Individuals can now make full or partial payments on any case in which they owe court costs, fines or restitution after The Administrative Office of the Courts expanded its ePay application. Before, ePay only allowed payment in full for prepayable cases.
Online payments are now available at kycourts.gov.
The ePay expansion offers many benefits to the public and the court system. The primary advantage is that anyone who owes money can now pay online.
In addition, those who prefer not to appear in court on prepayable cases can now choose to plead guilty and make a full payment, or a minimum payment — which gives them six months to pay in full. Payments can be made weekly or monthly.
This new program will:
- Ease the financial strain for defendants by allowing partial payments.
- Reduce foot traffic in judicial centers by making all cases eligible for online payment.
- Reduce the number of defendants on show cause and traffic dockets who want to plead guilty but need more time to pay.
- Provide text/email reminders about payments due and court dates.
- Increase collection rates.
- Save time and money for the public, judges and circuit court clerks.
Daviess County Circuit Clerk Jennifer Hardesty Besecker said for example, “say you were speeding 10 miles over, you got fined and had to pay $144 court costs and a $20 fine. That would have to be paid in full in order for us to take a payment. With this ePay, now they can go in and make a minimum $25 payment.”
She said it’s essentially as if the defendant were pleading guilty in court.
Previously, people would have to come into the building, mail in their money order, or pay over phone with credit card.
“We are super excited about it,” Besecker said of the new ePay system. “The website is extremely user-friendly and simple.”
