If the defendant sends in the wrong amount, the clerk must contact the defendant before presenting to the judge to collect the balance.

• A. True
• B. Depends
• C. False
• D. Only if the amount is over a threshold

Answer: (C)

Handling payments is about keeping accurate court records and ensuring the amount due is clear. If the wrong amount is sent, the clerk should note the deficiency and inform the defendant what remains due, but there isn’t a universal requirement to contact the defendant before presenting the case to the judge to collect that balance. The judge may address the remaining balance at the hearing, issue a payment order, or set a future date to pay, depending on the court’s rules. Because the judge has the authority to determine appropriate consequences for nonpayment, the process isn’t conditioned on pre-hearing contact by the clerk.