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Departments
Clerk of Circuit Court

Payment Information

 General Payment Information

  • Fines are payable in full by their due date.
  • Additional Time Granted by Court for Payment
  • Whether you appear in person or do not appear at all at your non-mandatory initial appearance, the court will grant you an additional 60 days to pay your fine in full.

Payment Options (for court fees and fines):

  • Cash
  • Personal check, money order. cashier’s check or use Bill Payer feature through your bank
  • Debit or credit card (processed through PayGov/subject to convenience fee), can be paid at the counter, on-line or by operator assisted call to 1-866-480-8552

Payment Options (for bail/bond):

  • Cash
  • Wire transfer…..recommended for large bail/bond amounts (requires sufficient time to process before your financial institution’s wire transfer department closes for the business day and funds are actually received in Clerk of Court’s account…you will need to make direct contact with your financial institution and Clerk of Court Office to work out details). 
  • Debit or credit card (processed through PayGov/subject to convenience fee), can be paid in person at the Clerk of Court counter during normal business hours, only. You must present a valid id that matches the name on the card when making payment.

The person posting bail/bond will be required to sign a Notice to Person Furnishing Cash Bail Bond to receive legal notice of how bail may be applied, as well as the possibility of it being forfeited if the defendant fails to appear for scheduled court appearances.  Any refund of cash bail is returned to the person who posted the bail, except as ordered by the Court.  It is important for any person who posts cash bail to keep the Clerk of Court advised of any change of address.

Bail/bond posted over $10,000 will require completion of IRS Form 8300.

During normal business hours, bail gets posted at the Clerk of Court Office, at 1010 S. 8th Street, Room 105, Manitowoc, WI 54220.  Phone:  (920)683-4030.

Bail can be posted after normal business hours (including weekends and holidays) at the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office, at 1025 S. 9th Street, Manitowoc, Wisconsin.  Phone:  (920)683-4228.

Mailing/Physical Address:
Manitowoc County Clerk of Court
1010 S. 8th Street, Room 105
Manitowoc, WI 54220
Phone:  (920)683-4030

Payment Plan Information
If you cannot pay your fine in full by the due date, you may enter into a payment plan with the Clerk of Court to make affordable monthly installment payments.

There is a one-time payment plan fee which must be paid to implement the payment plan ($5.00 to $15.00 based on sliding scale and circumstances).

Multiple debts can be consolidated into one convenient payment plan, so you only have one monthly payment to make.

To avoid an adverse affect on your credit rating, you should enter into a payment plan prior to the due date to avoid having a civil judgment  entered against you and having your debt certified with the Department of Revenue for tax intercept.  Once a judgment is entered and the debt is certified for tax intercept, those sanctions stay in place even if you enter into a payment plan.

If you anticipate your payment to be late due to unusual circumstances, you should contact the Clerk of Court @ 920-683-4030 to advise of the situation for purposes of documentation and to minimize adverse sanctions which may occur due to the default.  Generally, a couple days late won’t be an issue, but when you are more than seven days late, you will be subject to the civil judgment and tax intercept, and any of the additional sanctions available.

If you do not pay your fine in full by its due date, or if you are on a payment plan and default on a payment:

  • A civil judgment will be entered against you; and
  • The debt will be certified with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue for tax intercept

If you miss any two payments on a payment plan, one or more of the following actions will be taken against you:

  • Payment plan will be terminated
  • Suspension of your driving privilege
  • Commitment to the Manitowoc County Jail
  • The debt will be turned over to a collection agency and will accrue interest on the unpaid balance at the applicable statutory interest rate until paid in full.

If a payment plan is terminated and you are allowed to enter into a new payment plan, you will be subject to coming up with a 25% down payment and/or making up any missed payments, plus another $15.00 payment plan fee.

If you are unable to pay your fine due to poverty, you may complete a Community Service Application which must be submitted for approval to the judge assigned to your case.  The Court will remit the defendant’s fine/forfeiture and costs upon verified successful completion of the community service work assignment, except for certain statutory surcharges which are exempted from reduction by community service.  Those surcharges will be identified as part of the Court’s order.

If you take no action to pay your fine by the due date, one or more of the following actions will be taken against you:

  • A civil judgment will be entered against you
  • The debt will be certified with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue for tax intercept
  • Suspension of your driving privilege
  • Commitment to the Manitowoc County Jail for failure to pay
  • Court ordered income assignment
  • Referral to a debt collection agency, which will trigger accrual of interest on the unpaid balance at the applicable statutory interest rate until paid in full.

To put a stay on a license suspension (to allow reinstatement of your license) or a stay on a commitment (to allow a release from custody or avoid being taken into custody):

  • Will require entering into a payment plan agreement with a down payment of 25% of total balance due
  • Payment plan fee of $15.00
  • Default of any payment will result in the immediate reinstatement of license suspension or commitment to jail.

Satisfaction of Judgment
When you pay a debt in full that had a civil judgment entered, you will need to pay a $5.00 satisfaction of judgment fee to remove that judgment from the lien docket, so it does not continue to show up on your credit report.

Information on Commitments for Failure to Pay
How can I get released from jail if I’m picked up on a commitment for failure to pay a fine?

  • Pay your fine in full; OR
  • Contact the Clerk of Court to make arrangements to enter into a payment plan.  You will be required to make a down payment of approximately 25% of the unpaid balance relating to the commitment(s) to have the commitment stayed, and then you can make monthly installment payments on the remaining balance until paid in full.  If you default on the payment, plan,  the commitment will be immediately reissued; OR
  • Contact the Clerk of Court to request a Petition and Application for Community Service. There are certain surcharges and costs which may not be exempted by community service, but those amounts will be identified on the Order if your petition is approved by the Court.  If you fail to comply with the community service ordered by the Court, the commitment will be reissued; OR
  • If you feel that you are indigent and have absolutely no means to make a payment of any kind on the debt associated with the commitment order, you may request a Blessinger hearing.  The Court will make a determination as to indigency.  If you are found to be indigent, your petition will be granted, the commitment will be vacated, and you will be released from jail.   However, the Clerk of Court will continue to pursue collection of the debt using other available options.  The commitment can be reissued upon a change in financial circumstances.

Blessinger Hearing Information
Blessinger Hearing Notice (options and instructions)
Petition for Blessinger Hearing
Financial Disclosure

A Blessinger hearing may be requested by completing and submitting to the Clerk of Court the Petition for Blessinger Hearing, along with the Financial Disclosure Statement.  The completed forms need to be filed with the Clerk of Court by 9:00 a.m. to be heard that day (no hearings held on holidays or weekends).

Blessinger hearings are heard immediately following daily bail hearings, at approximately 1:00 p.m., in the B-15 courtroom, located in the lower level of the courthouse.

Community Service Information
Petition and Order for Community Service

If you are unable to pay your fine due to poverty, another option available to you is to request the Court to perform community service in lieu of paying the fine.  There are certain surcharges and costs that cannot be exempted by community service, but those amounts will be identified on the Order if your petition is approved by the Court.  The Court will remit the defendant’s fine/forfeiture and costs upon verified successful completion of the community service work assignment, except for any non-exempt surcharges which will be required to be paid by defendant.  Community service hours are generally credited at the rate of $8.00 per hour, unless ordered otherwise by the Court.  Unsatisfactory work performance, poor attitude or failure to comply with any conditions or terms established by the court order may result in a termination of the community service order.

A completed Petition for Community Service can be filed with the Clerk of Court and will be submitted for approval to the judge assigned to the case.