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

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript

When an appeal notice or post-trial motion is filed and a transcript is required, the moving party must pay half the estimated cost to the Court Stenographer unless the State or County Government is liable.

(a) In all cases where a notice of appeal or post trial motion is filed, and a transcript is required, the moving party, except where the State or County Government is liable for the cost, shall be required to pay one-half of the estimated cost for the transcript to the Court Stenographer.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Appeal

An appellant must pay the Prothonotary compensation for the arbitrators when filing an appeal.

In filing an appeal, the appellant shall make payment to the Prothonotary for compensation of the arbitrators.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Motion for appointment of master

Before presenting a motion to appoint a Master, the moving party must deposit the applicable fees with the Prothonotary in the amount set by court order.

(g)(1) Before presenting a motion for appointment of a Master, the moving party shall deposit with the Prothonotary the applicable Master's fees for the issues raised in the amount as set by Order of Court.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Civil bench warrant

An applicant seeking a civil bench warrant must pay the filing fee and the Schuylkill County Sheriff’s fee.

Upon an Applicant’s filing in the Office of the Prothontary a Motion with a Proposed order in compliance with the Pa. Rules of Civil Procedure, seeking a Civil Bench Warrant, the Applicant shall pay the filing fee and the Schuylkill County Sheriff's fee.

CRITICAL

Interested parties must deposit the Court-fixed amount for fees and costs with the Clerk; failure to do so may result in dismissal of the issues or sanctions.

All interested parties shall deposit into the Clerk a payment on account of fees and costs in an amount to be fixed by the Court. Failure to deposit said funds as ordered may result in a dismissal of the issues or imposition of appropriate sanctions.

CRITICALCivil cases

If both parties file exceptions, they must share the transcript cost equally.

If both parties file exceptions to the Master’s report, they shall equally bear the cost of the transcript.

CRITICALCivil cases

Fee

15

Applies to

Alimony pendente lite complaint

A $15.00 fee is charged for filing the Alimony Pendente Lite complaint with the Domestic Relations Section.

A fee of $15.00 shall be charged for this filing.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Custody pleading

Custody pleadings covered by this rule must be accompanied by the designated filing and administrative fees.

The filing shall be accompanied by the payment of the designated filing and administrative fees.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Custody pleading

Custody pleadings must be accompanied by payment of the designated filing and administrative fees.

The filing shall be accompanied by the payment of the designated filing and administrative fees.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript

The ordering litigant must pay a 50% deposit by check payable to the County of Schuylkill and deliver it to the Chief Court Reporter.

the litigant ordering a transcript shall make partial payment in an amount of 50% of the estimated total cost of the transcripts. Deposit checks are to be made payable to the County of Schuylkill and shall be delivered to the Chief Court Reporter.

CRITICAL

Charges payable by the requestor may not exceed the rates prescribed in Pa.R.J.A. 4008(A)(1) and (D)(1).

Costs payable by requestor shall not exceed the rates prescribed in Pa.R.J.A. 4008(A)(1) and (D)(1).

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Continuance application

The continuance application must be filed with the Prothonotary, and the continuance fee must be paid when it is filed.

The Application for Continuance must be filed with the Prothonotary and the Continuance Fee must be paid upon filing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Contested involuntary termination proceeding

In contested involuntary termination proceedings, each party must deposit a court-fixed payment for transcript and minor’s counsel fees, and the Court may assess additional fees and allocate costs.

(b) In every contested involuntary termination proceeding, Petitioner and Respondent shall each deposit into the Clerk’s office a payment on account for the transcript fees and for fees and costs of counsel for the minor in an amount to be fixed by the Court. Additional fees may be assessed, and said fees may be taxed as costs and may be ultimately charged against the interested parties as the Court deems appropriate.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript

A check for the final transcript balance must be payable to the County of Schuylkill and delivered to the Chief Court Reporter.

Checks for the final balance are to be made payable to the County of Schuylkill and delivered to the Chief Court Reporter.

CRITICALCivil cases

The party who first moves for appointment of a Master must pay the court reporter’s appearance fee in a contested case.

In a contested case the testimony given at a Master's hearing shall be taken by an official court reporter who shall be paid an appearance fee by the party first moving for the appointment of the Master.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript

The first requestor must pay for the original transcript and, if a personal copy is desired, the copy rate, subject to cost sharing with additional parties.

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

CRITICALCivil cases

The party raising exceptions must deposit the transcript cost with the court reporter when requesting the transcript.

Within five (5) days after the filing of exceptions to the Master’s report, the party raising exceptions shall request a transcript of all the testimony pursuant to Pa.R.J.A. 5000.5, and shall thereupon make a deposit with the court reporter for the cost of the transcript pursuant to Pa.R.J.A. 5000.6.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Paper or pleading

If an officer cannot determine the required costs in advance, the officer may require a reasonable deposit when the paper or pleading is filed.

if said officer is unable to determine in advance the amount so required, he shall have a right to require a reasonable sum as a deposit against the costs for filing, recording, or service of a paper or pleading at the time same is filed.

WARNING

Fee

0.25

A hard copy of the transcript costs $0.25 per page.

+Hard Copy $0.25 X pages =$

WARNING

Applies to

Transcript

The Court assesses the transcript fee as a legal cost.

The transcript fee shall be a legal cost assessed by the Court.

WARNINGCivil cases

Fee

$100

Applies to

Additional hearing day

In qualifying complex contested matters, the Hearing Officer may assess $100 for each additional hearing day, and each conference after the first counts as a hearing for that fee.

In complex contested matters which require the hearing to be continued in progress, the Hearing Officer may assess additional fees of $100.00 per each additional hearing day. Each additional conference, beyond the first, shall be considered for these purposes as a hearing.

WARNING

Expedited, daily, and same-day transcript requests are available only where the judicial district or court reporter offers them.

Note: Expedited, Daily, and Same Day Requests are only available where provided by the judicial district or court reporter.

WARNING

Fee

$4.75

Applies to

Paper daily transcript

The initial ordering party’s cost for a daily transcript in paper format may not exceed $4.75 per page.

(2) Costs: Paper Format. The costs payable by the initial ordering party for a transcript delivered via paper format shall not exceed: (c) For a daily transcript, $4.75 per page;

WARNING

Fee

$3.75

Applies to

Paper expedited transcript

The initial ordering party’s cost for an expedited transcript in paper format may not exceed $3.75 per page.

(2) Costs: Paper Format. The costs payable by the initial ordering party for a transcript delivered via paper format shall not exceed: (b) For an expedited transcript, $3.75 per page;

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Paper or pleading

The Prothonotary, Clerk of Court of Common Pleas, Register of Wills, Clerk of the Orphans' Court Division, Clerk of the Domestic Relations Section, and the Recorder of Deeds shall have the right to require payment for the filing, recording, or service of a paper or pleading at the time same is filed

The Prothonotary, Clerk of Court of Common Pleas, Register of Wills, Clerk of the Orphans' Court Division, Clerk of the Domestic Relations Section, and the Recorder of Deeds shall have the right to require payment for the filing, recording, or service of a paper or pleading at the time same is filed

WARNING

Applies to

Transcript copy

A requestor's transcript copy costs $0.50 per page for ordinary, $0.75 for expedited, $1.00 for daily, and $1.25 for same-day delivery.

Copy for Requestor:  Yes  No +$0.50 +$0.75 +$1.00 +$1.25 (cost per page)

WARNING

Applies to

Transcript

No deposit is required when the court or county is responsible for the transcript cost.

(F) When a transcript is requested for which the court or county is responsible for the cost, the court reporter or court recorder shall prepare the transcript without the necessity of a deposit.

WARNING

Applies to

Transcript

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

(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

Photocopying fees must comply with the UJS Public Access Policy and are approved by the Schuylkill County Court.

Pursuant to Section 6 of the Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania: Case Records of the Appellate and Trial Courts, the photocopying fees are approved by the Schuylkill County Court and shall be in compliance with the UJS Public Access Policy.

WARNINGCivil cases

A Master’s fee cannot be refunded after the pre-hearing conference has been held or continued.

(2) No Master's fee shall be refunded after a pre-hearing conference has been held or continued under "Sch.R.C.P. 1920.51(j)(2)."

WARNING

Court-appointed Auditors or Masters are compensated through reasonable fees fixed by the Court and paid from sources the Court directs.

Any Auditor or Master appointed by the Court under these rules shall be compensated by reasonable fees as fixed by the Court and paid from such sources as the Auditor or Master shall recommend and the Court shall direct.

WARNING

Fee

0.25

Choosing hard-copy delivery adds $0.25 per page to the applicable page rate.

Manner of Delivery:  Electronic (PDF) Format  Hard copy (add $0.25 per page to page rates)

WARNING

A deposit may be required as determined by local rule.

A deposit determined by local rule may be required.

WARNING

Fee

0.75 $

Applies to

Transcript copy

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

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

WARNING

Applies to

Original transcript

Original transcript costs per page are $2.50 for ordinary, $3.50 for expedited, $4.50 for daily, and $6.50 for same-day delivery.

Original Transcript: +$2.50 +$3.50 +$4.50 +$6.50 (cost per page)

WARNING

Fee

0.25

Applies to

Case record access request

Reasonable access fees may be charged, and photocopying or printing duplication fees are capped at $0.25 per page unless another applicable authority provides otherwise.

The requestor may be charged reasonable fees for access to court records. Fees for duplication by photocopying or printing from electronic media or microfilm shall not exceed $0.25 per page, unless otherwise provided by applicable authority.

WARNING

Fee

0.5 $

Applies to

Transcript copy

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

(2) $0.50 per page electronic copy.

WARNING

Applies to

Records access request

The requester may be charged reasonable access-related costs, and the Records Manager may require estimated fees to be prepaid when they are expected to exceed $100.

Reasonable costs which may sought from the requester are those incurred in providing public access to records including, but not limited to, postage, photocopying, copying onto electronic media, transmission by facsimile or other electronic means, and other means of duplication. Prior to granting any request for access, the Records Manager may require a requester to prepay an estimate of the fees associated with the request if the fees are expected to exceed $100.

WARNING

Reasonable costs of providing public access to records may be sought from the requester, including costs for postage, copying, electronic transmission, and duplication.

(1) Reasonable costs which may sought from the requester are those incurred in providing public access to records including, but not limited to, postage, photocopying, copying onto electronic media, transmission by facsimile or other electronic means, and other means of duplication.

WARNING

Applies to

Ordinary transcript

For an ordinary transcript in a non-appeal matter when the transcript is not needed to advance litigation, the court may waive costs at its discretion upon good cause for parties who qualify under (B)(1) or (B)(2).

(3) Transcript costs for ordinary transcripts in matters that are not subject to an appeal, where the transcript is not necessary to advance the litigation, may be waived at the court’s discretion for parties who qualify for economic hardship under subdivision (B)(1) or (B)(2) and upon good cause shown.

WARNING

Fee

$2.5

Applies to

Electronic ordinary transcript

The initial ordering party’s cost for an ordinary transcript in electronic format may not exceed $2.50 per page.

(1) The costs payable by the initial ordering party, for a transcript in an electronic format shall not exceed: (a) For an ordinary transcript, $2.50 per page;

WARNING

Complex litigation and real-time feed services may incur extra charges if offered.

Other (if offered, extra charges may apply):  Complex Litigation  Real Time Feed

WARNING

Fee

$4.5

Applies to

Electronic daily transcript

The initial ordering party’s cost for a daily transcript in electronic format may not exceed $4.50 per page.

(1) The costs payable by the initial ordering party, for a transcript in an electronic format shall not exceed: (c) For a daily transcript, $4.50 per page;

WARNING

Applies to

Ordinary transcript

Ordinary transcript costs in an appeal or when needed to advance litigation must be reduced by half for a litigant whose income is below 200% of the current HHS poverty line.

(2) Transcript costs 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

$6.75

Applies to

Paper same day transcript

The initial ordering party’s cost for a same-day transcript in paper format may not exceed $6.75 per page.

(2) Costs: Paper Format. The costs payable by the initial ordering party for a transcript delivered via paper format shall not exceed: (d) For same-day delivery, $6.75 per page;

WARNING

Fee

$6.5

Applies to

Electronic same day transcript

The initial ordering party’s cost for a same-day transcript in electronic format may not exceed $6.50 per page.

(1) The costs payable by the initial ordering party, for a transcript in an electronic format shall not exceed: (d) For same day delivery, $6.50 per page;

WARNING

Filing offices may charge a record retrieval fee only with Court approval.

The filing offices are authorized to charge a record retrieval fee upon approval by the Court.

WARNING

Applies to

Transcript

When the transcript is completed, the stenographer must notify the parties immediately and bill the moving party for the remaining transcript cost.

When the transcript is completed, the stenographer shall immediately notify the parties and shall bill the moving party for the balance of the cost of the transcript.

WARNING

Reduced transcript rates are available to requestors who qualify when the cost would cause economic hardship.

If the cost of the transcript presents an economic hardship, there are reduced rates available to those who qualify.

WARNING

Fee

$2.75

Applies to

Paper ordinary transcript

The initial ordering party’s cost for an ordinary transcript in paper format may not exceed $2.75 per page.

(2) Costs: Paper Format. The costs payable by the initial ordering party for a transcript delivered via paper format shall not exceed: (a) For an ordinary transcript, $2.75 per page;

WARNING

Applies to

Transcript

The requesting party or party required to file a transcript is responsible for its cost, except for transcripts prepared at the court’s initiative.

(1) Assignment of costs. The requesting party, or party required by general rule to file a transcript, shall be responsible for the cost of the transcript. Costs shall not be assessed against any party for transcripts prepared at the initiation of the court.

WARNING

Applies to

Ordinary transcript

Ordinary transcript costs in an appeal or when needed to advance litigation must be waived for litigants permitted to proceed in forma pauperis or whose income is below 125% of the current HHS poverty line.

(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 line as defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) poverty guidelines for the current year.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Transcription

The party filing exceptions must pay transcription costs unless granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis; multiple excepting parties share those costs pro rata.

Unless granted leave by the Court to proceed in forma pauperis, the party filing exceptions shall pay the cost of transcription. If exceptions are filed by more than one party, the transcription costs shall be shared by the excepting parties on a pro rata basis.

WARNING

Before granting access, the Records Manager may require prepayment of an estimated fee when the expected fees exceed $100.

Prior to granting any request for access, the Records Manager may require a requester to prepay an estimate of the fees associated with the request if the fees are expected to exceed $100.

WARNINGCivil cases

Fee

75

Applies to

Additional masters hearing hour

In qualifying complex contested matters, the Master may assess an additional Master's fee of $75 per additional hour, and each conference after the first counts as a hearing for this purpose.

(n)(1) In complex contested matters which require the hearing to be continued in progress, the Master may assess additional Master's fees of $75.00 per each additional hour. Each additional conference, beyond the first, shall be considered for these purposes as a hearing.

WARNINGCivil cases

The Master may make an interim allocation of the transcript fees which shall be paid pursuant to Pa.R.J.A. 5000.6.

The Master may make an interim allocation of the transcript fees which shall be paid pursuant to Pa.R.J.A. 5000.6.

WARNING

Fee

$3.5

Applies to

Electronic expedited transcript

The initial ordering party’s cost for an expedited transcript in electronic format may not exceed $3.50 per page.

(1) The costs payable by the initial ordering party, for a transcript in an electronic format shall not exceed: (b) For an expedited transcript, $3.50 per page;

INFO

Auditor or Master fees may be taxed as costs, and the Auditor or Master may recommend that the fees follow the award as costs in appropriate cases.

Fees may be taxed as costs and the Auditor or Master shall have authority to recommend to the Court that the Auditor's or Master's fees follow the award as costs in appropriate cases.