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

CRITICAL

Applies to

Civil action or proceeding

Civil actions and proceedings require an advance deposit for costs, subject to legal exceptions and the listed deposit schedule.

On and after July 1, 2010, no Civil action or proceeding shall be accepted for filing by the Clerk unless the party, or parties, offering the same for filing shall have first deposited a sum of money to secure the payment of costs. If the costs are not paid at the termination of the litigation, any deposits for costs shall be applied by the Clerk to the unpaid costs. Except as otherwise provided by law, when applicable, such advance deposit will be determined by the Clerk of this Court and on April 1, 2023, shall be as follows:

CRITICAL

Fee

$435

Applies to

Other civil actions, counterclaims, and crossclaims

The cost deposit for other civil actions, counterclaims, and crossclaims is $435 plus the mandated $10 fee.

A. $435.00 - All civil actions, counterclaims and cross claims not otherwise mentioned herein, plus $10.00 mandated by R.C. 2303.201.

CRITICAL

Fee

$375

Applies to

Dissolution without minor children

The cost deposit for a dissolution without minor children is $375.

B. $375.00 - Dissolutions without minor children.

CRITICAL

Fee

$400

Applies to

Dissolution with minor children

The cost deposit for a dissolution with minor children is $400.

C. $400.00 - Dissolutions with minor children.

CRITICAL

Fee

$335

Applies to

Cognovit complaint

A cognovit complaint requires a $335 cost deposit, taxed as costs and paid to defense counsel.

D. $335.00 - For cognovit complaints from which a fee shall be taxed as costs and be paid to counsel for the defendant.

CRITICAL

Fee

$450

Applies to

Divorce and alimony actions without children

Divorce and alimony actions without children require a $450 deposit, which the Clerk may increase as warranted.

E. $450.00 - For divorce and alimony actions without children, and as much more, as in the judgment of the Clerk of this Court, the nature of the case and the circumstances require.

CRITICAL

Fee

$560

Applies to

Divorce or alimony action with minor children

A divorce or alimony action with minor children requires a $560 cost deposit.

F. $560.00 - Divorce or alimony action with minor children.

CRITICAL

Fee

$100

Applies to

Counterclaim in divorce or alimony action

A defendant filing a counterclaim in a divorce or alimony action must deposit $100.

G. The defendant, in the event a counterclaim in a divorce or alimony action is filed, shall deposit a sum of $100.00.

CRITICAL

Fee

$485

Applies to

Post-decree domestic relations motion

Post-decree domestic relations motions require a $485 cost deposit.

H. $485.00 - All post decree domestic relations motions.

CRITICAL

Fee

$335

Applies to

Proceedings in aid of execution or complaint to vacate, revise, or modify judgment

Proceedings in aid of execution and specified judgment-relief proceedings require a $335 deposit.

I. $335.00 - Proceedings in Aid of Execution, Complaints to Vacate, Revise or Modify Judgment, or other relief.

CRITICAL

Fee

$435

Applies to

Appeal from another tribunal

An appeal from another tribunal requires a $435 cost deposit.

J. $435.00 - Appeals from other tribunals.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Foreclosure and foreclosure crossclaim or counterclaim

Foreclosures require a $910 deposit, and foreclosure crossclaims or counterclaims require $200.

K. $910.00 - Foreclosures. $200.00 on cross/counter claims.

WARNING

Fee

$10

Applies to

DVD recording request

A written request for a DVD recording must include a $10 fee.

A fee of $10.00 must accompany the request.

WARNING

Fee

$50

A $50 mediation-services fee is collected as part of the cost deposit in each listed case or proceeding.

P. The Clerk of this Court shall collect as a part of court costs deposit, a fee for mediation services in the sum of $50.00 on each criminal cause, civil action or proceeding, or judgment by confession. R.C. 2303.201(E)(1).

WARNING

Fee

$180

Applies to

Jury trial

A party requesting a jury must deposit $180 for the first trial day and additional amounts daily if trial continues longer.

L. $180.00 - The party requesting a jury shall deposit the sum of $180.00 to cover one day's jury trial. In the event jury trial is to continue for more than one day, the party requesting a jury trial will be required to deposit additional amounts daily to cover same.

WARNING

Fee

$90

Applies to

Garnishment proceeding

Garnishment proceedings require a $90 cost deposit.

M. $90.00 - Garnishment proceedings.

WARNING

Fee

$500

Applies to

Guardian ad litem appointment request

A party requesting a guardian ad litem in a domestic relations matter must deposit $500 when making the request.

N. $500.00 - In the event a Guardian Ad Litem is requested in a Domestic Relations matter, at the time of making the request the party asking for the appointment shall deposit said sum, which shall only be a deposit toward payment of the total GAL fees.

WARNING

Fee

$100

Applies to

10 or more subpoenas for a hearing or trial

A party requesting at least 10 subpoenas must deposit the amount requested by the Clerk, no less than $100, before issuance.

O. $100.00 - A party requesting the issuance of 10 or more subpoenas for a hearing or a trial, whether by one document or by an accumulative number of documents, shall deposit a sum as shall be requested by the Clerk of this Court prior to issuance, but in no event shall the deposit be less than $100.00.

WARNING

Fee

$3

A $3 fee is collected on each specified cause of action or appeal for court computerization and legal research.

Q. The Clerk of this Court shall collect as a part of court costs deposit, a fee of $3.00 on the filing of each cause of action or appeal under divisions (A), (Q), and (U) of R.C. 2303.20, for computerization and legal research of the office of Common Pleas Judge. R.C. 2303.201(A)(1).

WARNING

Fee

$10

A $10 fee is collected for each covered certificate of judgment and specified judgment-enforcement or modification filing.

R. The Clerk of this Court shall collect as a part of court costs deposit, a fee of $10.00 on the filing, docketing and endorsing of each certificate of judgment, or on the docketing and indexing of each aid in execution or petition to vacate, revive, or modify a judgment under divisions (A), (P), (Q), (T), and (U) of R.C. 2303.20, for the computerization of the office of Clerk of Courts. R.C. 2303.201(B)(1).

WARNING

The special-projects fee is $125 for each listed case or proceeding, except foreclosures, for which it is $500.

S. The Clerk of this Court shall collect as a part of court costs deposit, a fee of $125.00 on the filing of each criminal cause, civil action or proceeding, excepting foreclosures, or judgment by confession, for and as a general special projects fund. The fee collected shall be $500.00 in all foreclosure cases. R.C. 2303.201(E)(1).

WARNING

A party may secure costs by a bond instead of cash, subject to Clerk approval and the prohibition on attorney sureties.

In lieu of cash deposit, costs may be secured by bond, with surety approved by the Clerk, provided that no member of the Bar shall be accepted as such surety.

WARNING

When a party submits the specified inability-to-pay affidavit, the Clerk must accept the complaint and subsequent filings without a cost deposit or security.

When a party makes an affidavit of inability to pay or secure costs as provided in R.C. 2323.31, the Clerk of Courts shall receive and file the complaint and subsequent filings, including 2 certified copies of judgment entry without such deposit or security.