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

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Custody complaint

An administrative conciliation fee must be submitted to the Prothonotary when the custody complaint is filed, unless the court directs otherwise.

In addition to the filing fees assessed by the Prothonotary, an administrative fee for conciliation services shall be assessed by administrative order of court, and shall be submitted to the Prothonotary at the time of the filing of the custody complaint unless otherwise directed by the court.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript

Checks or money orders for the final balance must be payable to the filing office where the transcript was filed.

Checks or Money Orders for the final balance are to be made payable to the filing office in which the transcript has been filed.

CRITICAL

Fee

6.5

Applies to

Same day delivery transcript

A same-day delivery transcript costs $6.50 per page and is available only if the court reporter can accommodate the request.

(d) for same day delivery, $6.50 per page, same day delivery transcripts are only available if the court reporter is able to accommodate.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript request

Upon notice of the estimated transcript cost, the requester must pay a 90% deposit to the proper filing office; deposit checks must be payable to that office.

The requester shall make partial payment of 90% of the estimated transcript cost upon notification by the Court Reporter of the estimated total cost of preparing the transcript. Litigants will be directed by the Court Reporter to the proper filing office where payment may be made. Deposit checks are to be made payable to the filing office in which the transcript will be or has been filed.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Continuance

A continuance requested after the hearing time is posted is granted only upon payment of the Butler County Board of Assessment Appeal fees.

Continuances requested after the posting of the time for the hearing shall only be granted upon the payment of the Butler County Board of Assessment Appeal fees.

CRITICAL

Fee

2.5

Applies to

Ordinary electronic transcript

For an ordinary electronic transcript, the requesting party must pay $2.50 per page, except for entities described in section 4.

The costs payable by a requesting party, other than those entities described in section 4 below, for production and filing of a transcript in an electronic format shall be: (a) for an ordinary transcript, $2.50 per page;

CRITICAL

Fee

150

Applies to

Booking center fee

A $150 Booking Center fee is assessed against defendants who meet the statutory requirements, with assessments levied by the Clerk of Courts and assessed by Magisterial District Judges in eligible cases disposed of there.

Therefore, it is hereby Ordered that the Booking Center fee is increased to One Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($150.00). This fee shall be assessed against any defendant who meets the requirements of that Title. It is further Ordered that such assessment shall be levied by the Office of the Clerk of Courts of Butler County, Pennsylvania, as set forth in the Act. Magisterial District Judges shall assess the fee in those cases that are eligible and disposed of at a Magisterial District Court in Butler County, Pennsylvania.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Discontinuance of action

The Appellant must pay the discontinuance fee to the Prothonotary of Butler when filing the stipulation.

The Appellant shall pay the appropriate fee, payable to the Prothonotary of Butler, for the discontinuance of this action. Payment shall accompany the filing of this stipulation.

CRITICAL

Fee

0.75

Applies to

Paper transcript copy

A paper copy of a transcript costs $0.75 per page.

(1) $0.75 per page, paper format; and,

CRITICALCivil cases

For a continuance requested and granted after hearing times are posted, the requesting party is responsible for the Assessment Appeal Panel fees established by special order of court.

Any continuance requested and granted after the posting of the times as set forth in Rule L5002 shall include a requirement that the party requesting a continuance shall be responsible for payment of the Butler County Assessment Appeal Panel fees, as established pursuant to special order of court.

CRITICAL

Fee

0.5

Applies to

Electronic transcript copy

An electronic copy of a transcript costs $0.50 per page.

(2) $0.50 per page electronic copy.

CRITICAL

A requester representing a Commonwealth or federal agency is charged the same transcript costs as an outside private party or litigant.

(3) When the requesting party represents a Commonwealth or federal agency (for example but not limited to: Office of the Attorney General, Penn Dot, FBI other state or federal investigative agency) the costs payable to the County of Butler shall be equivalent to that which is charged to any outside, private party or litigant.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Appeal transcript

For a transcript ordered for an appeal, the requestor must pay for one hard copy at $2.75 per page and one electronic copy at $0.50 per page, except for requestors listed in section 4.

When a requestor indicates that the transcript is being ordered pursuant to an appeal, the requestor (except those listed in section 4 below) must pay for one hard copy and one electronic copy at the rates of $2.75 per page for a hard copy for the recording office and an additional $.50 per page for an electronic copy for his or her own personal use.

CRITICALCivil cases

A party with unpaid imposed fees may take no further procedural steps in the matter without prior leave of court.

The party, upon whom such fees have been imposed, may not, so long as such fees remain unpaid, take any further procedural steps in such matter without obtaining prior leave of court.

CRITICALCourt notice

Applies to

Transcript

A deposit of 90% of the estimated transcript cost is required before the reporter begins preparing it.

And, after the Court Reporter has determined the approximate length of the transcript, a deposit of 90% of the estimated cost will be required before the court reporter begins to complete the transcript.

CRITICAL

Fee

3.5

Applies to

Expedited transcript

An expedited transcript costs $3.50 per page and is available only if the court reporter can accommodate the request.

(b) for an expedited transcript, $3.50 per page, expedited transcripts are only available if the court reporter is able to accommodate;

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Case settlement

The Appellant must pay the appropriate filing fee before the Prothonotary marks the case settled, discontinued, and ended.

It is further ORDERED that, upon receipt of the appropriate filing fee from the Appellant, the Prothonotary of Butler County is to mark the above case, settled, discontinued, and ended.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript request

Transcript preparation may proceed after the deposit is paid and acknowledged; failure to pay the deposit or final amount within 30 days of notice causes the request to be treated as withdrawn.

Upon payment of the deposit the filing office will notify the District Court Administrator who in turn will notify the Court Reporter that the deposit has been received and that preparation of the desired transcript may proceed. Failure to pay the required deposit or final payment within 30 days of notification by the Court Reporter of the amount due shall cause the Request for Transcript to be deemed withdrawn and the Requestor shall be required to start the process again if the transcript is still wanted.

CRITICAL

Fee

4.5

Applies to

Daily transcript

A daily transcript costs $4.50 per page and is available only if the court reporter can accommodate the request.

(c) for a daily transcript, $4.50 per page, daily transcripts are only available if the court reporter is able to accommodate; and

CRITICAL

Fee

0.25

Applies to

Paper transcript

A paper transcript costs the applicable electronic-format rate plus a $0.25-per-page surcharge.

(2) When the transcript is prepared in paper format, the costs shall be in accordance with paragraph (1) relating to electronic format plus a surcharge of $0.25 per page.

CRITICALCivil cases

A continuance requested after a hearing time is scheduled requires payment of the Board of Assessment Appeals’ fees.

NOTICE: Any continuance requested after the scheduling of a hearing time for your Real Estate Tax Assessment Appeal hearing as per Butler County L.R.C.P. L5002 will require a motion before the Court and the payment of the Board of Assessment Appeals’ fees.

WARNING

Fee

0.25

Applies to

Paper transcript

A paper transcript costs the applicable electronic-format rate under paragraph (1), plus a $0.25-per-page surcharge.

(2) When the transcript is prepared in paper format, the costs shall be in accordance with paragraph (1) relating to electronic format plus a surcharge of $0.25 per page.

WARNING

Fee

0.25

Applies to

Paper transcript

A paper transcript costs the applicable electronic-format rate plus a $0.25-per-page surcharge.

(2) When the transcript is prepared in paper format, the costs shall be in accordance with paragraph (1) relating to electronic format plus a surcharge of $0.25 per page.

WARNING

Fee

6.5

Applies to

Same day electronic transcript

A same-day electronic transcript costs $6.50 per page and is available only if the court reporter can accommodate the request.

(1) The costs payable by a requesting party, other than those entities described in section 4 below, for production and filing of a transcript in an electronic format shall be: (d) for same day delivery, $6.50 per page, same day delivery transcripts are only available if the court reporter is able to accommodate.

WARNING

Applies to

Ordinary transcript

An application to waive all or part of the cost of an ordinary transcript must be supported by an affidavit substantially in the form required by Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure 240(h).

(4) The application to waive all or a portion of costs for ordinary transcripts shall be supported by an affidavit substantially in the form required by Rule 240(h) of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure.

WARNING

Fee

0.5

Applies to

Electronic transcript copy

An electronic copy of a previously filed transcript costs $0.50 per page.

(2) $0.50 per page electronic copy.

WARNING

A trial judge may impose a reasonable surcharge in specified complex cases when reporters must significantly expand their dictionary.

A trial judge may impose a reasonable surcharge in cases such as mass tort, medical malpractice or other unusually complex litigation, where there is a need for court reporters to significantly expand their dictionary.

WARNING

Fee

1

A discretionary surcharge may not exceed $1.00 per page.

Such surcharges, not to exceed $1.00 per page, are at the discretion of the trial judge.

WARNING

Applies to

Transcript

A requester representing a Commonwealth or federal agency must pay the same transcript costs charged to an outside private party or litigant.

(3) When the requesting party represents a Commonwealth or federal agency (for example but not limited to: Office of the Attorney General, Penn Dot, FBI other state or federal investigative agency) the costs payable to the County of Butler shall be equivalent to that which is charged to any outside, private party or litigant.

WARNING

Fee

2.5

Applies to

Ordinary transcript

An ordinary transcript in electronic format costs $2.50 per page.

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

WARNING

Fee

3.5

Applies to

Expedited transcript

An expedited transcript in electronic format costs $3.50 per page and is available only if the Court Reporter can accommodate the request.

(b) for an expedited transcript, $3.50 per page, expedited transcripts are only available if the court reporter is able to accommodate;

WARNING

Fee

2.5

Applies to

Ordinary electronic transcript

An ordinary electronic transcript costs $2.50 per page for requesting parties other than those described in section 4.

(1) The costs payable by a requesting party, other than those entities described in section 4 below, for production and filing of a transcript in an electronic format shall be: (a) for an ordinary transcript, $2.50 per page;

WARNING

Fee

0.5

Applies to

Electronic transcript copy

An electronic copy of a previously ordered, transcribed, and filed transcript costs $0.50 per page and is provided after completion of a Request for Transcript and payment of the fee.

A request for a copy of any transcript previously ordered, transcribed and filed of record shall be provided by the appropriate filing office upon completion of a “Request for Transcript” and payment of the appropriate fee according to the following schedule: (2) $0.50 per page electronic copy.

WARNING

Fee

3.5

Applies to

Expedited electronic transcript

An expedited electronic transcript costs $3.50 per page and is available only if the court reporter can accommodate the request.

(1) The costs payable by a requesting party, other than those entities described in section 4 below, for production and filing of a transcript in an electronic format shall be: (b) for an expedited transcript, $3.50 per page, expedited transcripts are only available if the court reporter is able to accommodate;

WARNING

No transcript charge applies to the specified judge, county offices, or agencies when the transcript is used to further litigation.

(4) When the requesting party is a Judge, the Butler County District Attorney's office, the Butler County Public Defender's Office or any other County office or agency there will be no charge for a transcript provided the transcript is being used in the furtherance of litigation.

WARNING

Fee

0.75

Applies to

Paper transcript copy

A paper copy of a previously ordered, transcribed, and filed transcript costs $0.75 per page and is provided after completion of a Request for Transcript and payment of the fee.

A request for a copy of any transcript previously ordered, transcribed and filed of record shall be provided by the appropriate filing office upon completion of a “Request for Transcript” and payment of the appropriate fee according to the following schedule: (1) $0.75 per page, paper format; and,

WARNINGCivil cases

A party who is ultimately successful may not recover fees imposed under this rule.

The party, upon whom such fees have been imposed may not recover such fees if that party is ultimately successful.

WARNING

Fee

1

Applies to

Transcript

A trial judge may impose a discretionary reasonable surcharge of up to $1.00 per page in specified unusually complex cases requiring substantial dictionary expansion.

A trial judge may impose a reasonable surcharge in cases such as mass tort, medical malpractice or other unusually complex litigation, where there is a need for court reporters to significantly expand their dictionary. Such surcharges, not to exceed $1.00 per page, are at the discretion of the trial judge.

WARNING

Applies to

Transcript

A requester representing a Commonwealth or federal agency must pay the same transcript costs as an outside private party or litigant.

(3) When the requesting party represents a Commonwealth or federal agency (for example but not limited to: Office of the Attorney General, Penn Dot, FBI other state or federal investigative agency) the costs payable to the County of Butler shall be equivalent to that which is charged to any outside, private party or litigant.

WARNING

The parties submitting a case to the mediation program must tender the fee established by court administrative order.

We agree to submit the above case to mediation under the Mediation of Butler regulations and herewith tender the Mediation Fee as established by administrative order of court for the program.

WARNING

Fee

0.75

Applies to

Paper transcript copy

A paper copy of a previously filed transcript costs $0.75 per page.

(1) $0.75 per page, paper format; and,

WARNING

Applies to

Mediation

Each party in a case submitted for mediation must pay the fee set by court administrative order.

Each party to a case submitted for mediation will pay a mediation fee as established by administrative order of court.

WARNING

Fee

4.5

Applies to

Daily transcript

A daily transcript in electronic format costs $4.50 per page and is available only if the Court Reporter can accommodate the request.

(c) for a daily transcript, $4.50 per page, daily transcripts are only available if the court reporter is able to accommodate; and

WARNING

Fee

4.5

Applies to

Daily electronic transcript

A daily electronic transcript costs $4.50 per page and is available only if the court reporter can accommodate the request.

(1) The costs payable by a requesting party, other than those entities described in section 4 below, for production and filing of a transcript in an electronic format shall be: (c) for a daily transcript, $4.50 per page, daily transcripts are only available if the court reporter is able to accommodate;

WARNING

Fee

6.5

Applies to

Same day delivery transcript

A same-day delivery transcript in electronic format costs $6.50 per page and is available only if the Court Reporter can accommodate the request.

(d) for same day delivery, $6.50 per page, same day delivery transcripts are only available if the court reporter is able to accommodate.

WARNING

Checks or money orders for the final transcript balance must be payable to the filing office where the transcript was filed.

Checks or Money Orders for the final balance are to be made payable to the filing office in which the transcript has been filed.

INFOCivil cases

Court administrative orders establish custody-conciliation fees and policies, and a copy of the policies and fee schedule is available at the specified offices.

Fees and policies pertaining to custody conciliation shall be adopted from time to time by administrative orders of court. A copy of said policies and fee schedule will be available at the Domestic Relations office/custody conciliator’s office.

INFO

Applies to

Transcript copy

After the appropriate fee is paid, the recording office may provide the requester with a copy of the transcript.

Upon payment of the appropriate fee, the recording office may provide a copy of the transcript to the individual requesting it.

INFO

Fee

1

Applies to

Transcript

A trial judge may impose a discretionary, reasonable surcharge of up to $1.00 per page in specified or other unusually complex litigation when court reporters need to significantly expand their dictionary.

A trial judge may impose a reasonable surcharge in cases such as mass tort, medical malpractice or other unusually complex litigation, where there is a need for court reporters to significantly expand their dictionary. Such surcharges, not to exceed $1.00 per page, are at the discretion of the trial judge.

INFO

Applies to

Ordinary transcript

An application may seek waiver of all or part of the costs for an ordinary transcript.

The application to waive all or a portion of costs for ordinary transcripts shall be supported by an affidavit substantially in the form required by Rule 240(h) of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure. Such application should be prepared in the form of a Petition to Proceed In Forma Pauperis to waive all or a portion of the transcript costs and filed in the appropriate filing office.

INFO

Applies to

Transcript

There is no transcript charge for the listed judges and county offices or agencies when the transcript is used in furtherance of litigation.

(4) When the requesting party is a Judge, the Butler County District Attorney's office, the Butler County Public Defender's Office or any other County office or agency there will be no charge for a transcript provided the transcript is being used in the furtherance of litigation.

INFO

Applies to

Transcript

A judge, the listed county offices, or another county office or agency owes no transcript charge when the transcript is used to further litigation.

(4) When the requesting party is a Judge, the Butler County District Attorney’s office, the Butler County Public Defender’s Office or any other County office or agency there will be no charge for a transcript provided the transcript is being used in the furtherance of litigation.