Court of Common Pleas of Blair County, Pennsylvania Filing Fees and Waivers

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Arbitration appeal

An arbitration appeal fee of $400 is due at filing, or $625 if the hearing lasted at least four and one-half hours; the fee is not reimbursed, and the appeal does not eliminate other applicable costs or fees.

(d) A party appealing an Arbitration Award, shall pay to the Prothonotary an Arbitration Appeal Fee of four hundred dollars ($400.00), unless the arbitration hearing lasted four and one-half (4 ½) hours or more, in which case the Arbitration Appeal Fee shall be six hundred and twenty-four dollars ($625.00). Such fee must be paid at the time of filing the appeal in order to perfect such appeal. An appeal from the Arbitration Award does not, in any way, relieve any party of any duty to pay any applicable Costs or Fees under B.C.L.R. 1303 et. al. There shall be no reimbursement of the Arbitration Appeal Fees to the appealing party, even if the final decision entered after the appeal differs from the Award of Arbitrators.

CRITICALCivil cases

Fee

50 dollars

Applies to

Arbitration costs

For the Arbitration Costs addressed in this settlement provision, the Case Manager’s cost is $50.

A. The Arbitration Costs shall be set at fifty dollars ($50.00) for the Case Manager of the arbitration panel, and forty dollars ($40.00) for each additional Arbitrator of the arbitration panel.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Discontinuance praecipe

All costs due to the Prothonotary must be paid for the Prothonotary to accept a discontinuance praecipe.

A discontinuance may also be entered by a written direction (praecipe) to the Prothonotary if it is signed by the plaintiff’s attorney or by a self-represented plaintiff and the same shall be accepted by the Prothonotary if all costs due the Prothonotary have been paid.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Arbitration costs

The parties must pay Arbitration Costs if settlement occurs within 72 hours of the scheduled arbitration hearing or they fail to give timely settlement notice.

(2) If a Settlement occurs within seventy-two (72) hours of the scheduled arbitration hearing, or if the parties fail to timely notify the assigned Judge and Court Administration, or its designee, under subsection (f)(1) of this provision, the parties shall pay the Arbitration Costs.

CRITICALCivil cases

Fee

150 dollars

Applies to

Arbitration costs

For each civil case eligible for arbitration under B.C.L.R. 1301(a)(1) and (3), the Case Manager’s Arbitration Costs are $150.

(1) For each Civil Case eligible for arbitration under B.C.L.R. 1301(a) (1) and (3), Arbitration Costs shall be set at one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) for the Case Manager of the arbitration panel, and one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00) for each additional Arbitrator of the arbitration panel.

CRITICALCivil cases

A continuance requested within 72 hours of the scheduled arbitration requires payment to the Prothonotary at the time of the request: $50 for the Case Manager and $40 for each additional Arbitrator, without affecting other arbitration costs.

A party requesting any continuance within seventy-two (72) hours of the scheduled arbitration time shall pay to the Prothonotary the Arbitration Costs at the time of the continuance request. Such Arbitration Costs shall be set at fifty dollars ($50.00) for the Case Manager of the arbitration panel, and forty dollars ($40.00) for each additional Arbitrator of the arbitration panel. Such payment shall not impact the applicability of any other Arbitration costs.

CRITICALCivil cases

Fee

40

Applies to

Children First program participation

Each Children First participant must pay a $40 fee before being admitted to the program.

1. The fee for "Children First" is Forty Dollars ($40.00) for each participant. Each participant shall pay his/her own fee prior to admittance to the program.

CRITICAL

(1) The litigant ordering the transcript shall make payment in the amount of 90% of the estimated total cost of the transcript which will be communicated to them by the court reporting personnel or District Court Administrator's Office within 10 days of the request. Payment by self-represented litigants shall be made by money order only. Checks or money orders are to be made payable to the County of Blair and shall be delivered to the District Court Administrator's Office. Cash shall not be accepted by the District Court Administrator's Office.

(1) The litigant ordering the transcript shall make payment in the amount of 90% of the estimated total cost of the transcript which will be communicated to them by the court reporting personnel or District Court Administrator's Office within 10 days of the request. Payment by self-represented litigants shall be made by money order only. Checks or money orders are to be made payable to the County of Blair and shall be delivered to the District Court Administrator's Office. Cash shall not be accepted by the District Court Administrator's Office.

CRITICALCivil cases

If the moving party fails to pay specified fees or meet the stated appearance requirements, the action may be dismissed without prejudice and fees paid may be forfeited.

Should the moving party fail to pay fees as specified herein; fail to appear for "Children First"; or fail to insure that any child within that party's physical custody appears for "Sandcastles", the Custody Action may be dismissed without prejudice and any filing or program fees paid by such party shall be forfeited.

CRITICALCivil cases

Fee

24

Applies to

Consent judgment

A Consent Judgment must include a $24.00 filing-fee check payable to the Blair County Prothonotary or it will not be accepted.

Consent Judgment forms will be made available at the conciliation conference, if a settlement is reached. Consent Judgments must be accompanied by a check for the $24.00 filing fee. The check must be made payable to the Blair County Prothonotary. Consent Judgments without the filing fee will not be accepted by the Blair County Prothonotary.

CRITICALCivil cases

Fee

50 dollars

Applies to

Arbitration continuance

A continuance requested within 72 hours of the scheduled arbitration requires payment to the Prothonotary at the time of the request, including $50 for the Case Manager.

(4) A party requesting any continuance within seventy-two (72) hours of the scheduled arbitration time shall pay to the Prothonotary the Arbitration Costs at the time of the continuance request. Such Arbitration Costs shall be set at fifty dollars ($50.00) for the Case Manager of the arbitration panel, and forty dollars ($40.00) for each additional Arbitrator of the arbitration panel. Such payment shall not impact the applicability of any other Arbitration costs.

CRITICALCivil cases

Fee

$50

A party requesting an additional continuance must pay the Prothonotary a $50 continuance fee when making the request.

A party requesting an additional continuance shall pay to the Prothonotary a Continuance Fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) at the time of the continuance request.

CRITICAL

Any final transcript balance paid by check or money order must be payable to the County of Blair and delivered to the District Court Administrator’s Office.

(4) Checks or money orders for the final balance are to be made payable to the County of Blair and shall be delivered to the District Court Administrator’s Office.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Children First and Sandcastles program fees

Program fees must be paid directly to the Provider by cash, cashier's check, or money order payable to Altoona Hospital; credit cards may be accepted for telephone registrations, personal checks are not accepted, and fees are nonrefundable.

3. The fees for "Children First" and "Sandcastles" shall be paid directly to the Provider by cash, cashiers' check or money order made payable to the "Altoona Hospital". Payment by credit card may be accepted for telephone registrations. No personal checks will be accepted. Such fees shall be non-refundable.

CRITICALCivil cases

Fee

5

Applies to

Sandcastles program participation

Sandcastles costs $5 per child, with each party paying an equal share before program admission.

2. The fee for "Sandcastles" is Five Dollars ($5.00) for each child. Each party shall pay an equal portion of the total fee. Such fee shall be paid prior to admittance to the program.

CRITICALCivil cases

Fee

225 dollars

Applies to

Arbitration costs

For a civil case with an arbitration hearing lasting at least 4½ hours, the Case Manager’s Arbitration Costs are $225.

(2) For each Civil Case in which the arbitration hearing lasts four and a half (4½) hours or more, Arbitration Costs shall be set at two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225.00) for the Case Manager of the arbitration panel, and two hundred dollars ($200.00) for each additional Arbitrator of the arbitration panel.

CRITICALCivil cases

Court Administration may reschedule an arbitration hearing only after the moving party pays any applicable continuance fees or arbitration costs.

The arbitration hearing shall be rescheduled by Court Administration only upon the moving party's payment of any applicable Continuance Fees or Arbitration Costs.

CRITICALCivil cases

Fee

125 dollars

Applies to

Arbitration administrative fee

For arbitration under B.C.L.R. 1301(a)(1) and (3), the Plaintiff must pay a $125 administrative fee within 30 days of the designation order, and the hearing is scheduled only after payment.

(a) Administrative Fee – Arbitration, under B.C.L.R. 1301(a)(1) and (3), shall require the Plaintiff to pay to the Prothonotary an Administrative Fee of one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125) within thirty (30) days of the date of the Court’s Order designating the matter to be scheduled for arbitration. The Plaintiff or the Plaintiff’s attorney of record shall notify in writing the assigned Judge and Court Administration, or its designee, of such payment. The arbitration hearing shall be scheduled by Court Administration only upon Plaintiff’s payment of the Administrative Fee.

CRITICALCivil cases

For a civil case with an arbitration hearing lasting at least 4½ hours, arbitration costs are $225 for the Case Manager and $200 for each additional Arbitrator.

For each Civil Case in which the arbitration hearing lasts four and a half (4½) hours or more, Arbitration Costs shall be set at two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225.00) for the Case Manager of the arbitration panel, and two hundred dollars ($200.00) for each additional Arbitrator of the arbitration panel.

CRITICALCivil cases

A non-moving party who fails to pay specified fees or meet the stated appearance requirements faces an immediate rule to show cause, returnable within seven days, and may face sanctions or arrest for failing to appear in court.

Should a non-moving party fail to pay fees as specified herein; fail to appear for "Children First"; or fail to insure that any child within his/her physical custody appears for "Sandcastles", an immediate rule to show cause why such party should not be held in contempt shall issue from this Court. Such rule will be returnable on a date certain within seven (7) days after the date of issue. Such Party shall then be required to appear in court to show cause why they should not be held in contempt and suffer sanctions for failure to pay or appear. Any party failing to appear in court in accordance with the rule to show cause may have a bench warrant for his or her arrest issued and may be arrested by the Blair County Sheriff's Office and brought before this Court.

CRITICALCivil cases

Fee

50 dollars

Applies to

Additional continuance request

A party requesting an additional continuance must pay a $50 continuance fee to the Prothonotary when requesting it.

(3) A party requesting an additional continuance shall pay to the Prothonotary a Continuance Fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) at the time of the continuance request.

CRITICALCivil cases

For each civil case eligible under B.C.L.R. 1301(a)(1) and (3), arbitration costs are $150 for the Case Manager and $125 for each additional Arbitrator.

For each Civil Case eligible for arbitration under B.C.L.R. 1301(a) (1) and (3), Arbitration Costs shall be set at one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) for the Case Manager of the arbitration panel, and one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00) for each additional Arbitrator of the arbitration panel.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Arbitration costs

The parties must pay these Arbitration Costs to the Prothonotary, with plaintiffs jointly and severally responsible for 50% and defendants jointly and severally responsible for 50%, unless they agree otherwise.

B. Such Arbitration Costs are to be paid to the Prothonotary by the parties, with fifty per cent (50%) contribution from the plaintiff(s), jointly and severally, and fifty per cent (50%) contribution from the defendant(s), jointly and severally, unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties.

CRITICALCivil cases

If settlement occurs within 72 hours of the hearing or the parties fail to give timely notice, they must pay arbitration costs of $50 for the Case Manager and $40 for each additional Arbitrator to the Prothonotary within 10 days of the scheduled hearing, with plaintiffs and defendants each contributing 50% unless otherwise agreed.

If a Settlement occurs within seventy-two (72) hours of the scheduled arbitration hearing, or if the parties fail to timely notify the assigned Judge and Court Administration, or its designee, under subsection (f)(1) of this provision, the parties shall pay the Arbitration Costs. A. The Arbitration Costs shall be set at fifty dollars ($50.00) for the Case Manager of the arbitration panel, and forty dollars ($40.00) for each additional Arbitrator of the arbitration panel. B. Such Arbitration Costs are to be paid to the Prothonotary by the parties, with fifty per cent (50%) contribution from the plaintiff(s), jointly and severally, and fifty per cent (50%) contribution from the defendant(s), jointly and severally, unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties. C. Such payment shall be made within ten (10) days of the scheduled arbitration hearing.

CRITICALCivil cases

Fee

24

Applies to

Consent judgment

A consent judgment must include a $24.00 filing fee paid by check to the Blair County Prothonotary or it will not be accepted.

Consent Judgments must be accompanied by a check for the $24.00 filing fee. The check must be made payable to the Blair County Prothonotary. Consent Judgments without the filing fee will not be accepted by the Blair County Prothonotary.

CRITICALCivil cases

Fee

125 dollars

Applies to

Arbitration administrative fee

The Plaintiff must pay a $125 arbitration administrative fee to the Prothonotary within 30 days of the designation order, and the hearing will be scheduled only after payment.

Administrative Fee – Arbitration, under B.C.L.R. 1301(a)(1) and (3), shall require the Plaintiff to pay to the Prothonotary an Administrative Fee of one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125) within thirty (30) days of the date of the Court’s Order designating the matter to be scheduled for arbitration. The Plaintiff or the Plaintiff’s attorney of record shall notify in writing the assigned Judge and Court Administration, or its designee, of such payment. The arbitration hearing shall be scheduled by Court Administration only upon Plaintiff’s payment of the Administrative Fee.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Arbitration costs

The Arbitration Costs payment must be made within 10 days of the scheduled arbitration hearing.

C. Such payment shall be made within ten (10) days of the scheduled arbitration hearing.

WARNING

Fee

$0.5

Applies to

Transcript copy

An electronic copy of a previously ordered, transcribed, and filed transcript may cost no more than $0.50 per page.

(2) No more than $0.50 per page electronic copy.

WARNING

Applies to

Ordinary transcript

Ordinary transcript costs must be reduced by half in qualifying appealed or litigation-advancing matters for a litigant whose income is below 200% of the current HHS poverty guidelines.

(2) Transcript cost for ordinary transcripts in matters under appeal or where the transcript is necessary to advance the litigation shall be reduced by one-half for a litigant whose income is less than 200 percent of the poverty line as defined by the HHS poverty guidelines for the current year.

WARNING

Fee

$4.75

Applies to

Transcript

A daily paper transcript costs $4.75 per page if the reporter can accommodate the request within 18 hours, excluding weekends and official court holidays.

(c) For a daily transcript, $4.75 per page, if the court reporter is able to accommodate within eighteen (18) hours of an official request, not including weekends or official court holidays;

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Request for evidentiary hearing trial

No filing fee is required for the request.

There is no filing fee required.

WARNING

Fee

$2.75

Applies to

Transcript

An ordinary transcript delivered in paper format costs $2.75 per page.

(a) For an ordinary transcript, $2.75 per page;

WARNING

Fee

$4.5

Applies to

Transcript

A daily electronic transcript costs $4.50 per page if the reporter can accommodate the request within 18 hours, excluding weekends and official court holidays.

(c) For a daily transcript, $4.50 per page, if the court reporter is able to accommodate within eighteen (18) hours of an official request, not including weekends or official court holidays; and

WARNING

Applies to

Transcript

A condensed paper transcript is charged per sheet of paper, regardless of how many transcript pages appear on each sheet.

Comment: When a condensed paper transcript, meaning that more than one page of transcript is included on a single sheet of paper, is ordered by a party, the cost will be per sheet of paper, regardless of the number of pages of transcript on the sheet.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Consent judgment

The consent judgment costs are payable to the Blair County Prothonotary, with the amount and payer left blank in the form.

Costs of Consent Judgment of $_____ to be paid by _____ to the Blair County Prothonotary.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applicable continuance fees, Arbitration Costs, and other payment obligations under this provision are enforced by court order.

(i) Order of Court – Any applicable Continuance Fees, Arbitration Costs, or other payment obligations designated under this provision shall be enforced by Order of Court.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Consent judgment

The designated party must pay the costs of the consent judgment to the Blair County Prothonotary.

Costs of Consent Judgment of $___.___ to be paid by ____________________ to the Blair County Prothonotary.

WARNINGCivil cases

The Court may consider waiving or reducing fees for people unable to pay in extreme circumstances.

Under extreme circumstances, the Court may consider waiver or reduction of fees for those unable to pay.

WARNING

Fee

$3.5

Applies to

Transcript

An expedited electronic transcript costs $3.50 per page if the reporter can accommodate the request within 72 hours, excluding weekends and official court holidays.

(b) For an expedited transcript, $3.50 per page, if the court reporter is able to accommodate within seventy-two (72) hours of an official request, not including weekends or official court holidays;

WARNING

Fee

$3.75

Applies to

Transcript

An expedited paper transcript costs $3.75 per page if the reporter can accommodate the request within 72 hours, excluding weekends and official court holidays.

(b) For an expedited transcript, $3.75 per page, if the court reporter is able to accommodate within seventy-two (72) hours of an official request, not including weekends or official court holidays;

WARNINGCivil cases

A party granted one continuance at the Court's discretion owes no additional fee for it.

At the Court's discretion, each party may be granted one (1) continuance without imposition of any additional fee.

WARNING

Fee

$6.75

Applies to

Transcript

Same-day paper transcript delivery costs $6.75 per page if the reporter can accommodate the request within six hours after the court session closes.

(d) For same-day delivery, $6.75 per page, if the court reporter is able to accommodate the request within 6 hours of the close of the court session.

WARNINGCivil cases

The administrative fee includes the costs of initial scheduling.

The Administrative fee under subsection (a) of this provision shall include the costs of the initial scheduling.

WARNING

Applies to

Transcript

No party may be charged for transcripts prepared at the court's initiation.

Costs shall not be assessed against any party for transcripts prepared at the initiation of the court.

WARNING

Fee

$2.5

Applies to

Transcript

An ordinary transcript delivered electronically costs $2.50 per page.

(a) For an ordinary transcript, $2.50 per page;

WARNING

Applies to

Ordinary transcript

Ordinary transcript costs must be waived in qualifying appealed or litigation-advancing matters for litigants permitted to proceed in forma pauperis or whose income is below 125% of the current HHS poverty guidelines.

(1) Transcript costs for ordinary transcripts in matters under appeal or where the transcript is necessary to advance the litigation shall be waived for a litigant who has been permitted by the court to proceed in forma pauperis or whose income is less than 125 percent of the poverty guidelines as defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) poverty guidelines for the current year.

WARNING

Payment must be by check or money order; cash is not accepted.

with a check or money order, along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of documents/receipts. No cash shall be accepted.

WARNING

Fee

$6.5

Applies to

Transcript

Same-day electronic transcript delivery costs $6.50 per page if the reporter can accommodate the request within six hours after the court session closes.

(d) For same-day delivery, $6.50 per page, if the court reporter is able to accommodate the request within 6 hours of the close of the court session.

WARNING

Applies to

Transcript

The requesting party, or a party required by general rule to file a transcript, is responsible for its cost.

(1) Assignment of costs. The requesting party, or party required by general rule to file a transcript, shall be responsible for the costs of the transcript.

WARNING

Fee

$0.75

Applies to

Transcript copy

A bound paper copy of a previously ordered, transcribed, and filed transcript may cost no more than $0.75 per page.

(1) No more than $0.75 per page bound, paper format; and

WARNING

Applies to

Transcript

The presiding judge may, in the judge's discretion, impose a reasonable transcript surcharge in specified complex cases when the reporter needs to expand the dictionary.

The presiding judge may impose a reasonable surcharge for transcripts in cases of mass tort, medical malpractice, or any other complex litigation, where there is a need for a court reporter to expand their dictionary. Such determination is at the discretion of the presiding judge.

WARNING

Applies to

Transcript

If multiple parties request or are required to file the transcript, its cost must be divided equally among them.

(2) Allocation of costs. When more than one party requests the transcript, or are required by general rule to file the transcript, the cost shall be divided equally among the parties.

WARNING

Applies to

Ordinary transcript

When a litigant cannot pay for an ordinary transcript because of alleged economic hardship, the President Judge must determine whether economic hardship exists under Rule 4008.1(B).

(E) When a litigant requests an ordinary transcript, but cannot pay for the transcript because of alleged economic hardship, the President Judge shall determine economic hardship pursuant to Bl.C.L.R.J.A. 4008.1(B).

WARNING

A party must demonstrate reasonable need before the court may waive or adjust transcript costs.

party must demonstrate reasonable need before the court shall waive or adjust the cost of obtaining the transcript.

INFO

Applies to

Request for evidentiary hearing

No filing fee is required for the request for an Evidentiary Hearing.

There is no filing fee required.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Arbitration appeal

An appealing party must pay a $400 appeal fee, or $624 if the arbitration hearing lasted at least four and one-half hours, when filing the appeal; the fee is not reimbursed even if the appeal decision differs from the award.

A party appealing an Arbitration Award, shall pay to the Prothonotary an Arbitration Appeal Fee of four hundred dollars ($400.00), unless the arbitration hearing lasted four and one-half (4 ½) hours or more, in which case the Arbitration Appeal Fee shall be six hundred and twenty-four dollars ($624.00). Such fee must be paid at the time of filing the appeal in order to perfect such appeal. An appeal from the Arbitration Award does not, in any way, relieve any party of any duty to pay any applicable Costs or Fees under B.C.L.R. 1303 et. al. There shall be no reimbursement of the Arbitration Appeal Fees to the appealing party, even if the final decision entered after the appeal differs from the Award of Arbitrators.