Brazoria County Justice of the Peace Courts Filing Fees and Waivers

CRITICAL

Fee

10

Applies to

Change of address or name dismissal

The fee for a change-of-address-or-name dismissal is $10.

• The defendant pays a fee of $10 (Law allows for up to $20 fee, but our court collects $10)

CRITICAL

A case with Capias Pro Fine Warrant status may not be included in a payment plan agreement.

Note: A case with a status of Capias Pro Fine Warrant may not be included in a Payment Plan Agreement. (See Standing Order No. 13)

CRITICAL

Applies to

Case referral to collection agency

Cases filed when the defendant was over 17 are referred to a collection agency if the balance remains unpaid or the defendant fails to appear by the specified 60th day, and referred cases incur a fee of 30% of the unpaid balance.

All cases with a defendant over the age of 17 at the time of the case's filing will be referred to a third party collection agency if the following one of the following criteria exist: • The costs and fine balance is not paid on the case by the 60th day from the date on which the fine and/or court cost should have been paid in full as determined by the court; or • The defendant fails to appear by the 60h day after the date for which the accused promised to appear or was notified, summoned, or ordered to appear. A collection agency fee in the amount of 30% of the total unpaid balance will be added to the case balance of each case referred to the collection agency.

CRITICAL

Fee

10

Applies to

Expired drivers license dismissal

The fee for an expired-driver's-license dismissal is $10.

The defendant pays a fee of $10 (Law allows up to $20 fee, but our court collects $10.)

CRITICAL

Fee

$10

Applies to

Case referral to omnibase

Cases that proceed to warrant status are referred to the Omnibase system, and each referred case is assessed a $10 fee.

Cases that proceed to a warrant status will be referred to the Department of Public Safety's Failure to Appear Program (Omnibase system). A fee of $10.00 will be added to each case that is referred.

CRITICAL

Fee

10

The court collects a $10 fee for dismissal of an expired disabled parking placard, although the law allows a fee up to $20.

The defendant pays a fee of $10 (Law allows up to a $20 fee, but our court collects $10)

CRITICAL

If a defendant cannot pay a fine assessed at a Pre-Trial Conference, the court must initiate the process for a payment plan or indigence consideration.

If a fine is assessed at a Pre Trial Conference and the defendant is unable to make the required payment, the court shall initiate the process for a payment plan or indigence consideration.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Hearing request

A proper tow-hearing request must be filed with the applicable fees to trigger a hearing.

A proper request filed under this section with the applicable filing fees will trigger a hearing.

CRITICAL

Fee

150

At the end of the 30-day deferral period, the defendant must pay a $150 deferral fine.

Defendant appears back at the court at the end of the 30-day period and remits a deferral fine in the amount of $150 and

CRITICAL

Fee

144

Applies to

Driving safety course request

A $144 fee is required to process the course dismissal request.

(3) a fee of $144 for all costs in order to process the request.

CRITICAL

Fee

15

Applies to

Time payment fee

The Court assesses a $15 time-payment fee on the 31st day after judgment if any portion of the case cost remains unpaid, including cases with Deferred Disposition.

The Court will assess a $15 time-payment fee on the 31s day after the date of judgment on any case where a portion of the cost on a case has not been paid in full. This fee also applies in cases where Deferred Disposition has been granted.

CRITICAL

Fee

10

Applies to

Failure to display drivers license dismissal

The fee for a failure-to-display-driver's-license dismissal is $10.

The defendant pays a fee of $10.

CRITICAL

Once assessed, a collection agency fee must be paid or discharged through another lawful means, such as community service, an indigency waiver, or dismissal.

Once a collection agency fee has been assessed on a case, the fee must be paid or discharged by some other lawful manner (community service, indigency waiver, dismissal, etc.).

CRITICAL

Fee

10

A $10 fee is required for this dismissal.

• The defendant pays a fee of $10

CRITICAL

Applies to

Dismissal

STANDING ORDER NO. 3: DISMISSALS WITHOUT A FEE (TRAFFIC OR CRIMINAL CASES)

STANDING ORDER NO. 3: DISMISSALS WITHOUT A FEE (TRAFFIC OR CRIMINAL CASES)

CRITICAL

Fee

150

At the end of the two-week deferral period, the defendant must pay a $150 deferral fine.

Defendant appears back at the court at the end of the two-week period and remits a deferral fine in the amount of $150 and

CRITICAL

Fee

150

Defendant appears back at the court at the end of the 6-month period and remits a deferral fine in the amount of $150, time payment fee in the amount of $15 and

Defendant appears back at the court at the end of the 6-month period and remits a deferral fine in the amount of $150, time payment fee in the amount of $15 and

CRITICAL

Fee

10

Applies to

Expired registration dismissal

The fee for an expired-registration dismissal is $10.

• The defendant pays a fee of $10. (Law allows up to $20 fee, but our court collects $10.)

CRITICAL

Fee

284

Defendant remits the mandatory costs (which varies depending on the offense) plus the deferral fine of $150.00 (or if the maximum fine on an offense is less than $150, then the deferral fine will be the same as the maximum fine amount for the charged offense). Typically, the total costs for a moving violation is $284.00, however, the amount may vary dependent on the charged offense.

Defendant remits the mandatory costs (which varies depending on the offense) plus the deferral fine of $150.00 (or if the maximum fine on an offense is less than $150, then the deferral fine will be the same as the maximum fine amount for the charged offense). Typically, the total costs for a moving violation is $284.00, however, the amount may vary dependent on the charged offense.

CRITICAL

Fee

10

Applies to

Expired inspection dismissal

The fee for an expired-inspection dismissal is $10.

• The defendant pays a fee of $10.00 (Law allows up to $20 fee, but our court collects $10.)

CRITICAL

Fee

81

For deferred disposition of a no-insurance offense, the defendant must pay the mandatory costs assessed on the case, typically $81.

Defendant remits the mandatory costs assessed on the case (typically this amount is $81.00)

CRITICAL

Fee

134

For a two-week deferral, the defendant must pay the mandatory costs assessed on the case, typically $134 for moving violations.

Defendant remits the mandatory costs assessed on the case (typically for moving violations this is $134.00)

CRITICAL

The defendant must pay $10 or, if that amount is not appropriate, the fee specified by Texas statute.

• Pays a fee of $10, or the fee indicated in the Texas statute if $10 is not appropriate.

CRITICAL

Fee

150

At the end of the 90-day deferral period, the defendant must pay a $150 deferral fine and a $15 time-payment fee.

Defendant appears back at the court at the end of the 90-day period and remits a deferral fine in the amount of $150 and time-payment fee in the amount of $15, and

WARNING

Fee

0.1

Applies to

Document copy

Regular copies cost 10 cents per page, with one free copy of a Court Order and Community Service Verification form per party or attorney; additional copies are charged, and each side of a two-sided document counts as a page.

The court will assess a copy fee of .10 cents per page for a regular copy of documents. (Admin. Code 70.3) The court will provide one free copy of a Court Order, Community Service Verification form per party and/or attorney. Additional copies will incur the 10 cents per page fee. Two-sided documents are considered two pages.

WARNING

Fee

1

Applies to

Other document issuance

Other document issuance costs $1.00 for the first page and $0.25 for each additional page.

Other document issuance fee: $1.00 for first page, $0.25 for each additional page

WARNING

Applies to

Civil case fee

Applicable or requested civil case fees will be assessed and receipted by the Court Clerk after full payment.

The following fees will be assessed, as requested or applicable, and shall be receipted by the Court Clerk after payment in full is made:

WARNING

After a guilty or no-contest plea and trial waiver, the Clerk may process a standard payment plan with either listed installment schedule and the stated information and interview steps.

Upon a plea of guilty or no contest, a waiver of jury/bench trial, the Court Clerk may process a request for a payment plan as follows: • In accordance with the Texas Administrative Code, Rule 175.3(a)(7)(A), there are two options for a standard payment plan in this court: Option 1: Payment(s) of $20.00 every two weeks until the balance is paid in full. Option 2: Payments) of $40.00 once per month until the balance is paid in full. • After selection of a Standard Payment Plan option, Defendant completes a Contact Information Sheet. • Defendant's Contact Information is verified by the Court Clerk • Defendant completes an oral interview with the Court Clerk to review the Payment Plan

WARNING

Fee

0.1 cents

Applies to

Petition copy

A copy fee of .10 cents per page will be assessed when adequate copies are not provided.

A copy fee of .10 cents per page will be assessed if adequate copies are not provided; see Standing Order No. 16.

WARNING

The court accepts cash, cashier's checks, money orders, company checks, attorney firm checks, and personal checks when the signer’s Texas ID is verified for the listed civil case types.

Acceptable payments are Cash, Cashier's Check, Money Order, Company Check, Attorney's Firm Check or Personal Check with verification of a Texas ID for the check signer.

WARNING

Applies to

Service by mail

The service-by-mail fee varies according to U.S. Postal rates.

Service by Mail Fee: Variable amount according to US Postal rates

WARNING

Court Clerks may accept full payment on outstanding capias pro fine warrants but may not process payment-plan requests for unsatisfied judgments that have escalated to capias pro fine warrant status.

Court Clerks may accept payment in full for outstanding capias pro fine warrants. Court Clerks may not process a Payment Plan requests for an unsatisfied judgment that has escalated to a Capias Pro Fine warrant case status.

WARNING

Fee

$5

Applies to

Subpoena issuance

The subpoena issuance fee is $5.00.

Subpoena Issuance Fee: $5.00

WARNING

Credit card payments are processed through Certified Payments and incur a fee of 2.85% of the total payment.

Payments made with a credit card will be processed through a third-party company, Certified Payments, and a 2.85% (of the total payment) fee will be charged.

WARNING

Applies to

Copies

The Court may assess fees against a party who fails to comply with the TRCP to provide necessary copies for parties being served.

The Court may assess fees to the party who fails to comply with TRCP, in order to provide necessary copies of documents to parties being served.

WARNING

Fee

$75

Applies to

Citation service

The service fee for a defendant who may be served in Brazoria County is $75.00 per defendant.

However, if a defendant may be served in Brazoria County, the Court Clerk will accept the required service fee of $75.00 per defendant and forward the Citation and Copy of the Petition* to the constable or sheriff, unless the plaintiff request otherwise.

WARNING

Applies to

Rent due on eviction appeal

For a non-payment-of-rent eviction appeal where the defendant files an Affidavit of Inability to Pay, the rent due is the amount required by the court’s order.

Rent due on Appeal of an Eviction Judgment: (In a suit of Non-Payment of Rent when the defendant files an Affidavit of Inability to Pay): Amount required by Court's Order

WARNING

A court-determined indigent defendant or defendant unable to pay without undue hardship may be granted community service for all or part of the fine and costs, at a standard rate of 8 hours per $100 owed.

Defendants who are determined by the court to be indigent or financial unable to pay without undue hardship, may be granted community service in lieu of the costs and fine, or any portion of thereof. As a standard, for every $100 owed, the court will assess 8 hours of community service.

WARNING

Cash amounts requiring coins must be paid in exact cents; the court can make change for bills.

The court does not have the ability to make coin change. Any amounts due that will be paid in cash and that require coins for payment will need to be remitted in the exact cents due. The court does keep bill change, therefore if the amount due is $67.10, the payer could remit $70.10 and receive $3.00 in change.

WARNING

Fee

$5

Applies to

Abstract

The abstract fee is $5.00 per issuance.

Abstract Fee: $5.00 per issuance

WARNING

Personal checks are not accepted for traffic, Class C misdemeanor, and occupational driver's license request cases.

The court does not accept personal checks for these case types.

WARNING

Cash, money orders, cashier's checks, and the listed credit cards are accepted for traffic, Class C misdemeanor, and occupational driver's license request cases.

Acceptable payment methods are cash, money order, cashier's check; also acceptable are VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover credit cards.

WARNING

Applies to

Civil case filing

Filing fees are non-refundable once a case has been deemed filed.

Once a case has been deemed filed, filing fees are non-refundable.

WARNING

Fee

$175

Applies to

Writ service

The writ service fee is $175.00.

Writ Service Fee: $175.00

WARNING

Fee

$2

Applies to

Certified copy

Certified copies cost $2.00 for the first page and .25 cents for each additional page.

Certified Copies are $2.00 for the first page and .25 cents for each additional page. (Local Gov. Code 118.121)

WARNING

Fee

0.1 cents

Applies to

Copy

Copies needed to satisfy TRCP requirements cost .10 cents per page.

The Court will make copies at a rate of .10 cents per page for copies needed to satisfy TRCP requirements. (TRCP 501.1(d))

WARNING

Applies to

Civil case filing

The civil case filing fee is $46.00 through December 31, 2021, and $54 on or after January 1, 2022.

Filing Fee: $46.00 on or before 12/31/2021; $54 on or after 01/01/2022

WARNING

Amounts collected above a payment plan's minimum payment must be applied to the final payment.

• Any monies collected over the minimum payment specified in a Payment Plan shall be applied to the last payment.

WARNING

Applies to

Cash appeal bond

A cash appeal bond must be in the amount required by the court’s order.

Cash Appeal Bonds: Amount required by Court's Order

WARNING

Applies to

Copies

Copy fees are $1.00 for the first page of a titled document and $0.25 for each additional page.

Fees for copies are $1.00 for a titled document's first page and $0.25 for each additional page.