Are court fines bankruptable?

[BradleyT]

I recently filed Chapter 7 (the first of this month) and in it I included a number of misdemeanor fines by the court for some minor offenses that I have not paid. Does anyone know if one can bankrupt on these? My lawyer included them and I visited a police station (not in the same city where the fines are) and have received different answers from each. Anyone ever dealt with something like this? Thanks and I cannot wait till my 341 meeting which is the 8th of Oct!

[HHM]

Criminal fines ARE NOT dischargeable in bankruptcy. The fines are "listed" in your BK because you must disclose all debt, but the fines are not discharged as a result of the BK. You will still owe the fines.

[BradleyT]

Thanks for the reply. It is appreciated. I thought that may be the case but wanted to check to be sure. GREAT forum! I love it and thanks for this resource!

[wnguyen]

Does that mean all court fines (such as traffic tickets, parking tickets, etc.) are not dischargeable or just criminal fines?

[biotechsolution]

All court fines are not dischargeable. The actual fine. In some cases where the parking tickets accure, say 10 dollars a month, the actual fine is not dischargeable but the additional fine can be discharged.
Because the late fee is considered a 'punitive' fine.

[tcreegan]

Hi all,

I had some toll evasion tickets thanks to my teenage daughter. But the toll authority sent them out to a collection agency whom I included in the BK. I am hoping the collection agency writes it off and doesn't hand it back to the toll authority. (I am not sure if the debt was sold or not) But what if a govt agency sells a debt to a civilian collector, can it now be discharged?

Interesting....meanwhile I am waiting for one of those 'amnesty' times where you can go in and clear the slate.

Tom in Colo

[biotechsolution]

No the initial fine won't be discharged, doesn't matter where it goes.