How should checks be made payable?
Please make checks payable to “Clerk, U.S. District Court.” Write your case number and any other reference number or information on your check so that we can properly apply your payment. Make sure that you have entered all the required information (correct payee name, amount, date, your signature, all corrections initialed, etc.) on your check before mailing to our office to avoid having your check returned to you.
Where should I send my check?
You may mail your check to the following address:
U.S. District Court
for the District of Rhode Island
One Exchange Terrace
Providence, RI 02903
Whom do I call to find out my outstanding balance for criminal debt (special assessment, restitution, fine)?
Please call the Finance Office at 401-752-7225 for the principal amount owed. You will need to call the U.S. Attorney’s Financial Litigation Unit at 401-709-5000 to find out how much interest and/or penalty amounts might have been assessed on the balance that is due. The Finance Office is not able to calculate interest or penalty amounts.
Whom do I contact to inquire about a restitution payment?
Please contact the Finance Office at 401-752-7225 or email at Finance@rid.uscourts.gov for the status of payments. Restitution payments can only be made when there are funds available. Funds are typically held for 6-8 weeks before disbursement to ensure the checks clear. If there are no funds available, we do not know when there will be funds available for disbursement. Restitution monies received are prorated to all victims in a case based on the amount of loss, unless the court orders one or more victims to be paid first or in a different priority. Restitution is paid first to individuals before insurer and federal victims. A victim’s prorated amount at the time of disbursement must be $25.00 or more to receive a payment unless it is a final payment less than $25.00.
How do I request a change of address for restitution checks?
Please complete and submit to the Finance Office the Victim Address Change Form by email to Finance@rid.uscourts.gov or by mail or in person to:
U.S. District Court
For the District of Rhode Island
One Exchange Terrace
Providence, RI 02903
What do I need to do to change the payee’s name on a restitution check due to marriage, divorce, death, next of kin or successor business?
Please complete and submit to the Finance Office the Petition for Victim Name Change Form by email to Finance@rid.uscourts.gov or by mail or in person to:
U.S. District Court
For the District of Rhode Island
One Exchange Terrace
Providence, RI 02903
How is the money that is deposited with the court for bonds, interpleader funds, and other funds in the court’s registry invested?
The money is invested in short-term nonmarketable Government Account Series securities through the United States Department of the Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service that will be held at Treasury, in an account in the name and credit of the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. Please refer to the Court Registry Investment System’s section of our website for more information.
How do I get my money which was posted for a criminal bond returned to me?
A court order to return the funds or to exonerate the bond is required to release the criminal bond. Unless otherwise ordered, the money will be returned to the person(s) named on the Affidavit of Owner of Cash Security at the time the money was posted.
Why did I receive a 1099-INT form?
A 1099-INT form is mailed in January of each year to each recipient who received at least $10 of interest income from the court in the prior year. The interest income is from money deposited in the court’s registry for criminal bonds, interpleader funds, and other cases pending the outcome of the litigation. Additional information about the 1099-INT form can be found on the IRS website at http://www.irs.gov/uac/Form-1099-INT,-Interest-Income.
Where can I find post-judgment interest rates?
Post-judgment interest rates can be found at:
http://www.uscourts.gov/services-forms/fees/post-judgment-interest-rate