Contact Persons:
Joe Torretto • 408.882.2870
Marvin Bell • 408.882.2871

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 08/12/03

NEW COURT FEES,

FEE INCREASES EFFECTIVE AUGUST 17, 2003

The Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, has announced that new court filing fees and fee increases will take effect August 17, 2003, as the result of the 2003 Budget Act signed by Governor Gray Davis.

Changes in court fees are designed to maintain access and continue public services in the California trial courts at a time of unprecedented deficits in the State Budget. The fees were included in legislation that was part of the 2003 Budget Act.

A complete chart, including statewide surcharges and fees and the authority for the increase, is posted on the California Courts website, www.courtinfo.ca.gov. Updated fee information is being developed and will be available in the near future on the Court’s website, www.sccsuperiorcourt.org/fee.htm. Fees charts, information about applicable local fees, and answers to specific questions also can be obtained at each of the local clerk’s offices.

The following fees are effective August 17, 2003:

Notice of Motion Fee: To be increased to $36.30.

Continuance of Trial Fee: Establishes a $110 fee in addition to the notice of motion fee ($36.30) when a continuance of a trial is granted in civil and family law cases.

Complaint or Other First Paper to Initial Complaint, Petition, or Application (plaintiff), Appeal from Labor Commissioner Award, Sister State Judgment, or Transfer from another court on:

Limited Jurisdiction Civil Cases of $10,000 or less: To be increased to $145.30.

Limited Jurisdiction Civil Cases over $10,000 and less than $25,000: To be increased to $282.50. (Note: This amount includes the $25.00 Court Reporter Fee for the first party only. Additional plaintiffs and defendants must each pay the $25.00 Court Reporter Fee, as well.)

General Jurisdiction Civil Cases over $25,000: To be increased to $274.50. (Note: This amount includes the $25.00 Court Reporter Fee for the first party only. Additional plaintiffs and defendants must each pay the $25.00 Court Reporter Fee, as well.)

Family Cases: To be increased to $274.50. (Note: This amount includes the $25.00 Court Reporter Fee for the first party only. Additional plaintiffs and defendants must each pay the $25.00 Court Reporter Fee, as well.)

Unlawful Detainer cases: .

Limited jurisdiction cases of $10,000 or less: To be increased to $149.30.

Limited jurisdiction cases over $10,000 and less than $25,000: To be increased to $286.50. (Note: This amount includes the $25.00 Court Reporter Fee for the first party only. Additional plaintiffs and defendants must each pay the $25.00 Court Reporter Fee, as well.)

General Jurisdiction cases over $25,000: To be increased to $274.50. (Note: This amount includes the $25.00 Court Reporter Fee for the first party only. Additional plaintiffs and defendants must each pay the $25.00 Court Reporter Fee, as well.)

First paper on behalf of any party other than the plaintiff (defendant) on:

Limited jurisdiction civil cases of $10,000 or less: To be increased to $142.

Limited jurisdiction civil cases over $10,000 and less than $25,000: To be increased to $282.50. (Note: This amount includes the $25.00 Court Reporter Fee for the first party only. Additional plaintiffs and defendants must each pay the $25.00 Court Reporter Fee, as well.)

General jurisdiction civil cases over $25,000: To be increased to $271.20. (Note: This amount includes the $25.00 Court Reporter Fee for the first party only. Additional plaintiffs and defendants must each pay the $25.00 Court Reporter Fee, as well.)

Family Cases: To be increased to $271.20. (Note: This amount includes the $25.00 Court Reporter Fee for the first party only. Additional plaintiffs and defendants must each pay the $25.00 Court Reporter Fee, as well.)

Complex Case Fee: Additional fee of $550 for each plaintiff and defendant in a civil case designated by either party or the Court as complex.

Summary Judgment Motion Fee: To be increased to $165.

Small Claims Fee: To be increased to $66 when the number of claims filed by a party in each court exceeds 12 in a 12-month period.

[f1] Probate Filings Fees: Establishes graduated fees of $249.50 to $3,896 for estates up to $3.5 million. The filing fee for estates valued $3.5 million or more is $3,896 plus 0.2% of the amount over $3.5 million.

For conservatorship and guardianship petitions filed, the fees for an initial investigation for the appointment of a conservator or a guardian will increase to $740. The fee for an investigation associated with a review in a conservatorship or guardianship case will remain $580.

Court of Appeal: The fee for filing a notice of appeal or a petition for a writ in a civil case appealed to the Court of Appeal is increased to $655.

Supreme Court: The fee for filing a petition for a writ or a petition for a hearing in a civil case in the Supreme Court after a decision in the Court of Appeal is increased to $590.