Bell County District Courts Filing Fees and Waivers

Applies to

Fee and cost payment request

A court-appointed attorney's request for payment of fees and costs is due no later than 30 days after the conclusion of the last court appearance.

Court Appointed attorneys shall e-file requests for payment of fees and costs not later than 30 days from the conclusion of the last court appearance.

Applies to

Cost reimbursement request

No costs other than attorney professional-time fees may be reimbursed without the Court's express prior approval.

Other than fees for the professional time for attorneys, no other costs are authorized for reimbursement without express prior approval by the Court.

Applies to

Statement of inability to afford court costs

At a final hearing, the court reviews a party's filed statement of inability to afford court costs.

16.1 At any final hearing in a case where a party has filed a statement of inability to afford payment of court costs, the court will review the statement.

Applies to

Statement of inability to afford court costs

The party claiming inability to afford court costs bears the burden of proof and must be prepared to present financial evidence at the final hearing.

16.2 The burden of proof is on the party filing the statement to prove that the party is unable to afford the court costs. Information such as pay stubs, tax returns, or other financial documents may be presented to substantiate an inability to afi'ord court costs. A party must be prepared to present such evidence at the final hearing.

Applies to

Fee and cost payment request

A fee request filed later than 30 days will trigger an audit of all previous fee requests and may delay payment.

(requests for payment later than 30 days shall require an audit of all previous fee requests and will be subject to delay in payment).