PAYMENT INFORMATION
Payment of Filing Fees
In Person
The Clerk’s Office will accept payment of fees by cash, certified check, money order, or credit card presented in person (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express). Credit card payments will not be accepted by telephone. No personal or business checks will be accepted unless the payor is an attorney admitted to practice in the Southern District of New York. Checks or money orders should be made payable to: Clerk of Court-SDNY. Checks and money orders that are returned by the bank due to insufficient funds or stop payments are subject to a $53.00 NSF fee.
Any persons presenting a credit or debit card must be an authorized signer on that card. The card may be in the name of an individual or a corporation. Corporations are responsible for maintaining a listing of authorized signers. All card owners are responsible for security over issuance and use of their cards. Unsigned cards require the user to provide proper identification.
The Clerk’s Office cannot make change for any service.
Certified checks and money orders may be remitted by mail to:
Clerk of Court
United States District Court
Southern District of New York
500 Pearl Street, Room 120
New York, NY 10007
Pay.gov
Attorneys filing documents in CM/ECF that require payment of a filing fee will be prompted and redirected to Pay.gov to pay the corresponding fee online. See Fees page for the current fee schedule.
Please visit the E-Filing page for more information regarding electronic case filing. For refund of duplicate electronic filing fees, please review the Standing Order for the Refund of Duplicate Electronic Filing Fees.
Payment of Criminal Debt
In Person
Criminal Debt (restitution, fine payments, and special assessments) can be paid in person by cash (in amounts not to exceed $9,999.99), certified check, or money order. Certified checks or money orders should be made payable to: Clerk of Court-SDNY. Criminal debt is not payable by credit or debit cards in person.
Certified checks and money orders may also be remitted by mail to:
Clerk of Court
United States District Court
Southern District of New York
500 Pearl Street, Room 120
New York, NY 10007
Pay.gov
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York accepts payment for criminal debt (i.e., special assessment, fine, criminal restitution) online. Payments can be made through Pay.gov using a checking or savings account (ACH) or debit card. Pay.gov is a secure Government website that allows you to submit payments for your federal debt(s) electronically. Pay.gov is managed by the Department of Treasury, Financial Management Services.
To access the link for payment via Pay.gov, please read Instructions on How to Make Online Criminal Debt Payments Through Pay.gov.
Questions regarding online payments can be directed to the Finance Department by calling (212) 805-0600.
Registry Funds
Deposits on Civil Matters
A court order is required to deposit any funds into the court’s registry. The court registry includes the Court's Registry Investment System (CRIS) and the Disputed Ownership Fund (DOF).
Payments can be made into the court’s registry in person by cashier’s check, cash (in amounts not to exceed $9,999.99), credit card, or wire transfer. Checks should be made payable to Clerk of Court - SDNY. Credit Card transactions of $10,000.00 or more require pre-approval from the cardholder’s financial institution.
FOR WIRE TRANSFERS: Parties must contact the Finance Office to receive wiring instructions and provide a copy of the order granting the deposit of funds before wiring funds to ensure funds are applied to the correct matter.
Large deposits of $50,000,000.00 or more require advance notice to the Finance Department of at least ten business days.
Funds deposited into the registry do not earn interest unless specifically ordered by the court. Funds ordered to accrue interest will be invested into the CRIS.
When electronically filing a proposed order depositing registry funds, parties must select one the ECF filing events listed below:
ECF Deposit Events
- Proposed Order for Deposit of Funds in Interest Bearing Account
- Proposed Order for Deposit of Funds Into Court Registry
- Proposed Order Authorizing Interpleader Deposit (28 U.S.C. Section 1335)
Disbursements
A court order is required to disburse any funds from the court’s registry. In addition, all recipients of funds are required to complete form AO-213P. CRIS interest recipients are also required to fill out an IRS W-9 form. The current W-9 form and instructions can be found here.
Disbursements from the court’s registry are made via United States Treasury check or via electronic means. Any disbursement over $250,000 must be transmitted by electronic means.
When electronically filing a proposed order disbursing registry funds, parties must select one the ECF filing events listed below:
ECF Disbursement Events
- Proposed Order for Withdrawal of Funds From Interest Bearing Account
- Proposed Order for Withdrawal of Funds From Court Registry
- Proposed Order Authorizing Interpleader Disbursement (28 U.S.C. Section 1335)
The following information is needed to make a proper disbursement, and must be included in the order:
- Identity of the payee(s);
- Amount of principal to be paid (i.e., dollar amount or sum certain);
- Interest payable on the principal, if applicable;
- The source of the moneys for each payment (e.g., "the Registry of the Court" or similar wording).
- Method of payment [electronic means is preferred, with language such as, "...paid via electronic means]."
Deposits on Criminal Matters
Payments can be made into the court’s registry as part of court ordered bail conditions.
Payments can be made into the court’s registry in person by cashier’s check, cash (in amounts not to exceed $9,999.99), or credit card. Payments may also be submitted to the court’s registry via wire transfer. Checks should be made payable to Clerk of Court - SDNY. Credit Card transactions of $10,000.00 or more require pre-approval from the cardholder’s financial institution.
Parties wishing to deposit funds must first complete the court’s Bail Depositor Information Form and submit it to the Finance Department at the time of deposit.
Parties seeking the return of bail monies should first contact the United States Attorney’s Office at (212) 637-2400 to start the process. In addition, all recipients of funds are required to complete form AO-213P form.
Disbursements from the court’s registry are made via United States Treasury check or by Electronic Funds Transfer. Any disbursement over $250,000 must be transmitted by electronic means.
Wiring Funds to the Court
Parties wishing to send registry deposits to the court via wire transfer must first contact the court’s Finance Department at (212) 805-0600 or via email to Finance Administrators.
Wire transfers can be used only for deposits to the court. At this time the court cannot disburse via wire transfer.