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FINES AND FEES:

Do you owe court fines or fees in Virginia? Your rights are changing. 

Starting July 1, 2026, HB 16 went into effect, which should help individuals who are incarcerated to pay off their court debt before they are released:

  • Incarcerated individuals can use their low-wage work hours to offset court fines and fees: If you owe court fines or costs, you can earn credit to reduce that debt through either community service or work performed while incarcerated. Incarcerated work performed after July 1, 2023, is credited at the same rate as community service (minus any wages paid), and facilities must provide records of hours worked and credits earned upon request. 

Starting January 1, 2027, a new law called HB 17 / SB 180 makes it easier to manage court debt from Virginia traffic or criminal cases.

What will change:

  • Old debt disappears faster:  The court can collect most debt only for 10 years after your judgment.  After 10 years, the debt is not collectible.  (This does not apply to victim restitution).  Most court debt that existed prior to January 1, 2027 was subject to time periods of much longer than ten years, and as much as 60 years for some circuit court debt. 
  • More time to pay or get help:  You now have 180 days (instead of 90) before unpaid debt goes to collections.  Use this extra time to ask the court for a payment plan, a deferral (delay), or community service hours.  Avoiding collections reduces fees, and prevents collections agents from taking your wages, bank accounts, and tax refunds.     
  • Automatic pauses during jail/prison:  If you are sent to jail or prison, your debt from that sentencing (except for victim restitution) is automatically frozen.  You will not owe anything until 180 days after your release, preventing fees (such as collections and interest) from growing while you are inside.  

This is legal information, but is not case-specific legal advice.  If you need legal advice, speak with an attorney.

Pat Levy-Lavelle, Legal Aid Justice Center, is the attorney responsible for this legal information.  626 East Broad Street, Suite 200, Richmond, VA 23219, (804) 643-1086.  

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