Collections / Enforcement

The 36th District Court has taken an active approach in enforcing the court orders of delinquent cases. We have a team of enforcement officers dedicated to initiating consequences for noncompliance.

All cases that remain with an outstanding balance may be referred to Linebarger, Goggan Blair and Sampson, LLP, our external collection agency.

There are several collection methods in place to assist in the collection of court ordered fines and costs. These methods include:

• Payment Plans: Individuals may voluntarily submit the financial statement and request for installment payment agreement. Upon acceptance, payments are spread out over a specific period until the balance is paid in full. ( Financial Statement Form)
• Income Withholding: Those who elect to set up a payment plan will also acknowledge the voluntary wage assignment. In the event that payments are missed and no contact has been made with the Collections Department, the assignment will take effect and an order will be sent to your employer requesting that a portion of wages be forwarded to the court until the balance is paid in full. A Voluntary Wage Assignment form can be submitted by those who are not on a payment plan and would like to avoid more severe consequences for noncompliance.(Voluntary Wage Assignment Form)
• Locator Services: In order to locate those who owe an outstanding balance to the court we have acquired software programs and additional resources which provides us with addresses, phone numbers and other identifying information needed to enforce compliance.
• Notices to Pay: Collections software is utilized to more aggressively identify past due accounts. Notices are sent giving individuals an opportunity to handle balances before additional actions are taken.
• Show Cause Hearings and Issuance of Warrants: Individuals may receive a notice to appear before a judge and explain why the balance was not paid. Failure to appear for hearing will result in a bench warrant being issued for your arrest.
• Collections Enforcement Officers / Law Enforcement Officers: Those who have failed to comply are subject to the possibility of receiving a visit from a Collections Enforcement Officer or Law Enforcement Officer. Additionally, those individuals with warrants may face untimely arrests. A bond may be posted at no less than the outstanding balance due.
• Tax Garnishments: Garnishment of taxes through a court order will be initiated for those with a balance due. The offset will be taken directly from those who anticipate a tax refund. Tax garnishments will be renewed annually until the obligation to the court is satisfied. 
• Remittance of Prisoner Funds: The Department of Corrections will withhold a portion of a prisoners commissary account and forward that amount to the court. Once the outstanding obligation is satisfied, sweeps of the account will cease.

If you would like to make a payment on a disposed case please click here.

For questions about your case(s) please use the search case information link located on the Home page.

To contact or send requested documents only:

Department hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.