections when they are more than 90 days delinquent.

Unpaid fines/restitution will be reported to collections once they are delinquent more than 90 days.

Criminal cases

Page 3 | Deferred Payment Plan Guidelines and Procedures for Court Costs, Fines and Restitution

A returned check for insufficient funds incurs a fee of $50 or 10% of the payment amount, whichever is greater.

All checks returned by the bank for insufficient funds will be assessed a returned check fee of $50.00 or 10%, whichever is greater, based on the payment amount.

Criminal cases

Page 3 | Deferred Payment Plan Guidelines and Procedures for Court Costs, Fines and Restitution

A defendant unable to pay fines and costs in full within 30 days is offered a payment plan, limited to amounts still within the statutory collection period.

Any defendant who is unable to pay in full fines and costs for a particular offense within 30 days of conviction, or other disposition authorized by law, is offered by the Court the opportunity to enter into either a deferred payment plan agreement, a modified deferred payment plan agreement or an installment payment plan agreement to pay those fines and costs. A payment plan agreement shall include only those outstanding fines and costs subject to collection under the period of time for which the limitations period set forth in §19.2- 341 has not run.

Criminal cases

Page 1 | Deferred Payment Plan Guidelines and Procedures for Court Costs, Fines and Restitution

A first-time payment agreement does not require an initial down payment.

Initial down payment will not be required for first time payment agreements.

Criminal cases

Page 1 | Deferred Payment Plan Guidelines and Procedures for Court Costs, Fines and Restitution

Fine and cost obligations may be discharged through credits for qualifying community service or work during incarceration, with incarcerated work credited at $15 per hour less wages.

The Court will allow any person upon whom a fine and costs have been imposed to discharge all or part of the fine or costs by earning credits for the performance of (i) community service work before or after imprisonment or (ii) work in accordance with the provisions of § 19.2-316.4, Article 3 (§ 53.1-41 et seq.) of Chapter 2 of Title 53.1, or § 53.1-128, 53.1-129, or 53.1-131 during imprisonment at a local, regional, or state correctional facility. For the purposes of this subsection, a person who is performing work while incarcerated shall be credited at $15.00 per hour less any wages received.

Criminal cases

Page 2 | Deferred Payment Plan Guidelines and Procedures for Court Costs, Fines and Restitution

In-office payments may be made by cash, check, or money order.

Payments will be accepted in office by cash, check or money order.

Criminal cases

Page 2 | Deferred Payment Plan Guidelines and Procedures for Court Costs, Fines and Restitution

Civil case scheduling requests must be made in writing; email is preferred and should be sent to the listed address.

Civil cases are set by written request (email is preferred). Send request to [email protected].

Page 1 | Terms of Court and General Information