Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Filing Fees and Waivers

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript

The party ordering a transcript must pay a non-refundable deposit of 90% of its estimated total cost by an accepted payment method and deliver it to the district court administrator.

the party ordering the transcript shall make a non-refundable, partial payment of 90% of the estimated total cost of the transcript. The payment deposit shall be paid by cash, money order, certified check, or law firm check made payable to Franklin County, and shall be delivered to the district court administrator.

CRITICAL

Fee

25 $

Applies to

Demand for appeal hearing

Appellants must pay a $25 filing fee for a Demand for Appeal Hearing unless the Court waives the fee.

Notice: Appellants must pay the $25 filing fee unless the Court waives it.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Inventory and appraisement

The guardian must submit the appropriate filing fee with the inventory and appraisement.

(Electronically through the Guardianship Tracking System, or in paper form through the Register of Wills office, along with the appropriate filing fee.)

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Praecipe for arbitration

A party filing a praecipe for arbitration must pay the appropriate filing fee.

After the case is at issue in the Franklin County Branch, a praecipe for arbitration shall be filed with the Prothonotary by either party to an action with the appropriate filing fee.

CRITICAL

Fee

350

Applies to

Motion for appointment of standing master

The moving party must deposit a non-refundable $350 when filing a motion to appoint the standing master.

When a motion for the appointment of the standing master is filed, the moving party shall deposit a non-refundable sum of $350.00 with the prothonotary.

CRITICALCivil cases

Fee

$25

Applies to

Demand for hearing

A $25 filing fee must accompany a hearing demand, is non-refundable, and may be waived only by leave of court for a party unable to pay.

d. Filing fee; pauper status: Except as set forth in subsection (3) below, the party shall pay a $25.00 filing fee to the Domestic Relations Section at the time of filing the demand for hearing. 1. The demand for hearing shall not be accepted and no hearing shall be scheduled by Domestic Relations if not accompanied by the filing fee. 2. The filing fee is non-refundable. 3. If a party is unable to pay the filing fee, the party must seek leave of court using a form to be provided by the Domestic Relations Section in order to have the fee waived.

CRITICALCivil cases

Fee

$55

Applies to

Divorce complaint

A $55 standing master/transcription assessment must be deposited when a divorce complaint is filed, beginning April 1, 1996.

(a) In addition to all filing fees now or hereafter required to be deposited at the time a complaint in divorce is filed, a standing master/transcription assessment in the amount of $55.00 shall be deposited commencing April 1, 1996.

CRITICALCivil cases

Fee

20

Applies to

Additional count of alimony pendente lite to divorce file

The applicable fee for adding alimony pendente lite to the divorce file must be paid to the prothonotary, and the complaint must state that it was paid and when it was docketed.

(3) The fact that the fee of $20.00, or any other such fee as may be in effect at that time, for the additional count of alimony pendente lite to the divorce file was paid to the prothonotary and the date such fee was docketed.

CRITICAL

Fee

$25

Applies to

Written demand for hearing

A $25.00 non-refundable fee must accompany the written demand for hearing, or the demand will not be accepted or scheduled; a party who is poor and unable to pay must seek leave of court for a waiver.

Except as set forth in subsection (C) below, the party shall pay a $25.00 filing fee to Franklin/Fulton County Domestic Relations Section at the time of filing the written demand for hearing. (A) The demand for hearing shall not be accepted and/or scheduled by Domestic Relations if not accompanied by the filing fee. (B) The filing fee for the written demand for hearing is non-refundable. (C) If a party is poor and unable to pay the filing fee, the party must seek leave of court to have the fee waived.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Transcript production

A party granted pauper status under section (d)(3) may not be assessed transcript-production costs.

Any party who has been granted pauper status pursuant to section (d)(3) above shall not be assessed any cost for producing the transcript.

CRITICALCivil cases

Fee

25

Applies to

Demand for hearing

A $25 fee must accompany a hearing demand; it is nonrefundable, and a party unable to pay must seek court leave for a waiver using the Domestic Relations Section form.

d. Filing fee; pauper status: Except as set forth in subsection (3) below, the party shall pay a $25.00 filing fee to the Domestic Relations Section at the time of filing the demand for hearing. 1. The demand for hearing shall not be accepted and no hearing shall be scheduled by Domestic Relations if not accompanied by the filing fee. 2. The filing fee is non-refundable. 3. If a party is unable to pay the filing fee, the party must seek leave of court using a form to be provided by the Domestic Relations Section in order to have the fee waived.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript

The transcript balance must be paid to Franklin County by cash, money order, certified check, or law firm check and delivered to the district court administrator.

Final payment shall be paid by cash, money order, certified check, or law firm check made payable to Franklin County, and shall be delivered to the district court administrator.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Custody complaint or modification petition

Filing must be accompanied by payment of both the designated filing fee and the conciliator’s fee.

Filing shall be accompanied by the payment of the designated filing fee and the conciliator’s fee.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Education program seminar

Each seminar attendee must pay and mail the court-set fee with the completed registration form before the seminar; requests for a waiver or reduction must include proof of hardship and be presented to Program Administration.

(4) A fee shall be assessed against each individual attending the seminar with said fee to be set on a regular basis by the Court. The fee must be paid and mailed in advance of the seminar along with the completed registration form to the address listed in the brochure. Any requests for a waiver or a reduction of the fee with proof of hardship must be presented to the Program Administration as instructed in the brochure.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Complaint or petition for modification

When filing the complaint or petition for modification, the moving party must deposit the nonrefundable conciliator’s fee set by the Court with the Prothonotary.

The Moving Party shall deposit a nonrefundable conciliator’s fee in the amount established by the Court2 the Prothonotary upon the filing of the Complaint or Petition for Modification.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Original electronic transcript

Maximum per-page charges for an original electronic transcript vary by delivery speed: $2.50 standard, $3.50 expedited, $4.50 daily, and $6.50 same day.

(1) The costs payable by a requesting party, other than the parties referenced in subdivision (a)(3), for an original transcript in electronic format shall not exceed: (i) for a transcript for which an accelerated delivery is not requested, $2.50 per page, (ii) for an expedited transcript, $3.50 per page, (iii) for a daily transcript, $4.50 per page, and (iv) for same day delivery, $6.50 per page.

CRITICAL

Fee

$0.75

Applies to

Transcript copy

The public charge for a transcript copy filed of record may not exceed $0.75 per page, regardless of its form or storage location.

Pa.R.J.A. 4008(D)(1) provides that the cost charged to the public for a transcript copy that has been filed of record shall not exceed $0.75 per page, regardless of the form or location in which the transcript is filed or stored.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript copy

Copy fees imposed under subdivisions (d)(2)–(4) must be paid to the District Court Administrator or designee.

(5) All copy fees imposed under subdivisions (d)(2)—(4) shall be paid to the District Court Administrator or their designee.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Copy of expedited transcript

If the records filing office cannot provide a copy of an expedited transcript, a court reporter or courtroom technician may prepare it with the presiding judge’s approval, at a maximum of $1.00 per bound paper page or $0.75 per electronic page.

(2) Although not generally available, if a request for a copy of an expedited transcript is made which copy cannot be provided by the applicable records filing office, the costs for preparation by a court reporter or courtroom technician with the approval of the presiding judge shall not exceed: (i) $1.00 per page bound, paper format, and, (ii) $0.75 per page electronic copy.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Copy of previously filed transcript

A request for a copy of a transcript already filed of record must be filed with the applicable records filing office, which receives the copy fee; maximum rates are $0.75 per bound paper page and $0.50 per electronic page.

(1) A party requesting a copy of any transcript previously ordered, transcribed and filed of record shall file a request with the applicable records filing office. The copy fees shall be paid to the applicable records filing office. Costs for a copy shall not exceed: (i) $0.75 per page bound, paper format, and, (ii) $0.50 per page electronic copy.

CRITICAL

Applicable filing fees must be paid through Clerk of Courts procedures at the time and in the amount required by governing authority, but parties granted in forma pauperis status pay no filing fees.

Applicable filing fees shall be paid through procedures established by the Clerk of Courts and at the same time and amount as required by statute, Court rule or order, or published fee schedule. A party who has been granted in forma pauperis status shall not pay filing fees to the Clerk of Courts.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript or related costs

Parties and the public may not be charged transcript or related costs beyond those listed in subdivisions (a), (c), and (d).

(1) No transcript or related costs may be charged to the parties or the public other than those listed in subdivisions (a), (c) and (d).

CRITICAL

Applies to

Original electronic transcript

Specified Franklin and Fulton County parties pay no more than $1.00 per page for an original electronic transcript; expedited, daily, or same-day delivery requires President Judge approval and is capped at $2.50 per page.

(3) The Commonwealth or a subdivision thereof shall include Franklin and Fulton Counties, the district attorneys for Franklin and Fulton Counties, the public defenders for Franklin and Fulton Counties, and conflict counsel or court appointed criminal counsel who are paid by Franklin and Fulton Counties. The costs payable by a requesting party under this paragraph for an original transcript in electronic format shall not exceed: (i) $1.00 per page. (ii) Where a party under this paragraph requests an expedited transcript, daily transcript, or same day delivery, such a request shall be approved by the President Judge, and the fee per page shall not exceed $2.50.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Copy of same-day transcript

If the records filing office cannot provide a copy of a same-day transcript, a court reporter or courtroom technician may prepare it with the presiding judge’s approval, at a maximum of $1.50 per bound paper page or $1.25 per electronic page.

(4) Although not generally available, if a request for a copy of a same day transcript is made which copy cannot be provided by the applicable records filing office, the costs for preparation by a court reporter or courtroom technician with the approval of the presiding judge shall not exceed: (i) $1.50 per page bound, paper format, and, (ii) $1.25 per page electronic copy.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Dictated court orders and transcripts requested solely by the Court

No fee is paid to transcribe or prepare dictated court orders or transcripts requested solely by the Court.

(4) Court Orders and Court requests for transcripts. There shall be no fee paid for transcribing or preparing dictated court orders, or transcripts requested solely by the Court.

CRITICAL

Fees imposed under subdivisions (e)(2)–(3) must be paid to the District Court Administrator or designee.

(4) All fees imposed under subdivisions (e)(2)-(3) shall be paid to the District Court Administrator or their designee.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript and transcript copies

The provision calls for equitable sharing of transcript costs among recipients, with specified proportional allocation for free or reduced-price transcripts and court determination if parties cannot agree.

It is the intent of this provision that all parties who receive a transcript should share equitably in the costs. If two parties receive the transcript, they would each pay their share of the cost of the original transcript that is filed with the court, with each party paying for their copy. In cases where a party qualifies for a free or reduced price transcript, any other party paying full price pays only their proportionate share of the full price, with the judicial district absorbing the cost of the free or reduced price transcript. In the event parties cannot informally agree to equitably share in the costs of the preparation of a transcript and copies, the court shall determine the equitable share of costs each party shall pay.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript costs

Transcript costs must be allocated in accordance with Pa.R.J.A. 4008(C).

Allocation of costs for transcripts shall be in accordance with Pa.R.J.A. 4008(C).

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript copy

After the original transcript is filed with the appropriate records filing office, the copy rate in (D)(1) applies rather than the expedited-delivery rates.

The copy rates in Pa.R.J.A. 4008(D)(2), (3), and (4) reflect the additional work necessary to deliver a transcript on an expedited schedule, but once the original transcript is filed with the appropriate records filing office, the copy rate in (D)(1) is to apply.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript

The first transcript requester pays for the original and, if requesting a personal copy, the records filing office’s copy rate, subject to cost sharing with additional parties.

The first requestor of a transcript is obligated to pay for the original transcript, which is filed with the court, plus the copy rate of the records filing office if the requestor desires a personal copy (subject to any cost sharing with additional parties).

CRITICALCivil cases

No filing fee is required in advance; any fee required by law or court order is payable to the county Domestic Relations office.

(b) No filing fee shall be required in advance. Any fees required by law or Order of the Court shall be to the Domestic Relations office of the County.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Copy of daily transcript

If the records filing office cannot provide a copy of a daily transcript, a court reporter or courtroom technician may prepare it with the presiding judge’s approval, at a maximum of $1.25 per bound paper page or $1.00 per electronic page.

(3) Although not generally available, if a request for a copy of a daily transcript is made which copy cannot be provided by the applicable records filing office, the costs for preparation by a court reporter or courtroom technician with the approval of the presiding judge shall not exceed: (i) $1.25 per page bound, paper format, and, (ii) $1.00 per page electronic copy.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript costs

A party seeking a transcript-cost fee waiver must follow the guidelines and procedure in Pa.R.J.A. 4008(B).

(b) Economic hardship, fee waiver. A party requesting a fee waiver for the costs of transcripts shall follow the guidelines and utilize the procedure set forth in Pa.R.J.A. 4008(B).

CRITICAL

Fee

0.25

Applies to

Bound paper transcript

A bound-paper transcript is subject to the applicable paragraph (1) cost plus a $0.25-per-page surcharge.

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

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Paper filing

A filing fee will be charged for paper filings.

Filing fee will be charged for paper filings.

WARNING

A moving party unable to pay the conciliator’s fee may apply to proceed in forma pauperis; if authorized, the County of Franklin pays the administrative fee.

In the event the Moving Party is unable to pay the conciliator’s fee, such party may apply for an Order to Proceed In Forma Pauperis. If the Court authorizes In Forma Pauperis status, the administrative fee shall be paid by the County of Franklin.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Transcript production

The party filing exceptions bears transcript costs; if both parties file, they share the costs equally, subject to the Court’s authority to reallocate them in the final order.

The party filing the Exceptions shall bear the cost of producing the transcript. If both parties file Exceptions, the cost of the transcript shall be shared equally. The Court may reallocate the costs of the transcript as part of the final order.

WARNING

Applies to

Conciliation conference

A conference is expected to last one hour; for a longer conference, the conciliator may seek additional Court-set compensation, which is added to the action’s costs and collected as directed by the Court.

Each conference is expected to last one (1) hour. In the event the Conciliation Conference lasts more than one hour, the Conciliator may petition the Court for additional compensation at the rate established by the Court. This additional fee shall be added to the cost of the action and shall be collected by the Prothonotary as directed by the Court.

WARNING

Applies to

Conciliation conference

The conciliator is compensated at the Court-established rate for each scheduled conference.

The Conciliator shall be compensated at the rate established by the Court for each scheduled Conciliation Conference.

WARNING

Applies to

Transcript or related costs

The presiding judge may impose a reasonable surcharge in unusually complex litigation when a reporter or technician must significantly expand their dictionary.

(2) Pursuant to Pa.R.J.A. 4008(E), the presiding 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 a court reporter or courtroom technician to significantly expand his/her dictionary.

WARNING

Applies to

Secure electronic feed

A reasonable fee may be charged, if available, for the secure electronic feed, but no fee may be charged to the Court for the connection.

(3) To the extent it is available, a reasonable fee may be charged for a secure electronic feed which instantaneously delivers the translated notes from the court reporter or courtroom technician to a laptop, tablet, phone, or other portable electronic device via cable, wifi, router, or Bluetooth to parties, the media, or other interested individuals. There shall be no fee charged to the Court for such a connection.