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

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Assessment proceeds

The assessment proceeds are directed to the CVSC and Local Victim Services Fund, with costs above $60 split 30% and 70%, respectively.

(1) Cost imposed under subsection (a) of 18 P.S. § 11.1101 shall be paid into the newly established fund entitled, Crime Victim Services and Compensation Fund “CVSC”. This fund will replace both the existing Crime Victims Compensation Fund and the Victim Services Fund. (2) Thirty (30) percent of any costs in excess of $60.00 shall be paid to Crime Victim Services and Compensation Fund (“CVSC”). (3) Seventy (70) percent of any costs in excess of $60.00 shall be paid to the Local Victim Services Fund to be established and administered by the Cumberland County Treasurer. The money in this fund shall only be used for victim services.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Divorce hearing officer appointment

The party requesting appointment of the Divorce Hearing Officer must pay the Prothonotary the initial administrative fee listed on the Fee Schedule.

The party requesting the appointment shall pay to the Prothonotary an initial administrative fee as listed on the Prothonotary’s Fee Schedule,

CRITICAL

Applies to

Electronically filed legal paper

Applicable fees for electronically filed legal papers must be paid electronically to the Clerk of Courts at the time of filing.

Applicable filing fees for the electronically filed legal papers shall be paid electronically to the Clerk of Courts simultaneously with the filing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript final balance

The final transcript balance must be paid by an accepted payment method and delivered within seven calendar days from the final invoice date.

(iv) Upon receipt of the final invoice, payment of the final balance shall be paid by cash, money order, certified check, or law firm check made payable to Cumberland County and shall be delivered to the district court administrator’s office within seven (7) calendar days from the date of the invoice.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Legal paper

The filing party must pay the electronic filing cost by an approved credit or debit card; American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa are approved.

A filing party shall pay the cost of the electronic filing of a legal paper by approved credit or debit card. The following cards have been approved for payment of the electronic filing: American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Non ordinary transcript

A reduction or waiver of costs for a non-ordinary transcript may be requested or granted only if the requester demonstrates reasonable need.

(4) No reduction or waiver of costs shall be requested or granted for any non-ordinary transcript unless the requesting party demonstrates reasonable need.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Appointment of divorce hearing officer

The requesting party must pay the scheduled initial administrative fee, which may be reapportioned or waived on a good-cause motion.

The party requesting the appointment shall pay to the Prothonotary an initial administrative fee as listed on the Prothonotary’s Fee Schedule, although this fee may be reapportioned between the parties by the Hearing Officer or waived following a motion to the Court demonstrating good cause.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Parenting coordination

A parent may request reduced or waived parenting coordination fees in writing, optionally using the designated in forma pauperis form, and the court must assess ability to pay based on need.

(2) Waiver of fees or reduced fees. Upon written request of a parent, which may be filed using the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania form designated a Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis, CPCMS 2046, the court shall engage in a need-based assessment of a parent’s ability to pay, so that indigent or low-income parents may participate in the parenting coordination program at a reduced fee or, as appropriate, no fee.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript

Transcript preparation requires a card on file, a deposit, or an approved fee waiver; a card provided through the portal is held as a deposit and charged when the transcript is complete.

(1) Transcripts will not be prepared until a credit or debit card has been placed on file, a deposit has been paid, or a fee waiver has been approved granted pursuant to C.C.R.J.A 4008(b).If the party requesting a transcript provides a credit or debit card through the request portal, a hold will be placed as a deposit. Upon completion of the transcript, the credit or debit card on file will be charged and the district court administrator shall deliver the original transcript to the appropriate filing office and provide a copy to the requesting party.

CRITICAL

The requesting party must pay the initial administrative fee, which may be reapportioned or waived on a motion showing good cause.

The party requesting the appointment shall pay to the Prothonotary an initial administrative fee as listed on the Prothonotary's Fee Schedule, although this fee may be reapportioned between the parties by the Hearing Officer or waived following a motion to the Court demonstrating good cause.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Appointment of divorce hearing officer

The requesting party must pay the scheduled initial administrative fee, which may be reapportioned or waived for good cause on motion to the Court.

The party requesting the appointment shall pay to the Prothonotary an initial administrative fee as listed on the Prothonotary’s Fee Schedule, although this fee may be reapportioned between the parties by the Hearing Officer or waived following a motion to the Court demonstrating good cause.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Fee

100

Applies to

Criminal case assessment

A $100 assessment is imposed in all criminal cases in the Judicial District unless the Court orders otherwise.

it is hereby ordered that this Court approves the assessment of $100.00, unless otherwise ordered by the Court, to the Crime Victim Services and Compensation Fund “CVSC” and the Local Victim Services Fund. This Cost shall be imposed on all criminal cases at both the Magisterial District Courts and the Court of Common Pleas of this Judicial District, notwithstanding any statutory provision to the contrary.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Electronic filing

The filing party must pay the electronic filing cost by an approved credit or debit card, including one of the listed cards.

A filing party shall pay the cost of the electronic filing of a legal paper by approved credit or debit card. The following cards have been approved for payment of the electronic filing: American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript deposit

The requester must pay a non-refundable deposit equal to 90% of the estimated transcript cost by an accepted payment method within seven calendar days after the invoice date.

(i) The invoice shall be for a non-refundable, partial payment of 90% of the estimated transcript cost. This deposit shall be paid by cash, money order, certified check, or law firm check made payable to Cumberland County, and shall be delivered to the district court administrator’s office within seven (7) calendar days from the date of the invoice.

WARNING

Fee

0.25

Applies to

Bound paper transcript

A transcript prepared in bound paper format costs the applicable electronic-format rate plus $0.25 per page.

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

WARNING

Applies to

Ordinary transcript

All or part of ordinary transcript costs may be waived through an application supported by the required affidavit.

(1) 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 Pa.R.C.P. Rule 240(h).

WARNING

Fee

2.5

Applies to

Ordinary electronic transcript

An ordinary electronic transcript costs $2.50 per page for requesting parties other than the Commonwealth or its subdivisions.

(1) The costs payable by a requesting party, other than the Commonwealth or a subdivision thereof, for a transcript in an electronic format shall be: (i) for an ordinary transcript, $2.50 per page; (ii) for an expedited transcript, $3.50 per page, expedited transcripts are only available if the court reporter or court recorder is able to accommodate; (iii) for a daily transcript, $4.50 per page, daily transcripts are only available if the court reporter or court recorder is able to accommodate; and (iv) for same day delivery, $6.50 per page, same delivery transcripts are only available if the court reporter or court recorder is able to accommodate.

WARNING

Fee

0.5

Applies to

Bound paper transcript copy

(1) $0.50 per page bound, paper format, and, (2) $0.50 per page electronic copy, not to exceed $50.00. An additional $20.00 fee may be charged if the copy cannot be emailed directly and needs to be transferred to another medium or multiple emails are required for file transfer.

(1) $0.50 per page bound, paper format, and, (2) $0.50 per page electronic copy, not to exceed $50.00. An additional $20.00 fee may be charged if the copy cannot be emailed directly and needs to be transferred to another medium or multiple emails are required for file transfer.

WARNING

Applies to

Parenting coordination

Parenting coordinator compensation is set annually through the Court Fee Schedule.

The compensation for a parenting coordinator shall be set each year via the annual Court Fee Schedule (See C.C.R.P. 6).

INFO

A party granted In Forma Pauperis status is not required to pay filing fees to the Clerk of Courts.

A party who was granted In Forma Pauperis status shall not pay filing fees to the Clerk of Courts.

INFO

Applies to

Transcript

A trial judge may, at the judge’s discretion, impose a reasonable surcharge in certain unusually complex cases requiring significant expansion of a court reporter’s dictionary.

(1) 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. (2) Such surcharges are at the discretion of the trial judge.