Richmond City General District Court, Virginia
Court-Level Rules, Filing Procedures & Policies
Communication
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Clerk
Document Filing Requirements5 rules
Payment plans cannot be initiated online. Defendants must come to the Clerk’s office to request, complete, and sign all required paperwork.
A convicted defendant who qualifies for the exemption must complete a DC-210 indicating current financial status.
Court's wording
If you are convicted and qualify for this exemption, your must complete a DC-210 (Fines and Costs Payment Agreement/Acknowledgement of Driver’s License Status) indicating your current financial status.
Family members of a defendant may not apply for or otherwise complete a payment plan for the defendant unless acting as a court ordered guardian or pursuant to a valid power of attorney (POA). In either event, the original POA or the original Guardianship Court Order or a certified true copy thereof must be presented at the time of the application.
A defendant may be required to obtain and submit a current Division of Motor Vehicles Compliance Summary (dated 30 days or less from the date of filing) as part of the application for payment plan.
A defendant may request a variance from the required down-payment by submitting a request in writing, filing a sworn financial affidavit, and providing supporting documentation of income and expenses with the Clerk of Court. A hearing may be required.
Filing & Service rules
Filing Fees and Waivers
To renew a payment plan after six months, the defendant must submit a written request and down-payment: 10% for balances of $500 or less, or 5% or $50, whichever is greater, for balances over $500.
If a balance remains after six months, a defendant will be allowed to enter a renewed payment plan once the defendant submits a written request and makes a down-payment. The down-payment will be ten percent if the fines and costs owed are $500.00 or less, or if the fines and costs owed are more than $500.00, five percent or $50.00, whichever is greater.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | PAYMENT PLAN GUIDELINES
After conviction, a defendant may request an initial six-month payment plan with no setup fee or down-payment; regular monthly payments are required and may be made in person or through the online portal.
Upon request, the Clerk of Court will set up a payment plan following a conviction. No down-payment is required, and no fees will be charged to set up the payment plans. All initial payment plans will be set for six months. Defendants are required to make regular monthly payments. Payments can be made in person to the Clerk of Court or through the court’s on-line portal.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | PAYMENT PLAN GUIDELINES
A defendant whose defaulted account has been referred to collections must contact the collection agency to arrange a payment plan under these guidelines.
If a defendant’s account has defaulted and been referred to collections, a defendant must contact the collection agency to set up a payment plan with the agency under these guidelines.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | PAYMENT PLAN GUIDELINES
Restitution is not exempt from payment and must be paid as ordered; untimely payment will result in referral to collections.
Restitution is NEVER exempt and must be paid as ordered by the Court; failure to pay restitution in a timely manner will result in the account being sent to collections.
Criminal cases
Page 2 | RESTITUTION
The court may consider missed monthly payments when deciding a request for a later payment plan.
Failure of a defendant to make monthly payments during the six-month period may be considered by the court in the consideration of requests for subsequent payment plans.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | PAYMENT PLAN GUIDELINES
Fines, costs, and penalties paid to the Clerk within 30 days of conviction do not incur additional costs.
Fines, costs, and penalties may be paid to the Clerk of Court within thirty days of conviction without incurring additional costs.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | PAYMENT PLAN GUIDELINES
After receiving the required down-payment, the Clerk extends the plan for six months and may continue granting six-month extensions until the balance is paid.
Upon receiving the down-payment, the Clerk of Court will extend the payment plan an additional six months. The Clerk of Court may continue to grant extensions in this manner until the balance is paid in full.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | PAYMENT PLAN GUIDELINES
The court may consider community-service credit upon request; the defendant must attend the hearing, obtain advance court authorization, and work at an approved location, with credit calculated at the applicable minimum-wage rate subject to modification for good cause.
Upon request, the court will consider crediting community service toward a defendant’s pending fines, penalties, and costs. The defendant must appear for the hearing. Community service must be authorized by the court in advance and must be performed at a location approved by the court. If granted, defendant will be given instructions by the judge for completion. The rate of credit for community service work will be set based on the then applicable federal/state minimum wage rates. The rate may be modified by the court for good cause shown.
Criminal cases
Page 2 | PAYMENT PLAN GUIDELINES
Defendants who property demonstrate they reside more than 50 miles from the courthouse are eligible to request a payment plan via mail. Please call the Clerk’s office at (804)646-6431 to determine if you qualify for this option and to get further instruction.
Defendants who property demonstrate they reside more than 50 miles from the courthouse are eligible to request a payment plan via mail. Please call the Clerk’s office at (804)646-6431 to determine if you qualify for this option and to get further instruction.
Criminal cases
Page 2 | PAYMENT PLAN GUIDELINES
Payments may be made by mail or in person at the Clerk’s Office during the stated weekday hours and at the listed courthouse locations.
Pay by Mail or In Person at the Clerk’s Office between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday. • John Marshall Courts Building 400 North Ninth Street, Suite 209 Richmond, VA 23219 • Henry L. Marsh, III & Harold M. Marsh, Sr. Manchester Courthouse Richmond, VA 23224
Criminal cases
Page 1 | PAYMENT INFORMATION
Court payments may be made online through the Virginia courts website by selecting Pay Traffic Tickets.
Pay Online at www.vacourts.gov and click Pay Traffic Tickets under Quick Links.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | PAYMENT INFORMATION
A defendant whose only income is Social Security or Supplemental Security Income is exempt from paying fines and costs until another income source arises; the account will not be sent to collections and interest will not accrue during that period.
If a defendant’s sole source of income is a social security payment or supplemental security income, the defendant is exempt from making payments towards fines and costs until the defendant has another source of income. The account will not be sent to collections and interest will not accrue while a defendant’s sole financial income is through social security benefits.
Criminal cases
Page 2 | SOCIAL SECURITY EXEMPTION
Payment plans are processed in the Clerk’s Office from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Payment plans are processed in the Clerk’s Office between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Criminal cases
Page 2 | PAYMENT PLAN GUIDELINES
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Continuances are granted for good cause.
Continuances granted for good cause.
Page 1 | Continuance Policy
Chambers Communication Rules
If the defendant obtains an additional income source, the defendant must contact the Clerk’s Office to enter a payment agreement.
Should circumstances change and there is an additional source of income, the defendant must contact the clerk’s office to enter into a payment agreement.
Criminal cases
Page 2 | SOCIAL SECURITY EXEMPTION
Defendants seeking to use the mail option must call the Clerk’s Office at the listed number to determine eligibility and obtain instructions.
Please call the Clerk’s office at (804)646-6431 to determine if you qualify for this option and to get further instruction.
Criminal cases
Page 2 | PAYMENT PLAN GUIDELINES
Plaintiffs may contact the Garnishment Department to review the docket three days before the return date, arrange check pickup, and ask questions.
Plaintiffs may contact the Garnishment Department to review the docket three days in advance of the return date and to schedule a time to pick up checks as necessary with questions (motions, exemptions, etc.).
Page 1 | John Marshall Courts Building - Civil
The Clerk's Office is open from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Clerk's Office Hours 8:00AM - 4:00PM
Page 1 | Clerk's Office Hours