Fresno Superior Court Filing Fees and Waivers

Applies to

Fee fine or bail deposit

Payment must be for the exact amount in U.S. currency without change, may not use post-dated or two-party checks, must bear a date no more than one month old, must name the Fresno County Superior Court or a similar designee as original payee, and must have matching numeric and written amounts.

The amount shall be the exact amount of the fee, fine or bail; change will not be given. The date on the check must not be over one month previous to the date presented; post-dated checks are not acceptable. The original payee must be the Fresno County Superior Court or other similar designee. Two-party checks are not acceptable. The numeric figures must agree with the amount written in words. The sum must be in U.S. currency.

Applies to

Ex parte application

An ex parte applicant may obtain a hearing date and time at the civil clerk’s filing counter by presenting the moving papers and paying the appropriate fees.

Parties making ex parte applications may also obtain a date and time for hearing of the application at the filing counter in the civil clerk’s office upon presentation of moving papers and payment of appropriate fees.

Applies to

Civil jury demand

A party demanding a jury in a civil case must pay the nonrefundable jury fee unless another party on the same side has already paid it.

A party demanding a jury in a civil case shall pay the nonrefundable jury fee mandated by Code of Civil Procedure section 631, unless the fee has been paid by another party on the same side of the case.

Applies to

Jury fee

Failure to timely pay the jury fee waives trial by jury unless another party on the same side has paid it.

Failure to timely pay jury fees as set forth above shall constitute a waiver of trial by jury, unless another party on the same side of the case has paid the fee.

Fee

1

Applies to

Fax filing

A party filing directly by fax must pay a $1.00 fee for each page in addition to other fees imposed by law.

In addition to other fees imposed by law, a party filing by fax directly with the court shall pay a fee of $1.00 for each page of the paper.

Fee

275

Applies to

Subpoena to appear

A $275 check payable to the court is required as a deposit for a subpoenaed counselor's testimony, and the depositing party will be billed for any expenses exceeding the deposit.

A check in the amount of $275.00 made payable to the Fresno County Superior Court. This check will serve as a deposit for the counselor’s testifying services pursuant to Government Code § 68097.2(a) c. If expenses exceed the $275.00 deposit, FCS will bill the depositing party for the additional funds.

Applies to

Trust proceeding

Trust proceedings, including testamentary trusts and trusts funded by court order, require a separate case number and payment of the current filing fee for the separate case.

Proceedings for trust matters, including but not limited to testamentary trusts, trust funded by court order, and related by separate trusts, require separate case number assignment and payment of a current filing fee for establishment of such separate case.

Applies to

Guardianship or conservatorship investigation

The court assesses investigation fees in guardianship and conservatorship cases unless a statutory waiver applies.

Unless investigation fees are waived, pursuant to Probate Code section 1851.5 or 1513.1, the Court will assess fees for the cost of investigations in guardianship and conservatorship cases.

Applies to

Trust accounting

Each trust accounting must be filed in a new Trust file, and a filing fee is due when the accounting is filed.

Thereafter, all trust accountings shall be filed in a new Trust file, and a filing fee shall be payable upon the filing of each account.

Applies to

Court fees

All court fees, including jury fees and mileage, must be paid before the jury is sworn.

All court fees, including jury fees and mileage, must be paid before the jury is sworn.

Fee

$67

Applies to

Traffic school request

An otherwise eligible defendant may request traffic school within 180 days after payment of the fine, bail forfeiture, or guilty verdict, provided a $67 administrative fee accompanies the request.

Provided the defendant is otherwise eligible to attend traffic school, Court staff is authorized to accept requests to attend traffic school if made within one hundred and eighty (180) days of payment of the fine, bail forfeiture or a guilty verdict. To be valid, the sixty-seven dollar ($67.00) administrative fee must accompany the request.

Fee

$30

Applies to

Traffic fine payment

Paying a traffic fine in full by a future date carries an additional $30 administrative fee.

pay in full [including an additional thirty dollar ($30.00) administrative fee] by a future date;

Fee

$35

Applies to

Traffic fine payment plan

Monthly payment and traffic school payment plans each carry an additional $35 installment fee.

a monthly payment plan [including an additional thirty-five dollar ($35.00) installment fee]; or (4) a traffic school payment plan [including an additional thirty-five dollar ($35.00) installment fee].

Fee

$30

Applies to

Traffic fine payment

If a defendant elects to pay in full on the court date but does not do so, Court staff may add a $30 administrative fee and allow 90 days to pay in full.

add the thirty dollar ($30.00) administrative fee and give the defendant ninety (90) days to pay in full;

Fee

$35

Applies to

Traffic fine payment plan

If a defendant does not pay in full on the court appearance date, Court staff may add a $35 installment fee and convert the defendant to a monthly payment plan.

add the thirty-five dollar ($35.00) installment fee and convert the defendant to a monthly payment plan.

Fee

$35

Applies to

Traffic fine payment plan

When a future-date full-payment defendant requests a payment plan before the ordered payment date, Court staff may replace the $30 administrative fee with a $35 installment fee.

When this request is made, Court staff is authorized to delete the thirty dollar ($30.00) administrative fee and add the thirty-five dollar ($35.00) installment fee.

Fee

$30

Applies to

Traffic fine payment

A monthly-payment defendant who pays in full by the first monthly due date may have the $35 installment fee vacated and a $30 administrative fee added.

For defendants who elect in Court to pay by monthly payments, Court staff is authorized to vacate the thirty-five dollar ($35.00) installment fee and add a thirty dollar ($30.00) administrative fee if the defendant pays in full by their first monthly payment due date.

Applies to

Court filing payment

The court may refuse irregular checks or money orders and personal checks from persons who previously tendered dishonored checks, and returned checks remain subject to applicable court fees.

Any check or money order which appears irregular on its face may be refused. Personal checks from persons known to have previously tendered dishonored checks may be refused. Checks returned to the court are subject to the applicable fees established by the Fresno County Superior Court.

Applies to

Court fees and fines

A returned check triggers notice and a hold blocking check payments and possibly striking filings; the hold is removed only after payment in cash or certified funds of the original amount plus the court-set returned-check fee.

Notification will be mailed if a check is returned for any reason (e.g., insufficient funds, stop payment or account closed). A “returned check hold” will be placed on all accounts and cases of the person whose check is returned, which will block the ability to pay any fees and/or fines by check and may result in the striking of court filings. To remove the hold on the accounts and cases, the party must pay in cash or with certified funds the original check amount plus a returned check fee that is set by the Court. Once the hold is removed the person may again pay the fees and/or fines by check.

Applies to

Law and motion hearing reservation

Obtaining the earliest available law and motion hearing date at the civil filing counter requires presentation of moving papers and payment of the appropriate fees.

Parties may also obtain a date and time for hearing of the law and motion matter for the earliest available date at the filing counter in the civil clerk’s office upon presentation of moving papers and payment of appropriate fees.

Applies to

Trial or hearing

Attorneys must be prepared to produce fee receipts on court demand, and the trial or hearing may not proceed at the court’s discretion if they are unable to do so.

D. Attorneys must be prepared to produce receipts for fees on demand of the court or the trial or hearing may not proceed at the discretion of the Court.

Applies to

Trial or hearing

For a civil trial or hearing expected to last more than one but not more than four hours, the parties must deposit their pro rata shares of the fee for one-half day of official reporting services with the Clerk.

A. In any civil case in which a trial or hearing is expected to last more than one (1) hour, but not more than four (4) hours, and official reporting services (by court reporter or electronic recording) are required, the parties shall deposit with the Clerk their pro rata shares of the fee for one-half (1/2) day of official reporting services.

Applies to

Trial or hearing

For a civil trial or hearing expected to last more than four hours, the parties must deposit their pro rata shares of the fee for one full day of official reporting services with the Clerk.

B. In any civil case in which a trial or hearing is expected to last more than four (4) hours and official reporting services are required, the parties shall deposit with the Clerk their pro rata shares of the fee for one (1) full day of official reporting services.

Applies to

Trial or hearing

The court reporter fee must be deposited by the conclusion of each court session, including each subsequent day of the trial or hearing.

C. The fee shall be deposited no later than the conclusion of each day’s court session. The fee for any subsequent day of the trial or hearing shall be deposited with the Clerk not later than the conclusion of each day’s court session.

Applies to

Bond forfeiture motion

Electronic filing assesses the applicable filing and secondary fees, including fees for bond forfeiture motions, under the current fee schedule.

Motions currently requiring a filing fee (i.e. Bond Forfeiture Motions) will be assessed as part of the electronic filing process, including secondary filing fees per the current fee schedule.

When the court sets an ex parte matter for hearing, the appropriate filing fees must be paid.

If set for hearing the appropriate filing fees are due.

Applies to

Guardianship or conservatorship investigation

Petitioners ineligible for an investigation-fee waiver may request monthly installments; delinquent accounts may be referred to an outside collection agency after 90 days in arrears.

Petitioners who do not qualify for a waiver of investigation fees, may request a monthly installment plan. Monthly billing statements will be sent to conservators, guardians or parents, and copies will be sent to their attorneys. If the installment payment becomes 90-days in arrears, accounts will be forwarded to an outside collection agency.

Applies to

Traffic fine payment

Court staff may delete the previously assessed $30 administrative fee or $35 installment fee if the defendant pays in full on the court appearance date.

Court staff is authorized to delete the thirty dollar ($30.00) administrative fee or the thirty-five dollar ($35.00) installment fee if the defendant pays in full on the date of their court appearance.

Applies to

Traffic fine payment plan

A defendant who elected future-date full payment may be converted to a monthly or traffic school payment plan if the request is made before the ordered full-payment date.

For defendants who elect in Court to pay their fine in full by a future date, Court staff is authorized to convert those defendants to either a monthly payment plan or a traffic school payment plan if the defendant's request is made prior to the date by which the fine was ordered to be paid in full.

Applies to

Fee fine or bail deposit

The Clerk may accept a personal check, bank cashier’s check or draft, money order, or traveler’s check when offered for a fee, fine, or bail deposit.

A personal check, bank cashier’s check or draft, money order or traveler’s check offered in payment of any fee, fine or bail deposit may be accepted by the Clerk as provided herein.

Applies to

Fee fine or bail deposit

Personal checks must be drawn on a California banking institution, while cashier’s checks and money orders may be drawn on an institution located anywhere in the United States.

Personal checks shall be drawn on a banking institution located in California. Cashier’s checks or money orders may be drawn on an issuing institution located in the United States.

Applies to

Court payment

Coinage tendered in an amount over $50 must be counted and rolled.

Coinage of more than $50.00 shall be counted and rolled.

Applies to

Electronic filing

A party with a fee waiver is exempt from electronic-filing fees and costs.

If a party with a fee waiver files documents electronically, that party is exempt from the fees and costs associated with the electronic filing.

Applies to

First appearance in judgment documents

A first paper-filing fee may be required when making the respondent’s first appearance in judgment documents.

A first paper-filing fee may be required.

No filing fee is required for the court file created under the rule.

Pursuant to Welfare & Institutions Code § 362.4, there shall be no filing fee.

Applies to

Guardianship or conservatorship investigation

Investigation-fee payments may be made in the Clerk's Office or mailed to the Fresno County Superior Court Probate address.

Payments can be made in the Clerk’s Office or mailed to the following address: Fresno County Superior Court Attention: Probate 1130 O Street, Room 300 Fresno, CA 93721