The COVID era has had everyone doing things a little bit differently, including the courts. In Minnesota, there was a temporary suspension put in place in March due to the coronavirus that provided a grace period for any penalties and suspensions of citations and collections in relation to court-ordered fines and fees, as well as other court costs.
The state has announced, however, that this COVID-19 pandemic-related grace period ended on October 1, 2020. The automated processes for any unresolved citations are set to resume on December 1, 2020.
So if you owe any court fees or have any unpaid tickets, you can now face consequences if you don’t pay them. The court will once again resume automated processes such as assessing late penalties, adding guilty pleas, suspend licenses, and send past-due cases to collections.
Those who owe the city, know that now is the time to pay. Or, if you want to fight your assessment, then find a lawyer to help.
In the meantime, learn here how experienced legal representation can help you properly address any outstanding citations, warrants, or fees you may have with the Minnesota courts.
Understanding Minnesota Law
The first thing you need to do in order to ensure that you can navigate a case in the courts is to understand the law that is at the foundation of the case. An experienced Minnesota attorney can help.
They understand the nuts and bolts of the law that can help your case to have a favorable outcome for you. Their knowledge and experience can help increase your chances of a successful result.
Proper Representation in a Minnesota Court
The requirement to appear in court for a case can be disruptive to your schedule, but an attorney may be able to attend a hearing concerning your citation or ticket for you. That means you don’t have to miss work or spend the day in court. Have your attorney stand in!
Reducing Your Charges in Minnesota
If you don’t dispute the charge against you, then a guilty plea and recorded conviction will result. What is not generally known is that, depending on your record, a conviction doesn’t necessarily have to have an impact on your record – even if you admit guilt.
Of course, it depends on your particular case as to whether this can be done, but why not consult with an attorney to find out?
Reducing Minnesota Court Fines
Negotiations are also a major part of an attorney’s job when they represent you.
Negotiations and plea bargains can come into play in almost any case.
An experienced attorney can negotiate for a better outcome – something that a person who isn’t an attorney may not be able to do on their own behalf.
The Right Minnesota Attorney Can Be a Cost-Effective Solution
Court costs and penalties can be expensive. While most people assume that retaining a lawyer to represent you is the more costly option, it often isn’t. Take a traffic ticket for example.
The cost of the traffic ticket is one cost, but there can also be state surcharges and other assessment fees that drive the cost way up. Also, traffic violations on your record can drive up your car insurance rates overall.
So, in the end, hiring an attorney who can get the ticket dismissed may actually be the more cost-effective option.
If you have outstanding citations or other court business, then make sure to find out what you need to do now that the courts have resumed business as usual.
About the Author:
Christopher Keyser is an AV-Preeminent rated criminal and DWI defense attorney based in Minneapolis who is known for fighting aggressively for his clients and utilizing innovative tactics to get the most positive results. He has been featured in numerous media outlets due to the breadth and depth of his knowledge and named a Certified Specialist in Criminal Law by the Minnesota Bar Association. Mr. Keyser is Lead Counsel rated, and he has received recognition for his criminal law work from Avvo, Expertise, Super Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers, and more.
