COURT FINES, FEES AND RESTITUTION
Frequently Asked Questions
What are court fines, fees and restitution?
Fees: In Pennsylvania, court fees are charged when a person is convicted of a crime. Court fees are imposed in almost every case with a conviction, unless a judge waives them. When court fees are paid, the money goes to the court and other state agencies to pay for the criminal justice system.
Supervision Fees: Supervision fees are a type of fee. They are charged when a person serves time on probation.
Fines: Fines are imposed by a judge as part of a sentence (punishment) for a criminal conviction.
Restitution: Restitution is money owed to a crime victim. In a theft case, the victim is owed restitution equal to the value of what was stolen. A victim can be a person, organization, or even the government.
Do I need to pay my court fines, fees and restitution before my record can be cleared?
It depends on whether you are seeking a pardon, sealing or expungement.
Pardon: Yes. If you are applying for a pardon, you should pay all of your fines, fees and restitution. The Board of Pardons is much more likely to recommend you for a pardon if there are no fees owed.
Sealing: No, unless restitution is owed. A record that is eligible for sealing will be sealed even if court fees and fines are owed. However, a case will not be sealed if restitution is owed. If restitution to a victim is owed it must be paid, along with a small fee. If you owe restitution and other fees, you can ask the judge on your case for permission to pay the restitution first. To learn more, read "Do I Owe Restitution?" below.
Expungement: Yes. You must pay all fines, fees and restitution to expunge a summary conviction.
Do I owe court fees and/or fines?
Check your Court Docket to see if you owe court fees. Need help finding your docket? Learn How to Find Your Record.
Your court fees will appear on the last page of your docket. Look for the total amount due, which is usually in the lower right hand corner of the fees page.
Do I owe supervision fees?
If you were on probation, you may owe supervision fees. Check your Court Dockets to see if you owe court fees. Supervision fees are often written on separate “miscellaneous dockets,” so be sure to check all of your dockets for fees.
Need help finding your dockets? Learn How to Find Your Record.
Do I owe restitution?
Check your Court Docket to see if you owe restitution. Look at the last page of your docket. Need help finding your docket? Learn How to Find Your Record.
If restitution was imposed, your court fees page will have a “Restitution” category. The “Total” column on the right side will show if you owe restitution.
Important: For Sealing, Pay Your Restitution First.
If your record is eligible for sealing, then you may want to pay your restitution first, before paying other fees. Your case will be eligible for sealing once the restitution is paid, along with a small additional fee -- even if the other court fees are not paid.
If you owe restitution and other court fees, you can ask the judge on your case for permission to pay the restitution first. For more guidance, Find Legal Help.
How do I pay my fines, fees and restitution? Can I get a payment plan?
Can I get my court fines, fees and restitution waived (forgiven)?
Sometimes.
Court fees: Some judges will agree to waive (forgive) all court fees, while others will not.
Supervision fees: Most judges will waive supervision fees (probation fees) if you are not able to pay them. If supervision fees are keeping you from clearing your record, Find Legal Help.
Restitution: Normally, restitution will not be waived by a judge. Restitution must be paid before a record can be cleared.
To request a fee waiver, you should contact the courthouse where you were convicted.
Find A Legal Representative
A legal representative in the county of your arrest can file record clearing petitions or help with complicated issues. Free legal services may be available.
