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Payment Methods

The United States District Court-Eastern District of Missouri accepts the following payment methods, many with restrictions on types of services/remittances they can be used for:

Cash and Cashier's Checks

Please be advised that as of 10/1/2026, the District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri will accept cash payments for the exact amount only. The Court is unable to provide change. Cash transactions that are not for the exact fee amount will not be processed. Alternative acceptable forms of payment include credit cards (except for criminal debt), checks, and money orders made payable to "Clerk, U.S. District Court." The no cash policy in the Southeastern Division in Cape Girardeau is still in effect.

Personal Checks, Business Checks, Money Orders

Checks and money orders are accepted forms of payment for all transactions except cash bail bonds in criminal matters. All checks and money orders should be made payable to "Clerk, U.S. District Court". Personal and Business checks that are returned by the bank for "Insufficient Funds", "Stop Payments", etc. are subject to a $53.00 NSF fee. Frequent return of checks for insufficient funds may result in placing the customer on a cash-only basis.

Credit Cards

The accepted credit cards are MasterCard, Visa, Discover, Diners Club, and American Express. Payments on credit cards will not be accepted for criminal debt (fines, special assessments, and restitutions), criminal bonds, civil bonds, interpleaders, jury costs, etc. The following are the only acceptable transactions to be paid for by credit cards:

  • Civil, Habeas Corpus and Miscellaneous filing fees
  • Notice of Appeal (both District Court and Magistrate Misdemeanor)
  • Copies, Certifications, Exemplifications and searches
  • Admission to the Bar and Pro Hac Vice
  • Certificate of Good Standing and Duplicate copy of Admission Certificate
  • Certificate of Judgment for Another District
  • Reproduction of Magnetic Tape recordings and microfiche copies
  • Retrieval of files from Federal Records Center
  • Returned check fees (but not the original service unless it falls in the categories listed above)