{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-534.020","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 534.020","heading":"Methods  of imposing  fines -- Installment payment  plan  --","body":"Determination of reason for defendant's default -- Show  cause hearing --\nCertain installment payments not to be reported as liquidated debt.\n(1) When  a defendant is sentenced to pay court costs, fees, or fines, the court\nmay  provide for payment to be made  within a specified period of time or in\nspecified installments. If no such provision is made a part of the sentence, then\nthe court costs, fees, or fines shall be payable forthwith.\n(2) If the court establishes an installment payment plan for a defendant to pay the\nfull amount of court costs, fees, or fines:\n(a) The defendant shall be given notice of the total amount due, the payment\nfrequency, and the date by which all payments must be made. The notice\nshall indicate that if the defendant has not complied with the installment\npayment plan by the scheduled date, he or she shall appear on that date\nto show  good cause as to why  he or she is unable to satisfy the\nobligations. This notice shall be given to the defendant in writing on a\nform provided by the Administrative Office of the Courts;\n(b) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, all court costs, fees,\nand  fines shall be paid within one (1) year of the date of sentencing\nnotwithstanding any remaining restitution or other monetary penalty owed\nby the defendant and arising out of the conviction; and\n(c) Installment payments  shall be applied first to court costs, then to\nrestitution, then to fees, and then to fines.\n(3) (a) If a defendant is required to appear at a show cause hearing pursuant to\nsubsection (2)(a) of this section, the court shall determine whether the\ndefendant's default in payment of court costs, fees, or fines is:\n1. Excusable due to an inability to pay, and if so, the court may enter\nan order allowing additional time for payment, reducing the amount\nof each installment, or modifying the manner  of payment in any\nother way; or\n2. Willful and not due to an inability to pay, and if so, the court may\norder the defendant to jail on the condition that the defendant shall\nbe released upon payment or completion of daily credit pursuant to\nKRS  534.070.\n(b) If the defendant fails to appear at the show cause hearing, the court may\nissue a warrant for the defendant's arrest. Any warrant for arrest issued\nfor nonpayment of court costs, fees, or fines pursuant to this subsection\nshall include a notice to the jailer that the defendant shall be released\nupon payment or completion of daily credit pursuant to KRS 534.070.\n(4) When  a defendant is sentenced to pay court costs, fees, or fines, an alternative\nsentence of imprisonment that is to be served in the event the court costs,\nfees, or fines are not paid shall not be imposed at the same time. The response\nof a court to nonpayment shall be determined only after:\n(a) The court costs, fees, or fines have not been paid; and\n(b) 1. The  show cause hearing has been held pursuant to subsections\n(2)(a) and (3)(a) of this section; or\n2. The  defendant has failed to appear at the show cause hearing as\noutlined in subsection (3)(b) of this section.\n(5) Court costs, fees, or fines being paid under an installment payment plan that is\nactively monitored by the court shall not be reported as part of the inventory of\nliquidated debt pursuant to KRS 45.241.","path":["KRS Chapter 534"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=46763","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T21:00:06Z","sha256":"ddec4117616564b0a36dd285e55f851744845c642e65fe6994f0f4283f510399","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-534.010","next":"us-ky/krs-534.030"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}