Finance Unit Frequently Asked Questions

What forms of payment does the court accept?
How should the check be made payable?
Where should I send my check?
Whom do I call to find out my outstanding balance for criminal debt (special assessment, restitution, fine)?
Whom do I contact to inquire about a restitution payment?
How do I request a change of address for restitution checks?
How do I request my restitution payment to be made through EFT to my bank account instead of a check?
What do I need to do to change the payee’s name on a restitution check due to marriage, divorce, death, next of kin, etc?
How is the money that is deposited with the court for criminal bonds and other registry funds invested?
How do I get my money which was posted for a criminal bond returned to me?
How can I get a removal of lien and reconveyance for my property which was posted to the court to secure bail?
Why did I receive a 1099-INT form?
Where can I find post-judgment interest rates?

What forms of payment does the court accept?

The court accepts payments made by check, money order, cashiers check, debit card, and credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover) at the intake counter. Pay.gov payments through CM/ECF are accepted for new case filings, appeals, attorney admissions, pro hac vice applications, and audio recording fees.

Payments for criminal debt, civil and criminal cash bonds, audio recording fees, and several other types of fees and payments can now be made through Pay.gov. See information and instructions on Paying Criminal Debt, Civil and Criminal Bonds, Audio Recording, and other Payments

⇒ Go to Civil and Criminal Bonds and Other Payments Form (Pay.gov…)
⇒ Go to Criminal Debt Form (Pay.gov…)
⇒ Go to Audio Recording Form (Pay.gov…)

Wire deposits are only accepted for large registry, restitution and fine payments. Please call the Finance Unit at 415-522-4621 or email at CAND_Finance@cand.uscourts.gov for wire instructions. A court order for payment of funds to the court is required before wire instructions are provided.

How should the check be made payable?

Please make checks payable to “Clerk, U.S. District Court.” Write your case number and any other reference number or information on your check so that we can properly apply your payment. Make sure that you have entered all the required information (correct payee name, amount, date, your signature, all corrections initialed, etc.) on your check before mailing to our office to avoid having your check returned to you.

Where should I send my check?

You may mail your check to any of the following offices:

U.S. District Court
450 Golden Gate Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94102

U.S. District Court
1301 Clay St., Suite 400S
Oakland, CA 94612

U.S. District Court
280 South First St., Rm 2112
San Jose, CA 95113

Whom do I call to find out my outstanding balance for criminal debt (special assessment, restitution, fine)?

Please call the Finance Unit at 415-522-4621 or via email at CAND_Finance@cand.uscourts.gov for the principal amount owed. You will need to call the U.S. Attorney’s Financial Litigation Program at 415-436-6970 to find out how much interest and/or penalty amounts might have been assessed on the balance that is due. The Clerk’s Office Finance Unit is not able to calculate interest or penalty amounts.

Whom do I contact to inquire about a restitution payment?

Please call the Finance Unit at (415) 522-4621 or via email at CAND_Finance@cand.uscourts.gov for the status of payments.

The Clerk’s Office disburses money to victims as it receives payments from the defendant. The Clerk’s Office cannot predict when defendants will make payments. Once money is received from a defendant, payments to victims are disbursed monthly on a pro rata basis, which means each payment is divided among the victims in proportion to their losses. Payments will only be made to those victims whose pro-rated share is at least $25. Restitution is paid first to individuals before insurers and federal victims. Funds are held for 6-8 weeks before disbursement is made to ensure the checks have cleared.

Please refrain from calling the Clerk’s Office about the status of restitution until at least 3 months after the defendant’s sentencing. This allows time for the defendant to begin making payments, if any, and for the Clerk’s Office to process the distribution to victims.

The Clerk’s Office does not enforce or handle collections of restitution. Please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Financial Litigation Program at (415) 436-6970 for the status of collection efforts.

Payments are made on U.S. Treasury checks. Please contact the Finance Unit at (415) 522-4621 or email at CAND_Finance@cand.uscourts.gov if you are not able to determine which case this check is for. Please provide the check number and date with your inquiry.

How do I request a change of address for restitution checks?

Please complete and submit to the Finance Unit the CAND Victim Address Change Form by email, mail, or in person to U.S. District Court, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, 16th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94102.

How do I request my restitution payment to be made through EFT to my bank account instead of a check?

Please complete the AO213P form with your banking information and return to the Finance office at U.S. District Court, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, 16^th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94102 or via email at CAND_Finance@cand.uscourts.gov. Funds will only be made through EFT for amounts over $500 where there are extenuating circumstances.

What do I need to do to change the payee’s name on a restitution check due to marriage, divorce, death, next of kin or successor business?

Please complete and submit to the Finance Unit the CAND Victim Name Change Form by email, mail, or in person to U.S. District Court, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, 16th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94102.

How is the money that is deposited with the court for bonds, interpleader funds, and other funds in the court’s registry invested?

The money is invested in short-term nonmarketable Government Account Series securities through the United States Department of the Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service that will be held at Treasury, in an account in the name and credit of the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. Please refer to General Order 31 (.pdf) “Deposit and Investment of Registry Funds” for additional information.

How do I get my money which was posted for a criminal bond returned to me?

A court order to return the funds or to exonerate the bond is required to release the criminal bond. Unless otherwise ordered, the money will be returned to the person(s) named on the Affidavit of Owner of Bond Security form completed at the time the money was posted. Please refer to General Order 55 (.pdf) “Bond Exoneration and the Posting and Return of Property” for more information.

How can I get a removal of lien and reconveyance for my property which was posted to the court to secure bail?

A court order to reconvey the property or to exonerate the bond is required to release the lien from the property. If there is no such court order, please contact defense counsel to obtain one.

Once a court order has been obtained, please submit a completed Reconveyance form to the Finance Unit by mail or email to CAND_Finance@cand.uscourts.gov for signature along with a copy of the deed of trust.

If the Clerk, U.S. District Court is not named as the trustee on the deed of trust, you will also need to complete and submit a Substitution of Trustee form to substitute the Clerk, U.S. District Court as the trustee instead of the named trustee, along with the completed Reconveyance form.

If the property is located outside the state of California, please submit whatever documents that state requires for us to sign in order to remove the lien from your property.

It is the responsibility of the property owner to record the signed Reconveyance and/or other applicable forms at the recorder’s office where the property is located in order to remove the lien from the property.

Please refer to General Order 55 (.pdf) “Bond Exoneration and the Posting and Return of Property” for additional information.

Why did I receive a 1099-INT form?

A 1099-INT form is mailed in January of each year to each recipient who received at least $10 of interest income from the court in the prior year. The interest income is from money deposited in the court’s registry for criminal bonds, interpleader funds, and other cases pending the outcome of the litigation. Additional information about the 1099-INT form can be found on the IRS website at https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1099-int.

Where can I find post-judgment interest rates?

Post-judgment interest rates can be found at
http://www.uscourts.gov/services-forms/fees/post-judgment-interest-rate