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What is court debt? What type of debt is collected by the courts?

Court debt means all fines and fees ordered by the court.  According to Iowa law, a judge may order any or all of the following:

  1. Restitution for victims of crime.
  2. Fines, penalties, criminal penalty surcharge, and law enforcement initiative surcharge.
  3. Crime Victim Compensation Fund.
  4. Court costs, including correctional fees, court-appointed attorney fees, and public defender expenses. 

All court debts are paid in the priority order listed above. Pay court debt to the clerk of court in the county where the violation occurred. The Clerk of Court offices are listed on the Court Directory page.

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