Ability to Pay

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State Statute Description/Statute Name Statutory language Level of offense Definition of ability to pay Timeline Burden of proof Method of determination Mandatory Remedies if unable to pay
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Wyoming Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-11-506 Trial transcript for indigent prisoner upon appeal

Any person sentenced to imprisonment in a state penal institution, who appeals to the supreme court, may file, in the court in which that person was convicted, a petition requesting

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that the person be furnished with a stenographic transcript of the proceedings at that person's trial. The petition shall be verified by the petitioner and shall state facts showing that at the time of conviction and at the time of filing the petition that person was without financial means to pay for the transcript. If the judge who imposed sentence, or any other judge of the court, finds that the defendant is without financial means with which to obtain the transcript of the proceedings at trial, the judge shall order the reporter to transcribe an original and copy of the reporter's notes. The original of the transcript shall be filed with the clerk and the copy shall be delivered to the defendant without charge. The reporter's fees for preparation of the transcript shall be the same as those prescribed in W.S. 5 3 410, and shall be paid by the county in which the conviction is had.

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Without financial means with which to obtain the transcript

At defendant's request before imposition of fine or fee Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Determined by judge without hearing No

Copy of original transcript delivered to the defendant without charge

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West Virginia W. Va. Code § 61-11A-4(g) Restitution; when ordered

(g) If the defendant is placed on probation or paroled under this article, any restitution ordered under this section shall be a condition of the probation or parole unless the

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court or Parole Board finds restitution to be wholly or partially impractical as set forth in this article.
The court may revoke probation and the Parole Board may revoke parole if the defendant fails to comply with the order.  In determining whether to revoke probation or parole, the court or Parole Board shall consider the defendant's employment status, earning ability, financial resources, the willfulness of the defendant's failure to pay, and any other special circumstances that may have a bearing on the defendant's ability to pay.

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The defendant's employment status, earning ability, financial resources, the willfulness of the defendant's failure to pay, and any other special circumstances that may have a bearing on the defendant's ability

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to pay.

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge without hearing No

Court/Parole Board may choose not to revoke probation or parole.

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West Virginia W. Va. Code § 50-3-2a(c)(1) Payment by credit card or payment plan; suspension of licenses for failure to make payments or appear or respond; restitution; liens

(c)(1) If any costs, fines, fees, forfeitures, restitution or penalties imposed by the magistrate court in a criminal case are not paid within one hundred eighty days from the date of

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judgment and the expiration of any stay of execution, the magistrate court clerk or, upon judgment rendered on appeal, the circuit clerk shall notify the Commissioner of the Division of Motor Vehicles of the failure to pay: Provided, That in a criminal case in which a nonresident of this state is convicted of a motor vehicle violation defined in section three-a [§ 17B-3-3a], article three, chapter seventeen-b of this code, the appropriate clerk shall notify the Division of Motor Vehicles of the failure to pay within eighty days from the date of judgment and expiration of any stay of execution. Upon notice, the Division of Motor Vehicles shall suspend any privilege the person defaulting on payment may have to operate a motor vehicle in this state, including any driver's license issued to the person by the Division of Motor Vehicles, until all costs, fines, fees, forfeitures, restitution or penalties are paid in full. The suspension shall be imposed in accordance with the provisions of section six [§ 17B-3-6], article three, chapter seventeen-b of this code: Provided, That any person who has had his or her license to operate a motor vehicle in this state suspended pursuant to this subsection and his or her failure to pay is based upon inability to pay, may, if he or she is employed on a full- or part-time basis, petition to the circuit court for an order authorizing him or her to operate a motor vehicle solely for employment purposes. Upon a showing satisfactory to the court of inability to pay, employment and compliance with other applicable motor vehicle laws, the court shall issue an order granting relief.

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Not provided for

At enforcement of fine or fee Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Determined by judge without hearing No

Circuit court may issue an order authorizing the individual to operate a motor vehicle solely for employment purposes.

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Wyoming Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-16-204(b) Representation of needy persons

(b) Appointed counsel, services and facilities necessary for representation, and court costs shall be provided at public expense to the extent that the person, at the time the court determines

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need, is unable to provide for their payment.

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Not provided for

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge without hearing No

Appointed counsel, services and facilities necessary for representation, and court costs shall be provided at public expense

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Wyoming Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 14-6-235(c)-(d) Fees, costs and expenses

(c) Legal services rendered to a child for his benefit and protection are necessities which the child's parents or any person obligated by law for the child's support may be

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held responsible. In every case in which a guardian ad litem has been appointed to represent the child under W.S. 14-6-216 or in which counsel has been appointed under W.S. 14-6-222 to represent the child, the child's parents, guardian or other person responsible for the child's support, the court shall determine whether the child, the child's parents, guardian or other person responsible for the child's support is able to pay part or all of the costs of representation and shall enter specific findings on the record. If the court determines that any of the parties is able to pay any amount as reimbursement for costs of representation, the court shall order reimbursement or shall state on the record the reasons why reimbursement was not ordered. The court may also in any case order that all or any part of the costs and expenses enumerated in paragraphs (b)(i), (iii), (iv) and (vii) of this section, be reimbursed to the county by the child, his parents or any person legally obligated for his support, or any of them jointly and severally, upon terms the court may direct. An order for reimbursement of costs made pursuant to this subsection may be enforced as provided in W.S. 14-6-236. Any reimbursement ordered for guardian ad litem services provided pursuant to W.S. 14-12-101 through 14-12-104 shall be apportioned between the county and the guardian ad litem program in accordance with payments made for those services.


(d) The department of family services shall promulgate rules and regulations establishing a standard fee schedule for probation services provided under this act. In every case in which a child has been placed on probation under W.S. 14-6-229(d), the court shall determine whether the child, the child's parents, guardian or other person legally obligated for the child's support is able to pay part or all of the expenses of probation determined in accordance with the department's fee schedule and shall enter specific findings on the record. If the court determines that any of the parties is able to pay any amount as reimbursement for expenses of probation, the court shall order reimbursement by any or all of the parties, jointly and severally, or shall state on the record the reasons why reimbursement was not ordered. An order for reimbursement of expenses made pursuant to this subsection may be enforced as provided in W.S. 14-6-236.

All Not provided for At enforcement of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge without hearing No

Reimbursement for costs of representation; reimbursement for expenses of probation.

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Wyoming Wyo. R. Crim. P. 44(b),(d) Right to Assignment of Counsel

(b) Procedure. The procedures for implementing the right set out in subdivision (a) shall be those provided by W.S. 7-6-101 et seq. and by these rules. The appointment of counsel

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for delinquency cases is governed by W.S. 14-6-222 and, fees, costs and expenses for delinquency cases are governed by W.S. 14-6-235.
(1) The determination of a defendant's eligibility for appointed counsel is a judicial function. An attorney should be appointed at the earliest time after a defendant makes a request, but only after appropriate inquiry into the defendant's financial circumstances and a determination of eligibility.
(2) A defendant requesting appointed counsel must submit a financial affidavit or provide sworn testimony on the record detailing income, expenses, assets and liabilities and may be required to update the affidavit or testimony from time to time.
(3) The judicial officer shall advise any defendant who has requested appointed counsel that, to the extent of ability to do so, the defendant will be required to contribute to the cost of representation. At the time counsel is appointed, the judicial officer shall determine the defendant's ability to make monthly or other periodic payments and require the defendant to make such payments to the clerk of the court as a condition of the appointment.
(4) If at any time after appointment it appears to a judicial officer that a defendant is financially able to make payment, in whole or in part, for legal services, the judicial officer shall require such payments or terminate the appointment.
(5) A separate order of appointment shall be entered as part of the record by the court for each defendant.
(6) After a hearing, a judicial officer may permit a defendant to withdraw a request for appointed counsel.
(7) If appointed counsel obtains information that a client is financially able to make payment in whole or in part for legal services in connection with his or her representation and the source of the attorney's information is not protected as a privileged communication, counsel shall advise the court and ask that the person be required to contribute to the cost of representation or that the appointment be terminated.
(8) Appointed counsel shall represent the defendant at every stage from initial appearance through appeal; however, the appellate section of the public defender's office may be substituted for trial counsel to handle an appeal.


(d) Rules establishing standard of indigency. Rule 44(d) is adopted as required by W.S. 7-6-103(c). A person is entitled to the appointment of counsel if, at the time counsel is needed, the person is unable to provide for the full payment of an attorney and all other necessary expenses of representation. In making a determination of eligibility, the judicial officer shall consider:
(1) The probable cost of representation given the number and severity of the offenses charged and the factual and legal complexity of the case.
(2) The defendant's income from all sources and the defendant's capacity to earn income.
(3) The expenses of the defendant's household and whether a spouse or roommate contributes or ought to contribute to those expenses.
(4) The defendant's responsibility for the support of others.
(5) The defendant's assets whether held individually or with others.
(6) The defendant's debts and the periodic payments due on the debts.
(7) The defendant's capacity to borrow money.
Uncertainty as to a defendant's eligibility for appointed counsel should be resolved in the defendant's favor. An erroneous determination of eligibility may be corrected at any time.

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Indigency - A person is entitled to the appointment of counsel if, at the time counsel is needed, the person is unable to provide for the full payment of an

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attorney and all other necessary expenses of representation. In making a determination of eligibility, the judicial officer shall consider:
(1) The probable cost of representation given the number and severity of the offenses charged and the factual and legal complexity of the case.
(2) The defendant's income from all sources and the defendant's capacity to earn income.
(3) The expenses of the defendant's household and whether a spouse or roommate contributes or ought to contribute to those expenses.
(4) The defendant's responsibility for the support of others.
(5) The defendant's assets whether held individually or with others.
(6) The defendant's debts and the periodic payments due on the debts.
(7) The defendant's capacity to borrow money.

At enforcement of fine or fee Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Determined by judge without hearing No

Counsel appointed