Santa Barbara Superior Court Filing Fees and Waivers
19 rules from official source documents
Filing fees, payment methods, fee waiver requirements, deferrals, and clerk payment rules.
CRITICALCivil cases
If a Minor's Counsel requests more than $100,000 in payment across all court-appointed cases in a fiscal year (July 1 to June 30), Minor's Counsel must notify the Presiding Judge, who must notify the Court Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.
- (6) If payment is requested by any Minor's Counsel that exceeds $100,000 in any fiscal year, for all cases for which they are appointed by this court (July 1 to June 30), Minor's Counsel shall notify the Presiding Judge, who shall notify the Court Executive Officer and the Court's Chief Financial Officer.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Warrant issuance
The judgment creditor must pay the required fees to obtain a warrant under this provision.
A warrant shall issue if a judgment creditor has completed and filed all necessary papers for the issuance of a warrant and paid all required fees within 30 days of the last scheduled examination hearing at which the person subject to the warrant was ordered to appear but failed to do so.
CRITICAL
A payor whose check is returned for insufficient funds or a closed account must reimburse the Court in cash or by cashier’s check and pay a service fee based on actual cost.
If a check is returned for non-sufficient funds or “account closed,” the payor must reimburse the Court with cash, or cashier’s check plus a service fee for the actual cost as determined by consultation between the Court Administrator and the County Auditor’s Office.
CRITICAL
A party that fails to give timely settlement notice forfeits the jury fee deposit and is liable for the costs of jurors who appear for trial.
Failure to provide timely notice shall result in the party's forfeiture of the jury fee deposit and liability for all of the costs of the jurors appearing for trial.
CRITICALCivil cases
At every hearing, Minor's Counsel must inform the court of the status of all fees incurred, whether or not they have been billed.
- (8) Minor's Counsel must inform the court at every hearing of the status of all fees incurred, whether yet billed.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Direct fax filing
Direct fax filings must include payment of the applicable fees by credit card.
All direct Fax filings shall be accompanied by payment of fees by Credit Card, pursuant to CRC 2.304(d).
CRITICALCivil cases
Absent a further court order, the court may not pay Minor's Counsel beyond the court-authorized amount.
- (5) Absent further order of court, Minor's Counsel shall not be paid by the court beyond this court authorized amount.
CRITICAL
The Court will accept deferred or partial fine payments only after approving a deferment or payment plan, unless a judicial officer orders otherwise.
The Court will not accept deferred or partial payments on fines unless a deferred fine payment or a financial payment plan is first approved, or as may otherwise be ordered by a judicial officer.
CRITICAL
- Applies to
- Jury fees
Initial jury fees must be posted 25 days before trial and are payable upon receipt of the courtroom clerk’s invoices; when both parties request a jury, fees are split unless otherwise agreed or ordered.
Jury Fees. Initial Jury fees must be posted 25 days prior to trial. If more than one party has demanded a jury, the amount payable by each party may be determined by stipulation or order of the court. Jury fees are due and payable upon receipt of the jury fees invoice from the courtroom clerk. There will be two invoices. The first will be presented to counsel upon completion of voir dire and selection of the Jury. The second invoice will be presented to counsel upon rendering of the verdict and release of the Jury. If both parties have requested a jury, the fees will be split between the parties, unless otherwise stipulated or agreed.
CRITICALCivil cases
- Applies to
- Daily jury fee
The party demanding a jury must pay daily jury fees to the courtroom clerk beginning on the second trial day; multiple demanding parties may allocate payment by stipulation or court order, and nonpayment may result in waiver of a jury trial.
The party demanding a jury trial shall, at the beginning of the second and each succeeding day’s session, pay daily jury fees to the courtroom clerk. The amount for each day will be calculated and provided by the courtroom clerk to the demanding party. If more than one party has demanded a jury, the amount payable by each party may be determined by stipulation or order of the court. Failure to pay daily jury fees may be deemed a waiver of the jury and the trial may proceed as a court trial.
WARNING
Checks, drafts, and money orders may be used to pay fees, service charges, fines, or bail deposits if tendered in the manner and amount required by the referenced manual.
Personal checks, bank cashier’s checks, drafts or money orders will be accepted by the Court in payment of any fee, service charge, fine or bail deposit if tendered in the appropriate manner and amount as defined in the Cash Handling Section of the Trial Court Financial Policies and Procedures Manual (Procedure No. FIN 10.02, section 6.3.3).
WARNING
If a case settles on trial day after jurors appear and cannot be used in another trial that day, the parties are responsible for the actual juror costs determined by the judge.
If the case settles on the day of trial after the jurors have actually appeared and cannot be utilized in another trial on the same date, the parties shall be responsible for the actual costs of all jurors appearing for the trial to be determined by the judge.
WARNING
- Applies to
- Fine payment plan application
A defendant requesting a fine deferment or financial payment plan must pay a nominal account-administration fee.
To establish a fine deferment, for one future payment of the entire fine, or a financial payment plan for multiple future payments, the defendant must submit a completed application, along with a nominal fee for the cost of account administration, to the fiscal unit of the Clerk’s office in the division where the case is calendared.
WARNING
- Applies to
- Cmadress session neutral services
The parties do not have to pay for the assigned neutral’s services during the first 1.5 hours of the session.
The parties will not have to pay for the services of the neutral assigned to the case for the first 1.5 hours of the session.
WARNING
An electronic filing service provider may charge reasonable fees in addition to court filing fees, but parties with a court fee waiver or waiver order are exempt from e-filing fees and costs.
Electronic filing service providers may charge reasonable fees in addition to any filing fees required by the court. Any party who has received a fee waiver from the court, or who has otherwise obtained an order of the court waiving such fees, is exempt from the fees and costs associated with electronic filing.
WARNING
Credit cards may be used to pay fees, service charges, fines, or bail deposits if tendered in the manner and amount required by the referenced manual.
Credit cards will be accepted by the Court in payment of any fee, service charge, fine or bail deposit if tendered in the appropriate manner and amount as defined in the Cash Handling Section of the Trial Court Financial Policies and Procedures Manual (Procedure No. FIN 10.02, section 6.3.4).
WARNING
- Applies to
- Parenting education program attendance
The court assesses a fee for the parenting program in an amount it establishes, waives it for a party authorized to proceed in forma pauperis, and allocates parenting-education fees by court order.
The parties shall be assessed a fee to defray the cost of the parenting program in an amount to be established by the court. Such fee shall be waived for any party who obtains an order from the court to proceed in forma pauperis. Any fees associated with any parenting education shall be allocated pursuant to court order.
INFO
- Applies to
- Parent education program attendance
No fee is charged for the program.
No fee will be charged for the program.
INFOCivil cases
The court may award additional compensation above the initial ceiling when competent evidence establishes good cause.
- (7) Requests for additional compensation by court-appointed counsel above the initial ceiling level shall be submitted in writing and must include the total amount previously approved for the attorney and support staff on the case, as well as establish good cause for the additional compensation. The court may award additional compensation upon competent evidence shown establishing good cause.
Are filing fees or waivers addressed in Santa Barbara Superior Court?
Santa Barbara Superior Court: If a Minor's Counsel requests more than $100,000 in payment across all court-appointed cases in a fiscal year (July 1 to June 30), Minor's Counsel must notify the Presiding Judge, who must notify the Court Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.
Judge Colleen K. Sterne: A fee is required for covered filings. Initial jury fees must be posted 25 days before trial and are payable upon receipt of the courtroom clerk’s invoices; when both parties request a jury, fees are split unless otherwise agreed or ordered.
Judge Donna D. Geck: A fee is required for covered filings. The party demanding a jury must pay daily jury fees to the courtroom clerk beginning on the second trial day; multiple demanding parties may allocate payment by stipulation or court order, and nonpayment may result in waiver of a jury trial.
16 more rules answer this question.
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