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

CRITICALCriminal cases

Fee

$25

Applies to

Bail release

When bail is set for release, a nonrefundable $25 administrative fee must be paid to the county Clerk of Courts and is earned when the bail undertaking is executed.

In all court cases where an amount of bail is set for release, a non- refundable administrative fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) shall be paid to the Clerk of Courts of the respective county where trial will be held. The administrative fee shall be considered as earned at the time of bail undertaking is executed.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript

When there is no pending appeal or obvious litigation need, a party seeking a hardship-based waiver or adjustment must demonstrate reasonable need.

In cases of economic hardship where there is no appeal pending or there exists no obvious need for the transcript to advance litigation, the requesting party must demonstrate reasonable need before the Court shall waive or adjust the cost of obtaining the transcript.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript

A litigant seeking a transcript-cost waiver or reduction based on economic hardship must apply under R.C.P. 240 and file the application with the transcript request in the appropriate filing office.

When a litigant requests a transcript, but cannot pay for the transcript because of an alleged economic hardship, the Court shall determine the economic hardship based upon application of the litigant to waive or reduce the cost(s) pursuant to R.C.P. 240. Such application shall be filed in the appropriate filing office with the request for transcript.

CRITICAL

Checks must be payable to The 26th Judicial District and delivered to the court reporter, who must remit received payments to the specified clerk’s office.

(F) Payment of Costs: All checks are to be made payable to The 26th Judicial District and shall be delivered to the Court Reporter. All payments received by the Court Reporter shall be remitted to the Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts, Clerk of Orphans Court office for receipt of said payment(s).

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Motion for appointment of master

When filing a motion for appointment of a master, the moving party must pay the court-set security deposit to the Prothonotary for the master's fees and costs.

The moving party shall pay a sum of money to the Prothonotary at the time the motion is filed, which sum shall be set from time to time by order of court, as security for payment of master's fees and costs.

CRITICAL

The assigned court reporter must prepare the transcript upon receipt of the 75% deposit.

(G) Preparation of Transcripts: Upon receipt of the 75% deposit, the court reporter(s) assigned to the proceeding shall prepare the transcript.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Request for entry of divorce decree

A party requesting entry of a divorce decree must pay the court-set administrative review fee unless granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis.

Any party filing a request for entry of a decree in divorce shall pay, in addition to all other fees, an administrative review fee as set by the Court or the court has granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis.

CRITICAL

A private litigant requesting a transcript must pay the assigned court reporter 75% of the transcript’s estimated total cost.

(E) Private Litigant Requests: When a private litigant requests a transcript or other proceeding, the litigant making the request shall make payment in the amount of 75% of the estimated total cost of the transcript to the Court Reporter assigned to the proceeding

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript

Legal-aid-represented litigants need not prove economic hardship, but legal aid must verify on the Transcript Request Form that the transcript relates to an appeal or is necessary to advance current litigation.

Litigants represented by legal aid services are not required to prove economic hardship. Legal aid services must verify on the Transcript Request Form that the matter is under appeal or that the transcript being requested is necessary to advance current litigation.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript

For economic hardship cases involving an appeal or a transcript needed to advance litigation, the Court must waive or adjust transcript costs.

In cases of economic hardship where the matter is under appeal or a transcript is necessary to advance litigation, the costs of procuring the transcript shall be waived or otherwise adjusted by the Court.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Bail judgment satisfaction

After an order discharging the defendant from all obligations on a bail bond judgment, the Clerk of Court must mark the judgment satisfied upon payment of the appropriate administrative, filing, and satisfaction fees.

In the event a Judgement has been entered on any bail bond, upon receiving and Order that the defendant has been discharged from all obligations, the Clerk of Court shall, upon payment of the appropriate administrative, filing and satisfaction fees, mark the Judgment satisfied on the record.

WARNING

Fee

6.5

Applies to

Transcript

The maximum charge for an electronically delivered transcript delivered the same day is $6.50 per page.

4. For same-day delivery, $6.50 per page

WARNING

Applies to

Transcript

No party is assessed costs for a transcript prepared at the Court’s initiative.

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

WARNING

Fee

0.25

Applies to

Transcript copy

5. For copies, $.25 per page

5. For copies, $.25 per page

WARNING

Fee

5.5

Applies to

Transcript

The charge for same-day transcript delivery payable by the Commonwealth or a subdivision is $5.50 per page.

4. For same-day delivery, $5.50 per page

WARNING

Fee

3.5

Applies to

Transcript

The maximum charge for an electronically delivered expedited transcript is $3.50 per page.

2. For an expedited transcript, $3.50 per page

WARNING

Fee

4.5

Applies to

Transcript

The maximum charge for an electronically delivered daily transcript is $4.50 per page.

3. For a daily transcript, $4.50 per page

WARNING

Fee

4.5

Applies to

Transcript

The maximum charge for an electronically delivered transcript in complex litigation is $4.50 per page.

6. For complex litigation, $4.50 per page (i.e. Medical Malpractice)

WARNINGCivil cases

The master may estimate hearing time and, at the master's discretion, require an additional reasonable deposit for court reporter and master's fees.

The divorce master may estimate the time required for each master's hearing, and may, in his or her discretion, require the additional deposit of reasonable sums for court reporter's and master's fees.

WARNING

Applies to

Transcript

When multiple parties request or are required to file a transcript, they must divide its cost equally.

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

Fee

2.5

Applies to

Transcript

The maximum charge for an electronically delivered ordinary transcript is $2.50 per page.

1. For an ordinary transcript, $2.50 per page

WARNING

Fee

3.5

Applies to

Transcript

The charge for a daily transcript payable by the Commonwealth or a subdivision is $3.50 per page.

3. For a daily transcript $3.50 per page

WARNING

Fee

2

Applies to

Transcript

The charge for an ordinary transcript payable by the Commonwealth or a subdivision is $2.00 per page.

1. For an ordinary transcript, $2.00 per page

WARNING

Fee

0.5

Applies to

Transcript copy

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

2. $.50 per page, electronic format

WARNING

Fee

2.25

Applies to

Transcript

The charge for an expedited transcript payable by the Commonwealth or a subdivision is $2.25 per page.

2. For an expedited transcript $2.25 per page

WARNING

Applies to

Transcript

When a transcript is requested for which the court or county is irresponsible for the cost(s), the court reporter shall prepare the transcript without the necessity of a deposit

When a transcript is requested for which the court or county is irresponsible for the cost(s), the court reporter shall prepare the transcript without the necessity of a deposit

WARNING

Fee

3.5

Applies to

Transcript

The charge for a transcript in complex litigation payable by the Commonwealth or a subdivision is $3.50 per page.

6. For complex litigation, $3.50 per page

WARNING

Fee

0.75

Applies to

Transcript copy

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

1. $.75 per page, paper format