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

Fee

$25

Applies to

Financial disclosure form

Submitting the Financial Disclosure Form triggers a non-refundable $25 application fee unless the court waives or reduces it; any assessed fee must be paid to the clerk of courts within seven days, and inability to pay cannot result in denial of counsel.

By submitting this Financial Disclosure Form, you will be assessed a non-refundable $25.00 application fee unless waived or reduced by the court. If assessed, the fee is to be paid to the clerk of courts within 7 days of submitting this form to the entity that will make a determination regarding your indigency. No applicant may be denied counsel based upon failure or inability to pay this fee.

Fee

25 dollars

Applies to

Standing special process server affidavit and order

A $25 filing fee is required for the affidavit and order, payable into and applied to Common Pleas Court General Division Special Project No. 1.

(8) The fee for filing the affidavit and order is twenty-five dollars ($25.00), which shall be paid into and applied to Common Pleas Court General Division Special Project No. 1.

Applies to

Civil action or proceedings

Civil actions and proceedings require a security-for-costs deposit in the amount set by the court's adopted fee schedule before filing, subject to stated exceptions.

Excepted as provided herein, no civil action or proceedings shall be accepted by the clerk of courts for filing unless there is deposited with the clerk of courts, as security for costs, the amount set forth in the schedule of filing fees and security deposits adopted by the court.

Applies to

Civil action

An inmate initiating a civil action must comply with R.C. §2969.25, and failure to comply may result in dismissal under Civil Rule 41(B)(1).

If the party initiating the civil action is an inmate, the party must comply with the provisions of R.C. §2969.25. Failure to comply with R.C. §2969.25 shall be grounds for dismissal of the action pursuant to Civ. R. 41(B)(1).

Applies to

Affidavit of indigency

A non-inmate who believes he or she cannot pay filing costs must submit an affidavit of indigency with specified financial information and a preceding-year federal income tax return.

If the party initiating the civil action is not an inmate and believes that he/she is unable to pay the costs, an affidavit of indigency, listing the party’s: (a) employment and salary for the past twelve months; (b) public assistance for the past twelve months; (c) total assets, excluding family furnishings; (d) bank balances; and (e) number of dependents. Attached to the affidavit shall be the party’s federal income tax return for the year preceding the filing of the complaint.

Applies to

Complaint

A complete affidavit of indigency permits filing without costs, but the trial judge may later assess costs if the judge determines the party can pay.

If the affidavit set forth in Rule 2.02(A)(2) is complete, the clerk shall accept the complaint for filing without costs. Once the case is assigned, the trial judge may make further inquiry into the party’s ability to pay costs, or a part thereof. If the trial judge determined that the party has the ability to pay costs, or a part thereof, such may be assessed and payment shall be made as directed by the trial judge.

Applies to

Civil action

Failure to pay costs ordered by the judge is grounds for dismissal of the action under Civil Rule 41(B)(1).

Failure to pay costs as ordered by the judge shall be grounds for dismissal of the action pursuant to Civ.R. 41(B)(1).

Applies to

Civil action

A party owing court costs from a prior action must pay all costs before the clerk may accept a subsequent civil action for filing.

If a party owes costs to the court from a prior action, all such costs must be paid before the clerk of courts may accept for filing any subsequent civil actions.

Applies to

Civil action

If the clerk determines that a deposit is insufficient, the party must deposit additional sums on demand, and failure to do may result in discretionary sua sponte dismissal.

When the clerk deems a deposit insufficient, a demand for additional sums to be deposited shall be made. If a party fails to deposit on demand, the court shall, in its discretion, dismiss the case sua sponte.

Applies to

Civil action

The clerk must charge and collect filing fees and security deposits for court costs according to the court's adopted schedule.

The clerk of courts shall charge and collect a filing fee and security deposit for court costs according to the schedule adopted by the court.

Applies to

Normal filing

The clerk assesses normal filing fees, and case deposits are collected electronically through a financial transaction device when the filing is processed.

(1) The clerk of courts shall assess normal filing fees, and case deposits will be collected via a financial transaction device (electronic means) at the time the filing is processed.

Applies to

Filing security deposit or fee

Any filing security deposit or fee required for valid filing must be paid electronically through the same process used for other eFile documents.

(2) Any document requiring payment of a filing security deposit or a fee to the clerk of courts in order to achieve valid filing status shall be filed and paid electronically in the same manner as any other eFile document.

Applies to

Deposits and fees

The electronic filing system must provide electronic payment for deposits and fees and include a process for filing an affidavit of indigence.

(4) The electronic filing system will establish a means to accept payment of deposits and fees electronically, including the process for filing an affidavit of indigence.

Fee

50 $

Applies to

Court ordered title to motor vehicle miscellaneous case

A miscellaneous case seeking a court order for issuance of a motor-vehicle title carries a $50 filing fee.

The clerk of courts shall direct any person seeking a court order for the issuance of a title to a motor vehicle to obtain an inspection to be completed by the Ohio State Highway Patrol prior to filing with the court for an order to issue title. The filing fee for such miscellaneous case shall be $50.00.

Fee

$500

Applies to

Notice of appeal

An appellant must pay a $500 appeal fee to the clerk of courts.

The appellant shall pay an appeal fee of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) to the clerk of courts

Applies to

Jury summons

A party settling or dismissing under Civil Rule 41(A) on the day before or morning of trial must pay the jury-summoning cost if a jury was summoned.

If a case is settled or dismissed pursuant to Civil Rule 41(A), on the day before trial or the morning of trial and as a result a jury is summoned, the party filing the dismissal must bear the cost of summoning the jury.

Applies to

Jury summonsing cost

A party filing a Civil Rule 41(a) dismissal on the day before or morning of trial must bear the jury-summoning cost if a jury is summoned.

If a case is settled or dismissed pursuant to Civil Rule 41 (A), on the day before trial or the morning of trial and as a result a jury is summoned, the party filing the dismissal must bear the cost of summoning the jury.

Effective June 1, 2009, the clerk must charge and collect filing fees and security deposits under the court’s adopted schedule.

(3) The deposit fee schedule for the general division of this court has been revised and amended, effective June 1, 2009. The clerk of courts shall charge and collect a filing fee and security deposit for court costs according to the schedule adopted by the court. (Eff. 6/1/2009, V.17, P.248).

Effective June 1, 2011, the clerk must charge and collect filing fees and security deposits under the court’s adopted schedule.

(4) The deposit fee schedule for the general division of this court has been revised and amended, effective June 1, 2011. The clerk of courts shall charge and collect a filing fee and security deposit for court costs according to the schedule adopted by the court. (Eff. 6/1/2011, V.19, P.1142).

Effective July 1, 2013, the clerk must charge and collect filing fees and security deposits under the court’s adopted schedule.

(5) The deposit fee schedule for the general division of this court has been revised and amended, effective July 1, 2013. The clerk of courts shall charge and collect a filing fee and security deposit for court costs according to the schedule adopted by the court. (Eff. 7/1/2013, V.22, P.0657).

In cases with multiple parties, the clerk may require the requesting party to advance an estimated amount sufficient to cover service costs.

(D) MULTIPLE PARTIES. In cases with multiple parties, the clerk of court may require the party requesting service to advance an amount estimated by the clerk to be sufficient to cover the costs thereof.

A plaintiff must deposit sufficient funds to satisfy the clerk’s initial deposit requirement when a case is transferred because of limited jurisdiction or a change of forum.

(E) TRANSFERRED CASES. In matters of transfer due to limited jurisdiction of the original proceedings or due to change of forum, it shall be the obligation of the plaintiff to deposit sufficient funds to satisfy the initial deposit requirement of the clerk of court, who shall follow a uniform and nondiscriminatory policy in that regard.

Applies to

Motion to reopen case

A party seeking to reopen a case must deposit security for costs in the court-determined amount unless the party files an affidavit of poverty.

(F) SECURITY FOR REOPENING CASES. A party not filing an affidavit of poverty in an action shall be required to deposit a security for costs, in an amount as determined by the court and posted in the clerk’s office, for any motion to reopen a case.

Fee

$25

Applies to

Affidavit and order

Filing the affidavit and order for appointment of a standing special process server requires a $25.00 fee payable to Common Pleas Court General Division Special Project No. 1.

(8) The fee for filing the affidavit and order is twenty-five dollars ($25.00), which shall be paid into and applied to Common Pleas Court General Division Special Project No. 1.

Applies to

Electronic payment type

The clerk assesses a non-refundable surcharge or convenience fee for electronic payments to help defray the cost of accepting them.

(3) Pursuant to §301.28(E) and (F) of the Revised Code, a non-refundable surcharge or convenience fee for electronic payment type will be assessed by the clerk of courts. The fee structure will include said surcharge or convenience fee to help defray the costs of accepting payments electronically.

Applies to

Printed service copies

The clerk charges for printed pleadings, notices, orders, and other service copies at the page rates in the fee schedule effective when the document is filed.

(5) The clerk shall charge for the printing of pleadings, notices, orders, and other copies for service at the page rates as posted in the clerk of courts fee schedule current as of the effective date and time of filing.

Applies to

Public access printed copies

Public users are charged at the clerk's posted per-page rates for printed copies of electronically filed documents.

(O) PUBLIC ACCESS TERMINAL. The public can view electronically filed documents in the clerk’s office. Users shall be charged for printed copies of documents at the page rates as posted in the clerk of courts fee schedule.

Applies to

Appeal fee waiver

A party unable to pay appeal fees may seek permission to appeal without repayment by submitting a poverty motion and affidavit and obtaining a court order.

A party desiring to appeal an award may apply by a written motion and affidavit to the court, averring that by reason of poverty the party is unable to make payments required for an appeal. If, after due notice to the opposing parties, the judge is satisfied of the truth of the statements in the affidavit, the judge may order that the appeal of such party be allowed without repayment of the fees.

Applies to

CQE petition

A filing fee must be paid when the CQE filer appears to complete filing.

After the petition for a certificate of qualification for employment has been submitted electronically online and is determined to be complete, the individual who filed the petition shall appear at the office of the clerk of courts, within 28 days of electronic submission, to complete filing and pay the filing fee.

Applies to

Veterans bonus application certification or notarization

The certification or notarization fee for veterans’ bonus applications is waived.

(C) VETERANS BONUS APPLICATIONS (Eff. 8/25/2010, V.18, P.1137). In an effort to support the veterans of Ohio who present their application for veteran bonus for certification/notarization by the clerk of court or deputy clerks of court, any fee for said certification/notarization shall be waived.

Fee

$3

The clerk may not bill or refund costs totaling less than $3.00.

(H) COSTS LESS THAN $3.00 (Eff. 4/1/2006, V.14, P.1028). The Clerk of Courts shall not bill and shall not refund any costs less than $3.00.