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Collections FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Failure to appear or pay the bail amount shown within 20 days from the date on the notice may result in an additional $100.00 civil assessment added to the original bail pursuant to Penal Code §1214.1. Failure to take action may result in legal actions by the court and/or Franchise Tax Board that includes the following:

  • REFERRAL OF CASE TO AN OUTSIDE COLLECTION AGENCY
  • CONTACTING YOUR EMPLOYER TO PURSUE WAGE GARNISHMENT
  • PURSUIT OF BANK LEVIES ON YOUR CHECKINGS AND/OR SAVINGS ACCOUNT
  • INTERCEPTION OF YOUR INCOME TAX REFUND, LOTTERY WINNINGS OR UNCLAIMED PROPERTY

When you fail to pay or appear in court by the due date, the court may impose a $100.00 civil assessment pursuant to PC 1214.1. The civil assessment is in addition to any other fines imposed on the case.

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If you fail to appear in Court by your appearance date, the Court may send a Delinquency Notice. A civil assessment of $100 pursuant to Penal Code §1214.1 will go into effect 20 calendar days after the court mails you the warning notice. Failure to take action may result in legal actions by the court and/or Franchise Tax Board that includes the following:

  • REFERRAL OF CASE TO AN OUTSIDE COLLECTION AGENCY
  • CONTACTING YOUR EMPLOYER TO PURSUE WAGE GARNISHMENT
  • PURSUIT OF BANK LEVIES ON YOUR CHECKINGS AND/OR SAVINGS ACCOUNT
  • INTERCEPTION OF YOUR INCOME TAX REFUND, LOTTERY WINNINGS OR UNCLAIMED PROPERTY

If you fail to pay a court ordered fine, the Court may send a Delinquency Notice. A civil assessment of $100 will go into effect 20 calendar days after the court mails you the warning notice. If you do not Reserve a Court Date within the time frame or pay the fine amount shown in the warning notice the Court may submit your case to an outside collection vendor to contact your employer and take the amount owed from your wages, bank account(s) or subtract it from your tax refund, unclaimed property and/or lottery winnings.

If you appear at the Collections Department and show good cause for failure to appear or failure to pay, the Court may vacate your civil assessment. Good cause may be defined as serving in the military overseas, hospitalized, incarcerated, or other extraordinary reason. You must bring written official proof signed by a military officer, doctor or incarceration record to the Collection Department.

Although your case is in Collection status, it may still be eligible for Traffic School.

Payments may be made at any of the Orange County Superior Court Locations below Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (excluding weekends and holidays).

We encourage you to conduct business online. To conduct court business via online services, which includes requesting an extension, establishing a payment plan or making a payment, submitting electronic correspondence, submitting proof of correction electronically, reserving a court date, or setting up automatic reminders for your case(s), access My Court Portal as a guest user or create an account.

At the courtesy boxes or door slots located outside of the above listed Court locations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Payments, proof of correction with correction fee and properly completed documents placed in drop boxes before 4:00 pm on an open court date will be considered received on the same date.

By mail:

Superior Court of California County of Orange
P.O. Box 7460
Newport Beach, CA 92658-7460
Check or Money Order should be made payable to: Clerk of the Court

PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 71386 & 6159(G), A $45.00 FEE WILL BE CHARGED FOR EACH PAYMENT RETURNED BY THE BANK.

​​​​​Please click the link below to learn more about the Ability to Pay Determination.

Ability to Pay Determination

Orange County Superior Court does not release DMV holds for reserving a future court date. A Failure to Appear hold will be released once all counts are adjudicated in Court or if the case is paid in full. A Failure to Pay hold will be released once the case is paid in full or by judicial order.

Your case may be eligible for installment payments without an appearance before a Judicial Officer. For more information you may visit any Collections Department Monday through Monday-Friday 8:00a.m. – 4:00p.m.

The Court is under no obligation to try to find your current address. You have an obligation to notify the court while the case is still open of any change of address.

If your case is eligible, proof of correction can be submitted electronically via My Court Portal. After submitting proof of correction online via My Court Portal, the Court will determine if your proof of correction is valid, and you will be notified via an electronic response.

Proof of correction submissions can only be completed once via My Court Portal. If you have multiple violation(s) that are eligible for proof of correction, please ensure that proof is uploaded for each count you intend to submit proof for.

For cases eligible for Traffic School, proof of correction can be submitted online and a request for traffic school can be handled online. Please note, valid proof of correction must be received by the Court prior to enrolling in traffic school. Once proof of correction is reviewed by the Court, you will be notified regarding your request to enroll in traffic school along with the completion due date.

Further details regarding proof of correction and correctable violations can be found on this page .

If you wish to speak to the Collections Department, call (657) 622-8459.