Payment Center FAQs

Collection Court is a court proceeding to enforce compliance with current and previously court-ordered financial obligations. If you receive a notice of hearing for collection court, you must personally appear in front of the judge to address why you failed to pay court-imposed fines or fees.

Failure to appear at the hearing will result in your driver license suspension and referral to a collection agency with an additional 40 percent fee. An arrest warrant may also be issued.

You do not need to appear in Collection Court if you pay in full or enter into a payment plan prior to the court date. Once the case is paid in full or you entered into a payment plan, the court date will be canceled.

Q. I received a Notice of Hearing for Collection Court. What are my options

Court costs, fines, and fees ordered to a civil lien are due within 30 days of sentencing. Under Florida Statute 55.10 the judgment is recorded in the Official Records to create a lien, and does accrue statutory interest. Pursuant to Florida Statute 938.30 you are responsible for payment of such judgment.

You must pay in full or set up a payment plan. Failure to act will result in driver license suspension and referral to a collection agency with an additional 40 percent fee.

Q. My fines/fees are recorded as a civil lien. Why do I have to pay?

Florida Statute 28.246 provides the Clerk’s office authority to establish payment plans for criminal cases. If you have multiple cases, the cases will be combined into one payment plan. Per Florida Statute 28.24(27)(c), a one-time administrative fee of $25 will be charged to establish a payment plan.

Q. Do you offer a payment plan

Apply Online or visit one of two locations:

Main Office
201 South Indian River Drive
Payment Center, 2nd Floor
Fort Pierce, FL 34950
Hours: Monday - Friday 8 A.M. - 5 P.M.
(Excluding Holidays)

St. Lucie West Annex

(South County Courthouse)
250 N.W. Country Club Drive
Port St. Lucie, FL 34986
Hours: Monday - Friday 8 A.M. - 5 P.M.
(Excluding Holidays)

The down payment can be made online, by phone, or by cashier’s check/ money order. Multiple cases will be combined into one payment plan.

Q. How do I apply for a payment plan

• Online on the Court Case Fee page

• By phone at 1-866-253-7528

• By money order or cashier’s check. Please include your case number on the check and mail to:

  Mailing Address

  Clerk and Comptroller, St. Lucie County
  Attn: Payment Center
  P.O. Box 700
  Fort Pierce, FL 34954

• In person at one of two locations:

  Main Office

  201 South Indian River Drive
  Payment Center, 2nd Floor
  Fort Pierce, FL 34950
  Hours: Monday - Friday 8 A.M. - 5 P.M.
  (Excluding Holidays)

  St. Lucie West Annex

  (South County Courthouse)
  250 N.W. Country Club Drive
  Port St. Lucie, FL 34986
  Hours: Monday - Friday 8 A.M. - 5 P.M.
  (Excluding Holidays)

   

The Clerk’s office does not provide automatic withdraw payment options. Credit and banking information are not stored with the Clerk’s office.

Q. How do I make payments

• Payment is due no later than 11:59 p.m. on the date given.
• I understand that it is my responsibility to make payment on time each month, regardless of e-notification reminders.
• I will update my address, cell phone number, and email address with the Payment Center so that I may receive timely notifications.
• If an additional amount is paid within the same month, it will credit to the next monthly due date(s).

Q. What are the terms of the payment plan

• Yes, the Clerk’s office offers E-notices via text or email.
• You may elect either option on the payment plan application.
• If you opt into receiving e-notices, a welcome notification will be sent. If you selected email notifications, please check your spam folder.
• The notification will provide your payment plan number, amount due, due date, and a link to make payment.
• It is your responsibility to ensure the accuracy of the phone number or email provided for e-notices.
• It is your responsibility to ensure timely payments regardless of Clerk E-Notices.

Q. Do you send monthly payment reminders

• Failing to update my contact information will prevent payment plan notifications from being received.
• Willfully failing to pay as agreed will result in driver license suspension pursuant to F.S. 322.245 and cancellation of payment plan.
• Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) will send notification of suspension to the address they have on file.
• Search the status of your driver license at the DHSMV’s Driver License Check page.

Q. What happens if I fail to comply with the terms of the payment plan

To remove the suspension, you must bring your payment plan current or a $250 lump sum payment, whichever is less, and submit a Current Information For Reinstated Payment Plan Form. You must present the Affidavit(s) to Reinstate to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) and pay applicable reinstatement fee(s).

Q. My license is suspended for failing to pay as agreed. What do I need to do to reinstate my license

If you fail to reinstate your payment plan, your license will remain suspended. The case(s) will be referred to a collection agency, and the balance due will increase by 40 percent pursuant to Florida Statute 28.246(6). Case(s) must be paid in full directly to the collection agency in order to receive an affidavit to reinstate the driver license. Case(s) cannot be recalled from the collection agency.

Q. What will happen if I do not pay the lump sum and reinstate my payment plan