U.S. Department
of Justice
Financial Litigation Unit - FAQ's
Questions
- I am a victim of a crime where restitution has been awarded. How will I receive my payment?
- Where do I make my payments?
- I have not received any billing statements lately. Why?
- I want to pay off my debt. What is my current balance?
- Why does my statement say my payment is overdue when I know I am current?
- Why is a Department of Justice Notice of Lien showing up on my title report?
- There is not a federal judgment against me, but there is a lien filed against my property. What do I do?
- A lien is showing up against me, but I paid the debt off long ago. Why?
- My family member, who owed a debt to the government, has died. What is the status of the debt?
- Interest is accruing on my debt, but the judge said no interest is applicable. What should I do?
- Has my student loan debt been referred to your office?
- My debt is owed jointly and severally with other debtors. What does that mean?
Answers
Q: I am a victim of a crime where restitution has been awarded. How will I receive my payment?
A: Distributions are made in increments by the clerk of the court as payments are received by the court to satisfy restitution. The clerk of the court may wait to disburse funds until a reasonable amount has been collected. Typically, distributions are not made until all appeals are exhausted.
Q: Where do I make my payments?
A1: If you were ordered to pay Criminal restitution, a fine, and/or a special assessment , make your check or money order payable to “Clerk, U. S. District Court” and mail to the following address::
- Clerk of the District Court
550 W. Fort St.
Boise, ID 83724-0039
Be sure to write your name and court number on your check or money order and include your statement coupon with your payment.
A2: If you were involved in a civil case and owe a federal debt, make your check or money order payable to "U.S. Department of Justice," and mail your payment to the following address:
- U.S. Department of Justice
P.O. Box 790363
St. Louis, MO 63179-0363
Be sure to write your name and account number on your check or money order and include your statement coupon with your payment.
Q: I have not received any billing statements lately. Why?
A1: Have you moved? If you have moved, or are planning to move, be sure to inform our office of your new address. You can reach us at 208-334-1211, or mail your new address to our office at:
- United States Attorney's Office
Attn: Financial Litigation
1290 W. Myrtle St. Ste. 500
Boise, Idaho 83702
A2: Have you missed a few payments? You must immediately contact the Financial Litigation Unit to be reinstated in the monthly statement cycle program. REMINDER: Just because you are not receiving billing statements does not forgive your debt or release you from your obligation to make your monthly payments. If you become delinquent in your payments, you will likely face federal litigation.
Q: I want to pay off my debt. What is my current balance?
A: For information regarding your current balance, please call the Financial Litigation Unit at 208-334-1211.
Q: Why does my statement say my payment is overdue when I know I am current?
A: Our office receives notice of all payments made to the Clerk of the Court or the Lockbox. If your payment does not reach the Clerk of the Court or the Lockbox and is posted before your statement is sent then your statement may indicate that your payment is overdue.
Q: Why is a Department of Justice Notice of Lien showing up on my title report?
A: Whenever a judgment is entered in U.S. District Court and it is recorded, it acts as a lien against property. A lien is filed in cases where a debtor owes any amount of restitution to non-federal agency victims. In addition, a lien is filed when restitution is owed to a federal agency, a fine is owed, or special assessments are owed equaling more than $2,500.00. Our office files a lien in the debtor's county of residence, and any other county where real property might be found.
A: A judgment debtor may have lived at your property at the time a judgment was entered against the debtor. If the judgment debtor has not had an interest in your property, we can lift the lien. Please call our office at 208-334-1211 for assistance.
Q: A lien is showing up against me, but I paid the debt off long ago. Why?
A: When a debt is paid in full, our office prepares a release of lien and sends it to the debtor for the debtor to record the release. For further assistance please call our office at 208-334-1211.
Q: My family member, who owed a debt to the government, has died. What is the status of the debt?
A: Please provide our office with a copy of the death certificate. For criminal debts, under 18 U.S.C. § 3613(b), the estate of the decedent is liable for the debt.
Q: Interest is accruing on my debt, but the judge said no interest is applicable. What should I do?
A: Please call our office at 208-334-1211 and be sure to have your court number handy. We will review your case to determine if interest has been waived.
Q: Has my student loan debt been referred to your office?
A: Please call our office at 208-334-1211. Be prepared to provide us with your name, social security number, date of birth, and college attended. If the debt is not with our office, we can contact the U.S. Department of Education, or U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to determine who is collecting your debt.
Q: My debt is owed jointly and severally with other debtors. What does that mean?
A: Joint and several liability means that debtors are responsible to pay a debt, both individually and as a group, up to the amount listed on a debtor's individual judgment. For example, if a victim is owed $500.00 and there are five debtors who are jointly and severally responsible to pay the $500.00 debt, each debtor makes payments until the $500.00 is paid in full. The victim is not owed $500.00 from each debtor, nor does each of the five debtors only owe $100.00. If one debtor makes a single payment of $500.00, the other four debtors are considered paid in full.