Anyone that has ever been involved in the criminal justice system it is a lot of $100 here, $300 there, $600 there. It adds up quite a bit, and a lot of times these outstanding financial obligations are what get in the way of people sealing their record, vacating their record, or otherwise just moving past it. So, if you are somebody that is looking at an extraordinary amount of debt to the court, the first thing I always say is consistency is key. You want to make consistent payment of what you can afford, at the very minimum.
I’ve had clients that have paid $10 a month for 3 years on very-very large bills and made little dents in them, but based on that payment history, the prosecutor was willing to waive the interest and she waived part of the principal, so there is a lot of flexibility in terms of the interest especially. So, if you are looking at a heavy restitution bill, give an attorney a call because there might be some flexibility in those numbers, and they might be able to help you move past it. My name is Stefanie Dorn, and you can give my office a call if you like.