​ሕግንና ደንብን በተመለከተ እርዳታ ማግኘት ይፈልጋሉን? - Amharic | هل تحتاج لمساعدة قانونية؟ - Arabic | ܤܢܝܼܩܵܐ ܝ݇ܘ̤ܬ ܠܗܲܝܵܪܬܵܐ ܩܵܢܘܿܢܵܝܬܵܐ؟ - Assyrian | Need Legal Help? - Auslan | Treba li vam pravna pomoc? - Bosnian | Burmese â Need Legal Help? | 需要法律帮助吗? - Chinese Simplified | 需要法律幫助嗎? - Chinese Traditional | Trebate li pravnu pomoć? - Croatian | ضرورت به کمک قانونی دارید؟ - Dari | Wïc Kuɔɔny në Wɛ̈t Löŋ? - Dinka | آیا به کمک حقوقی نیاز دارید؟ - Farsi | Gadreva na Veivuke Vakalawa? - Fijian | Kailangan ninyo ba ng tulong na panglegal? - Filipino | Besoin d’aide juridique ? - French | Χρειάζεστε βοήθεια σε νομικά ζητήματα - Greek | क्या आपको कानूनी सलाह चाहिए? - Hindi | Butuhkan Bantuan dalam Masalah Hukum? - Indonesian | Hai bisogno di assistenza legale? - Italian | ត្រូវការជំនួយលើបញ្ហាផ្លូវច្បាប់ឬទេ? - Khmer | 법적인 도움이 필요하십니까? - Korean | Ви треба ли помош со правни работи? - Macedonian | कानूनी सहयोग चाहिएको छ? - Nepalese | Necessita de ajuda com questões jurídicas? - Portuguese | Вам нужна юридическая помощь? - Russian | E Manaomia Fesoasoani i Mea Tau Tulafono? - Samoan | а ли вам треба помоћ у правним питањима? - Serbian | Ma u baahan tahay Caawimmad xagga sharciga ah?- Somali | ¿Necesita ayuda con cuestiones jurídicas? - Spanish | சட்ட உதவி தேவையா? - Tamil | ท่านต้องการความช่วยเหลือทางด้านกฎหมายไหม? - Thai | Fiema’u ha tokoni Fakalao? - Tongan | Yasal Danışmaya İhtiyacınız mı var? - Turkish | Cần Được Giúp Đỡ Về Luật Pháp? - Vietnamese |

Department of Justice is now the Department of Communities and Justice.  Find out more >

Step-by-step guide icon Taking an overdue fine to court - Step by step guide:

This guide explains what to do if you want the court to decide your overdue fine. An overdue fine is also called an enforcement order.

Step 1: Get legal advice

Choosing to have an overdue fine decided in court can be risky – courts can give you a higher penalty or may record a conviction if you are found guilty. Before taking an overdue fine to court, you should get legal advice.

Step 2: Apply to have your overdue fine listed at court

Ideally you should apply to have your fine heard in court before an overdue fine has been issued. If you have received an overdue fine, you may apply to go to court however you will need to prove that you were prevented from paying or managing your fine before the due date. This is called hindrance. You will need to supply supporting evidence, such as medical or travel documents.

When an overdue fine is issued, any demerit points will remain on your licence until your court application is processed  see Responding to an overdue fine.

Step 3: Wait for the outcome of your application

Revenue NSW will tell you in writing whether your court application has been approved.

It can take up to six weeks for Revenue NSW to let you know what they decide. 

If you receive a court attendance notice (CAN), go to step 5. If Revenue NSW does not withdraw your enforcement order, go to step 4.

Step 4: Apply to the Local Court to annul (cancel) your enforcement order (if Revenue NSW did not withdraw it)

If Revenue NSW does not accept your court application, you can apply to the Local Court to annul (cancel) it. If you are successful, the court can then deal with the original fine and withdraw the overdue fine.

You can apply to the Local Court in writing. You should include your name, contact details and the details of the fine you want annulled (cancelled). There is no form you need to complete to do this.

Alert iconYou have 28 days to apply to the Local Court for an annulment of the overdue fine if it is not successful.

Step 5: Prepare for your court date

You should make sure you know the time, date and location you need to attend court and plan how you will get there.

Before your court date you should collect any documents you want the court to consider when deciding your case (if you are pleading guilty), and what you will say to the Magistrate. 

For more information about preparing for court, see Mention.

Step 6: Attend your court date

Make sure you get to court before the time listed on your court attendance notice. If you can’t find your courtroom, ask for assistance from a court officer. 

If you miss your court date, the Magistrate can decide your case without you being there. If this happens, you should get legal advice.

You should be prepared to tell the court if you want to plead guilty or not guilty. 

For more information about what happens at court, see Going to court.

Hint iconIf you are asking the court to annul the fine (because Revenue NSW would accept your court application), you should be prepared to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty on the same day.