Which policy about checks and cash is recommended?

• A. Checks and money orders for the exact amount; checks will not be cashed; cash payments should be exact.
• B. All payments by card.
• C. Checks can be cashed for any amount.
• D. No signage is needed.

Answer: (A)

Requiring payments to be exact and not cashing checks keeps the court’s money handling simple, secure, and accurate. When payments must be for the exact amount, there's no need to give change, which reduces the cash on hand and minimizes the chance of errors or miscounts. Not cashing checks at all avoids turning the court into a cashing service, lowering the risk of counterfeit or disputed payments and making record-keeping cleaner. Allowing money orders for the exact amount provides a safer alternative to cash while still ensuring precise posting to the correct case.

These practices also support clearer accounting and easier reconciliation, since every payment matches the recorded amount exactly. In contrast, relying solely on card payments can leave some people without access to card processing, and letting checks be cashed for any amount increases cash-handling risk and confusion. Not providing signage would leave the public unsure about accepted payment methods and procedures, making the exact-amount policy harder to follow.