Deferred Payments

Deferred or Installment Payments

The Court recognizes that each person's financial situation is unique. In an effort to process cases without delay in the Clerk's office, anyone wishing to agree to the proposed schedules set forth in either #1 or #2 below may enter into an installment plan in the Clerk's office. Anyone who wishes to propose an alternative payment plan may do so by scheduling a hearing with a judge through the Clerk's office. Hearings on deferred or installment payments are heard on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 9 a.m.  Please note that Court ordered payments of restitution are not covered by these guidelines.

1. For defendants who owe $1,000 or less in Court costs and/or fines, the defendant may make installment payments of a minimum of $25 per month. You are reminded that interest runs at the statutory rate (6%) on the unpaid amount, and prompt payment will result in less accrued interest.


2. For defendants who owe more than $1,000 in Court costs and/or fines, the defendant may make installment payments of a minimum of $50 per month per account. You are reminded that interest runs at the statutory rate (6%) on the unpaid amount, and prompt payment will result in less accrued interest.


3. A defendant who has missed a required payment is in default and will be summoned to Court for hearing with a judge in accordance with Virginia Code § 19.2-358.

Discharge of Fines and/or Costs by Community Service

4. A defendant who owes fines and/or costs, whether the account is in default or not, who is unable to pay fines and/or costs, may apply to the Court for the option of discharging all or part of the fines and/or costs (not restitution) by performing community service through the City of Chesapeake. Only Community service performed through the Court's established program may count toward the discharge of fines and costs.


5. If the defendant has more than one account delinquent or in default, the defendant may only apply to discharge the fines and/or costs in one delinquent case at a time. After such fines and/or costs have been discharged, the defendant may then apply for another delinquent account.


6. A defendant who wishes to apply should submit an application form to the Clerk; the Clerk will schedule a hearing with a judge. Hearings on applications are heard on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 9 a.m.


7. Credits are earned at a rate of $7.25 per hour.


8. A defendant ordered to perform a specific number of community service hours as a condition of a sentence, or required by a statewide program shall not be able to apply those hours to fines and costs.


9. The option of performing community service applies only to the discharge of fines and costs, not to restitution, and not to the reinstatement of a suspended license for failure to pay fines and costs because Code § 46.2-395(B) requires that the defendant enter into a deferred or installment payment agreement that is acceptable to the Court.