I had a court hearing about a year ago, was ordered to pay a certain amount of money and then court costs within a year. I was able to come up with the money for the fine with no problem but since then have lost my job and am working with a very limited income (unemployment to support 4). I have two children, myself and my fiance to take care of and rent/electricity and all that to take care of. If it was not for food stamps we either wouldn’t eat or have a roof to eat under. So you can see what I mean by limited income, I have maybe a dollar extra a month to spare on anything and that goes into a jar. We don’t have insurance on our car more than 2 or three months out of the year because we can’t afford it. My fiance and I have not been able to find a job in almost a year and with the little bit of gas we can put into our car we are working on limited travel distance to search for work let alone get to an interview….so don’t tell me something I already know I need to do..get a job. It’s much harder for some of us than some of you may think.
ANYWAY My court costs came up due and I, by some miracle, was able to come up with the money at the end of April (which is when it was due). I had expected the money to come in to me by the day it was due, but it did not come until Saturday when the courts are closed so I had planned on going to court monday morning and explainging to them why I was late. And since then I have come to a new problem. My vehicle broke down and it was either fix it or I wouldn’t be able to get to the court house to pay these fees anyway. So I fixed my car, which cost about 50 bucks more than expected.
I am now 50 dollars short to pay my fees and have no idea what I am supposed to do. Even though I’m late, I only have fourty dollars that I can give them and I should be able to come up with the other 50 within about two weeks, provided my dad can send down some money for me to borrow (which I absolutely hate to do).
So I guess my question is, if I can’t pay the full amount what will happen, and because I’m late what will happen. Keep in mind, this is not a fine…it’s court costs, for having to go to court and be seen.
I live in Florida by the way as well, as I am sure this type of stuff is different from state to state.
It’s not a court hearing, and I know they could care less about my situation. It is FROM a court hearing I had. I just have to go in, see the clerk and pay it…that’s where I’m having the snag in information. I don’t have to talk to a judge or anything, just the clerk.
When you make a deal with a court, they could not care less about your personal problems. They could find you in contempt of court and that is another charge. They could place you under arrest, though I think the way the economy is they will not. They might decide to give you a little more time to pay. What ever the case the most important thing is to show up at court. Judges get really cranky when you do not show and issue a bench warrant to have you arrested. Just be nice and explain it cant hurt.