Criminal Division Costs, Fines & Payments

Fines, Court Costs and Restitution

Once an individual is convicted of a felony or misdemeanor in the Circuit Court, fines and/or court costs will be assessed against the defendant. All court costs are assessed in accordance with the Code of Virginia. Fines, costs, and restitution are due within 30-days of sentencing unless otherwise specified in a Court Order. A judgment will be automatically entered on the date of sentencing unless fines and costs are paid in full that day.

If you are a restitution recipient and need to change your address, please complete the change of address form(PDF). 

An individual who does not promptly pay fines, court costs or restitution may be subject to the following:

  • Unpaid balances are reported to the Department of Taxation for Set-off Debt Collection; after proper notice any tax refund or lottery proceeds due the defendant will be sent to the Clerk’s Office to pay off the debt - after 90 days
  • Accrued interest on the balance due - after 180 days after conviction or release from confinement. 
  • Effective July 1, 2023, the Department of Taxation - Court Debt Collection will be the collection agency for the Clerk's Office.   

Payment Agreements

  • Any individual who is required to pay criminal fines, costs and/ or restitution by the Court may establish a payment plan with the Loudoun Circuit Court Clerk’s office. Pursuant to §19.2-353.5, an individual may apply to have the interest removed if the following is applicable. No interest shall accrue on any fines or costs imposed in a criminal case or in a case involving a traffic infraction for a period of 180 days from the date of final judgment or release from confinement. 
  • A person who owes fines and costs in which interest has accrued during a period of incarceration may move any Court in which fines and costs are owed to waive the interest that accrued during such period of incarceration. Upon certification of the period of incarceration, such interest shall be waived. Request for Waiver of Interest on fines and costs- Form DC-366A(PDF) must be completed by the defendant and Form DC-366(PDF) Certification of Incarceration period must be completed by the correctional facility. Please complete DC-366A and mail it to the facility of incarceration for completion of form DC-366. Please enclose a stamped, self addressed envelope if requesting the return to the defendant.
  • The defendant shall be required to complete the payment agreement (PDF) and submit to the Criminal Division. If mailing in a payment agreement, please make sure, that it is notarized completely. 
  • Please note that some agreements may not be able to be completed on the day you file your petition. The Clerk’s office may need to research older or multiple cases before determining total amounts owed and terms. This will require you to return to the Clerk’s office to execute the agreement

There are three (3) options for a payment agreement:

  1. Deferred Payment Agreement: You agree to pay the full amount of the fines, costs and/or restitution by the end of the stated terms with no monthly amount required.
  2. Installment Agreement: You agree to make monthly payments in the agreed upon amount until fines, costs and/or restitution are paid in full. The first payment under the agreement shall be due the month immediately following the month in which the application is made. 
  3. Community Service Agreement: Defendant earns credits for performance of community service work to be applied towards fines and costs only. Hours are credited at the Federal minimum wage rate, currently $11.00 per hour. Community Service is supervised by the Department of Community Corrections and District 25 Probation and Parole. An enrollment letter from one of these agencies is required within 30 days of the date of the payment contract or the contract will be null and void. This option cannot be used to pay off restitution, however, it can be selected along with another option above. 
  4. Note: Performing Community Service will reduce the collection fee assessed on your account. 

NOTE: The Clerk’s Office has no authority to change a Judge’s ruling. If you were Court-Ordered to pay a specific monthly payment amount and can no longer pay that monthly amount, you will need to file a Praecipe and Motion to place the matter on the docket to be heard by a Judge.

Methods of Payment

  • Online Payments
  • Personal checks, money orders, cashier checks and certified checks made payable to: Clerk of Circuit Court. No starter checks accepted.
  • Discover, Visa, and Master Card - Incurs a 4% or $2 processing fee, whichever is greater pursuant to VA Code §17.1-275(A)(27).

Other Information

  • Include your case number on payment to ensure proper credit
  • If paying by mail, a self-addressed stamped envelope is required if a receipt is requested.
  • If your assessed costs include restitution, payments received will be applied to restitution first until satisfied then the remaining payments received will be applied to the court costs.
  • Pursuant to VA Code §19.2-353.3 payments associated with dishonored checks and credit cards accounts will be assessed an additional fee of 10% with a minimum of $50.

Penalties for Failure to Comply With a Payment Agreement

  • The Court may issue a capias, or order, for your arrest.
  • The Department of Motor Vehicles will revoke your automobile registration certificates and plates and/or refuse to issue new registration or plates until paid in full.
  • The unpaid amount shall be forwarded to the Virginia Department of Taxation.