Butler County Court of Common Pleas, General Division Filing Fees and Waivers

Applies to

Criminal cause or civil action

A special projects fee, in addition to all other court costs, must be collected when filing each criminal cause or civil action in the General Division of Common Pleas Court.

The special projects fee, in addition to all other court costs, shall be collected on the filing of each criminal cause or civil action in the General Division of Common Pleas Court.

Applies to

Document requiring filing fee

An electronically filed document requiring a fee, including a jury demand, may be rejected unless the fee is paid through the e-Filing Portal when filed.

(3) Any document filed electronically that requires a filing fee, including those for a requested jury demand, may be rejected by the Clerk unless the filing fees are paid through the e-Filing Portal at the time of filing.

Applies to

Civil action or proceeding

A civil action or proceeding may not be accepted for filing until the required amount is deposited as security for costs; the amount may be obtained in person, online, or by telephone.

No civil action or proceeding shall be accepted for filing by the Clerk unless there is deposited as security for costs, the amount required, which can be obtained in person, by website, or via telephone.

Applies to

Transferred counterclaim or cross claim

A counterclaimant or cross-claimant must post security for costs within 10 days after docketing when the transferred claim exceeds another jurisdiction's monetary jurisdiction, and failure may result in dismissal.

When a case is transferred to the Common Pleas Court in which the demand of the counterclaim or the cross-claim exceeds the monetary jurisdiction of any other jurisdiction, the counterclaimant or cross-claimant shall, within 10 days of docketing the case, post security for costs in a sum equal to the amount required, as if the action were originally filed in this Court. Failure to comply may result in case dismissal.

Applies to

CQE petition

Before a CQE petition is accepted for filing, the petitioner must pay all appropriate court costs, with two-thirds allocated to the General Division Special Projects fund and one-third to the general fund for the Clerk of Courts Legal Division.

Before the Petition will be accepted for filing, the Petitioner must pay all appropriate court costs. Of the appropriate court costs, 2/3 shall be paid into and applied to the General Division Special Projects fund and 1/3 shall be paid into the general fund on behalf of the Clerk of Courts Legal Division.

Applies to

Petition for court ordered title

A petition for a court-ordered title must be accompanied by the required filing fee.

(4) Once Petitioner has completed steps (B)(1) through (3) above, Petitioner may then make an appointment with the Clerk of Courts’ Director of Title Division to review the necessary paperwork for filing a petition. The petition must be accompanied by: (a) The required filing fee;

Fee

$30

Applies to

Civil or criminal action or proceeding

A $30 dispute-resolution fee is charged when each civil or criminal action or proceeding is filed in the General Division.

Pursuant to R.C. §2303.201(E)(1), a fee of $30, in addition to the fees and costs authorized under R.C. §2303.20, will be charged and collected by the Clerk of Courts on the filing of each civil or criminal action or proceeding filed in the General Division.

Applies to

Sale confirmation

A sale may not be confirmed and a dismissal may not be entered until the Clerk receives full payment of all listed sale-related costs and fees.

No sale shall be confirmed, nor any dismissal entered, until full payment of all costs is received by the Clerk of Courts, including appraisal fees, publication costs and the costs (including exam fees and premiums) of both the preliminary judicial report and the final judicial report.

Applies to

Writ of possession

A writ of possession may not issue until all sale proceeds and fees have been paid.

No writ of possession shall issue until all sale proceeds and fees have been paid.

Applies to

In forma pauperis motion

The court grants the movant permission to proceed in forma pauperis after considering the affidavit and supporting documentation.

ORDERED that the movant may proceed In Forma Pauperis in these proceedings.

Applies to

Motion to proceed in forma pauperis

A party may request to proceed in forma pauperis by stating that poverty prevents payment of the proceeding's fees and costs and that the party is entitled to relief.

In support of my request to proceed without being required to prepay fees and costs, I state that because of my poverty, I am unable to pay the costs of said proceeding and I believe I am entitled to relief.

Applies to

Pro se filing

The Clerk may scan and electronically file a pro se party's mailed documents only after all required deposits and filing fees have been paid.

a. Provided all required deposits and filing fees have been paid, the Clerk will scan the pro se party’s documents and e-File them, listing the pro se party as the filer.

Applies to

Initial pleading service copies

The Clerk will produce paper service copies of initial pleadings and assess the fee stated in the Clerk's fee schedule as costs.

The Clerk shall produce paper copies of these initial pleadings and charge a fee, as stated in the Clerk’s fee schedule, for production of service copies, which shall be assessed as costs.

Applies to

Application to proceed in forma pauperis

A person claiming indigency must file an in forma pauperis application with a supporting affidavit and obtain court approval.

In the event of claimed indigency, the indigent person shall file an application to proceed in forma pauperis, accompanied by a supporting affidavit. The application to proceed in forma pauperis is subject to court approval. See Appendix B for forms.

Applies to

Deposition expenses

Deposition stenography and transcription expenses generally may not be charged as costs, except when required for viewing at trial, and all other deposition expenses remain the requesting party's responsibility.

Expenses incurred by counsel for the stenography and transcription of depositions cannot be charged as costs, except as required for viewing at trial. Other expenses incurred, such as viewing, hearing, or transcription of depositions shall be borne by the requesting party and shall not be taxed as costs.

Fee

$1000

Applies to

Case requiring extraordinary alternative dispute resolution expenditures

For a case requiring extraordinary ADR expenditures, the Administrative Judge may order a plaintiff, counter-claimant, cross-claimant, or third-party plaintiff to deposit up to $1,000 per party for collection by the Clerk.

At any time after a lawsuit is filed, the Common Pleas Court General Division Administrative Judge, in the exercise of the Administrative Judge’s discretion, may order a Plaintiff, Counter- Claimant, Cross Claimant and/or Third-Party Plaintiff to deposit money, up to $1000 per party, in addition to the usual filing fees, for any case that may require extraordinary expenditures to implement the Alternative Dispute Resolution processes. The additional fees shall be paid to, and collected by, the Clerk.

Applies to

Application to seal records of nonconviction

No sealing fee is required after a not-guilty finding, dismissal of proceedings, or a grand-jury no bill.

The Applicant is not depositing a fee with this application, as R.C. 2953.52 does not require a fee to seal records after a not guilty finding, dismissal of proceedings, or a no bill by a grand jury.

Applies to

Application to seal records of nonconviction

No filing fee is required for sealing nonconviction records after a not-guilty finding, dismissal of proceedings, or a no bill by a grand jury.

The Applicant is not depositing a fee with this application, as R.C. 2953.52 does not require a fee to seal records after a not guilty finding, dismissal of proceedings, or a no bill by a grand jury.