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Payment Methods

Listed below are the different methods which may be available to pay Court fees, depending on the type of case and the Court location. These methods, explained below, include payment at the counter (in person), by mail, by phone, online (e-payments), and by fax (facsimile) filing.

At the counter

This method is available at all Court locations. The staff at the counter will accept payment only for those cases that are filed in that courthouse.

Payment is accepted by cash, check (payable to "Clerk/Superior Court"), or credit card. Checks accepted include: personal check, cashier's check, certified check, traveler's check, or money order.

Counter credit card payment can be made via NCourt, which accesses a 3.5% convenience fee per transaction. NCourt accepts American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa. Debit cards are also accepted if they contain a MasterCard or Visa logo.

By Mail

This method is available at all Court locations. To obtain the Court's mailing address, see the Courthouse Locations & Contact Info page.

Payment is only accepted by check, payable to "Clerk/Superior Court." Do not send cash.

Checks accepted include: personal check, cashier's check, certified check, traveler's check, or money order.

By Phone or Online

These methods are available for Traffic cases only, if you are eligible.

There is a convenience fee (charged by the service used by the Court) of 5% for a credit/debit card, or $1.95 for electronic fund transfer, per transaction.

By Phone: Please call 408-878-0098 . This option is available after court business hours, on weekends, and Court observed holidays, during the following hours: Mon-Fri 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm PST and Sat-Sun 6:00 am – 3:00 pm PST. Hablamos Español. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express are accepted and a 5% service charge will be added to the fine/fee amount.

By Internet (e-payments online): Payment is accepted by logging on to the website at https://portal.scscourt.org/traffic .

For more information, see credit/debit card and electronic fund transfer payments on the Bail Forfeiture - Paying Fines page in the Traffic Self-Help section of this website.

By Fax Filing

Civil and Family Cases

This method is available for Civil cases at Downtown Superior Court (DTS) and for Family cases at the Family Justice Center Courthouse.

Read about fax filing for Civil and Family cases:

Small Claims Cases

The Court accepts for filing all small claims documents by fax transmission directly with the Court through the Court's automated fax filing system. Only cases eligible for filing at Downtown Superior Court (DTS) may be fax filed. Filings received after public business hours or on Court holidays shall be deemed filed the next court business day. The Court's fax filing telephone number for small claims is (408) 882-2692 .

To pay by fax for Small Claims cases filed at DTS, you must have a credit card (MasterCard, Discover and American Express only).

Each document transmitted for fax filing with the Court all contain the phrase "By Fax" immediately below the title of the document.

A party filing a document directly by fax must use the Judicial Council form, Facsimile Transmission Cover Sheet (Fax Filing) form MC-005 . The fax filing cover sheet, MC-005, must also include the cardholder's zip code and the three-digit verification on the back of the credit card (MasterCard or Discover), or the four-digit verification number on the front of American Express cards.

A facsimile usage fee of $0.50 cents per page, including the cover sheet, along with all applicable filing fees and credit card convenience fees, must be paid by credit card as requested on MC-005.