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

CRITICAL

Applies to

Complaint

The Plaintiff must pay the applicable civil action filing fee and any e-filing fees set by the Lancaster County Prothonotary.

3. The Plaintiff shall pay the appropriate civil action filing fee and any additional fees for e-filing as set forth by the Lancaster County Prothonotary:

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript

A litigant ordering a transcript must pay a 95% deposit by check payable to the County of Lancaster and deliver it to the Chief Court Reporter; receipt of the deposit triggers preparation of the transcript.

1. The litigant ordering the transcript shall make payment in the amount of 95% of the estimated total cost of the transcript. Deposit checks are to be made payable to the County of Lancaster` and shall be delivered to the Chief Court Reporter. 2. Upon receipt of the 95% deposit, the court reporter(s) assigned to the proceeding shall be directed by the Chief Court Reporter to prepare the transcript.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion to appoint master

A party filing a Motion to Appoint Master must pay the fee set by the Prothonotary’s fee bill in addition to normal filing fees, and the fee is nonrefundable.

The party filing a Motion to Appoint Master pursuant to this rule shall pay the sum required by the Prothonotary' s fee bill, in addition to any normal filing fees. This sum is not refundable.

CRITICAL

Fee

$25

Applies to

Ard order summary offense

Until changed by administrative order, a $25 processing fee must be assessed for each summary offense listed on an ARD Order, and collected as prosecution costs payable to the County of Lancaster general fund.

In addition to fees and charges imposed by statute or by the Supreme Court, fees which relate to the expense of administering the A.R.D. program may be imposed as a condition of the A.R.D. Program. Until changed by administrative order, the following shall be assessed a defendant, a twenty-five dollars ($25.00) processing fee for each individual summary offense listed on the court case A.R.D. Order to cover expenses related to the administration of the A.R.D. program. The reasonable costs associated with administering the program shall be collected in the same manner as cost of prosecution and shall be payable to the County of Lancaster general fund.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript request

The final transcript balance must be paid by check payable to the County of Lancaster and delivered to the Chief Court Reporter.

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

CRITICAL

If a hearing lasts more than one-half day, an additional fee is due for each one-half day or part of a half-day, payable as directed by the Divorce Master.

If a hearing requires more than one-half day, an additional fee will be due for each one-half day or part thereof and paid for as directed by the Divorce Master.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Consumer credit card debt collection complaint

Plaintiffs are subject to additional e-filing fees as implemented by the Prothonotary.

Plaintiffs are required to electronically file complaints for consumer credit card debt collection actions and are subject to additional e-filing fees as may be implemented by the Lancaster County Prothonotary.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript

For transcripts delivered electronically, the initial ordering party’s costs are capped at the listed per-page rates, which vary by transcript type.

1. Electronic Format. The costs payable by the initial ordering party for a transcript delivered via electronic format shall not exceed: a. For an ordinary transcript, $2.50 per page b. For an expedited transcript, $3.50 per page c. For a daily transcript, $4.50 per page d. For same-day delivery, $6.50 per page e. For a realtime feed, $1.00 per page f. For complex litigation, $3.00 per page g. For rough drafts, $1.00 per page

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript request

A litigant’s transcript request alleging inability to pay because of economic hardship must be directed to the President Judge for determination.

E. Any requests by a litigant for a transcript pursuant to R.J.A 4007(E) alleging inability to pay due to economic hardship must be directed to the President Judge for determination as provided in L.C.R.J.A. 4008(B).

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Petition for adoption

The required fee must accompany an adoption petition filed with the Clerk.

The original and one copy of a petition for adoption shall be filed with the Clerk with the required fee.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Legal paper

A requisite filing fee applies to a legal paper; if it is submitted without the fee, acceptance for filing is deferred until payment is received.

if a legal paper is submitted without the requisite filing fee

CRITICAL

In all requests for a continuance, no continuances will be granted within 14 days of the conference without an order of Court and payment of the conference fee.

In all requests for a continuance, no continuances will be granted within 14 days of the conference without an order of Court and payment of the conference fee.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Complaint

The plaintiff must pay the applicable civil action filing fee and any e-filing fees set by the Prothonotary.

The Plaintiff pays the appropriate civil action filing fee and any additional fees for e-filing as set forth by the Lancaster County Prothonotary;

CRITICAL

Applies to

Continuance request

A conference continuance requested within 14 days of the conference will not be granted without a court order and payment of the conference fee.

In all requests for a continuance, no continuances will be granted within 14 days of the conference without an order of Court and payment of the conference fee.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Fee

300 dollars

A $300 Regional Booking Center fund fee is imposed on a defendant processed and booked at a Lancaster County Regional Booking Center if the defendant meets one of the listed disposition or offense conditions.

The Lancaster Countywide Regional Booking Center Plan having been approved by PCCD, a Regional Booking Center fund fee of three hundred dollars ($300) is imposed on any Defendant processed and booked through a Lancaster County Regional Booking Center at any time if the person: 1. Is placed on probation without verdict pursuant to Section 17 of the Act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.233, No. 64), known as The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act. 2. Received Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition for, pleads guilty or nolo contendere to, or is convicted of, a crime under the following: a. 18 Pa.C.S. ' 106(a) (relating to classes of offenses) b. 75 Pa.C.S. BOL 39 \f "WP TypographicSymbols" \s 12 3735 (relating to homicide by vehicle while driving under influence). c. 75 Pa.C.S. ‘3802 (relating to driving under influence of alcohol or controlled substance). d. A violation of The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion to appoint master

A party filing a motion to appoint a master must pay the fee set by the Prothonotary’s fee bill in addition to normal filing fees, and that fee is not refundable.

The party filing a Motion to Appoint Master pursuant to this rule shall pay the sum required by the Prothonotary' s fee bill, in addition to any normal filing fees. This sum is not refundable.

CRITICAL

Applicable filing fees must be paid electronically under clerk-established procedures and in the timing and amount set by the governing authority or published fee schedule.

Applicable filing fees shall be paid electronically through procedures established by the clerk of courts and at the same time and in the same amount as required by statute, court rule or order, or established by a published fee schedule.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript request

A litigant ordering a transcript must pay a deposit equal to 95% of its estimated total cost by check payable to the County of Lancaster, delivered to the Chief Court Reporter.

1. The litigant ordering the transcript shall make payment in the amount of 95% of the estimated total cost of the transcript. Deposit checks are to be made payable to the County of Lancaster` and shall be delivered to the Chief Court Reporter.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Custody conference request

In a divorce action, either party may request a custody conference by filing an order with the complaint or a motion, and must pay the administrative fee when requesting the conference.

C. When a custody claim is asserted in a divorce action, either party may request a date and time for a conference on the custody issue by filing an order with the complaint or with a motion. The administrative fee must be paid to the Prothonotary when the conference is requested.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript

For paper-format transcripts, the initial ordering party’s costs are capped at the listed per-page rates, which vary by transcript type.

2. 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 b. For an expedited transcript, $3.75 per page c. For a daily transcript, $4.75 per page d. For same-day delivery, $6.75 per page e. For a realtime feed, $1.00 per page f. For complex litigation, $3.25 per page g. For rough drafts, $1.25 per page

CRITICAL

Applies to

Residential mortgage foreclosure complaint

For paper filing, the complaint must be accompanied by checks for the applicable filing fee and civil process fee, payable to the respective county offices.

One check made payable to the Lancaster County Prothonotary for the applicable filing fee, and one check made payable to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office for the civil process fee;

CRITICAL

Filing fees and payments must be paid at filing through the CountySuite Portal using an authorized credit card, and cannot be deposited with the Prothonotary in advance.

All filing fees and payments shall be made at the time of filing with an authorized credit card through the CountySuite Portal. Authorized cards shall include Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. Filing fees and payments may not be deposited in advance with the Prothonotary.

CRITICAL

Fee

$35

Applies to

Residential mortgage foreclosure complaint

Eligible residential mortgage foreclosure complaints must be accompanied by a nonrefundable $35 fee payable to the Lancaster County Prothonotary.

All complaints for residential mortgage foreclosure actions eligible for participation in the Foreclosure Diversion Program shall be accompanied by a $35 fee payable to the Lancaster County Prothonotary. This fee is nonrefundable.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applicable filing fees must be paid electronically under the clerk’s procedures, in the amount and at the time required by governing authority or the published fee schedule.

D. Applicable filing fees shall be paid electronically through procedures established by the clerk of courts and at the same time and in the same amount as required by statute, court rule or order, or established by a published fee schedule.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Adoption petition

The required fee must accompany the filing of an adoption petition.

The original and one copy of a petition for adoption shall be filed with the Clerk with the required fee.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript

The final transcript balance must be paid by check payable to the County of Lancaster and delivered to the Chief Court Reporter; after payment, the reporter obtains the presiding judge’s signature and delivers the original transcript to the appropriate filing office.

4. Checks for the final balance are to be made payable to the County of Lancaster and shall be delivered to the Chief Court Reporter. Upon payment of the balance owed, the court reporter(s) shall obtain the signature of the presiding judge on the original transcript and shall deliver the original transcript to the appropriate filing office.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Residential mortgage foreclosure complaint

The plaintiff must pay the applicable civil action filing fee and any additional e-filing fees set by the Lancaster County Prothonotary.

The Plaintiff shall pay the appropriate civil action filing fee and any additional fees for e-filing as set forth by the Lancaster County Prothonotary:

CRITICAL

Applies to

Custody conference request

When a custody claim is asserted in a divorce action, either party may request a custody conference by filing an order with the complaint or a motion, and must pay the administrative fee when requesting the conference.

C. When a custody claim is asserted in a divorce action, either party may request a date and time for a conference on the custody issue by filing an order with the complaint or with a motion. The administrative fee must be paid to the Prothonotary when the conference is requested.

CRITICAL

Fee

$35

Applies to

Residential mortgage foreclosure complaint

Complaints eligible for the Foreclosure Diversion Program must include a nonrefundable $35 fee payable to the Lancaster County Prothonotary.

B. All complaints for residential mortgage foreclosure actions eligible for participation in the Foreclosure Diversion Program shall be accompanied by a $35 fee payable to the Lancaster County Prothonotary. This fee is nonrefundable.

CRITICAL

The plaintiff must pay the civil action filing fee and any additional e-filing fees set by the Lancaster County Prothonotary.

The Plaintiff pays the appropriate civil action filing fee and any additional fees for e-filing as set forth by the Lancaster County Prothonotary;

CRITICAL

Applies to

Custody complaint

An additional administrative fee, assessed by court order, must be paid to the Prothonotary when the custody complaint is filed.

B. In addition to fees assessed for filing a complaint, an additional administrative fee shall be assessed by order of Court and shall be paid to the Prothonotary at the filing of the custody complaint.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Filing

Filing fees and payments must be paid at filing by an authorized credit card through the CountySuite Portal and may not be deposited with the Prothonotary in advance.

All filing fees and payments shall be made at the time of filing with an authorized credit card through the CountySuite Portal. Authorized cards shall include Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. Filing fees and payments may not be deposited in advance with the Prothonotary.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Residential mortgage foreclosure complaint

For an electronically filed complaint, the plaintiff must provide a check payable to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office for the civil process fee.

The Plaintiff shall provide (1) a check made payable to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office for the civil process fee;

CRITICAL

Applies to

Custody complaint

An additional administrative fee, assessed by court order, must be paid to the Prothonotary when a custody complaint is filed.

B. In addition to fees assessed for filing a complaint, an additional administrative fee shall be assessed by order of Court and shall be paid to the Prothonotary at the filing of the custody complaint.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Fee

$25

A $25 processing fee is assessed for each summary offense listed on an ARD Order, and program costs are collected like prosecution costs and paid to the County of Lancaster general fund, unless changed by administrative order.

In addition to fees and charges imposed by statute or by the Supreme Court, fees which relate to the expense of administering the A.R.D. program may be imposed as a condition of the A.R.D. Program. Until changed by administrative order, the following shall be assessed a defendant, a twenty-five dollars ($25.00) processing fee for each individual summary offense listed on the court case A.R.D. Order to cover expenses related to the administration of the A.R.D. program. The reasonable costs associated with administering the program shall be collected in the same manner as cost of prosecution and shall be payable to the County of Lancaster general fund.

WARNING

Fee

$300

Applies to

Regional booking center processing

A $300 Regional Booking Center fund fee is imposed on a defendant booked at a Lancaster County Regional Booking Center who meets one of the stated criminal case conditions.

The Lancaster Countywide Regional Booking Center Plan having been approved by PCCD, a Regional Booking Center fund fee of three hundred dollars ($300) is imposed on any Defendant processed and booked through a Lancaster County Regional Booking Center at any time if the person: 1. Is placed on probation without verdict pursuant to Section 17 of the Act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.233, No. 64), known as The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act. 2. Received Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition for, pleads guilty or nolo contendere to, or is convicted of, a crime under the following: a. 18 Pa.C.S. ' 106(a) (relating to classes of offenses) b. 75 Pa.C.S. BOL 39 \f "WP TypographicSymbols" \s 12 3735 (relating to homicide by vehicle while driving under influence). c. 75 Pa.C.S. ‘3802 (relating to driving under influence of alcohol or controlled substance). d. A violation of The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act.

WARNING

Applies to

Public access request

Public access requests incur charges of $0.25 per photocopied page, no staff-time fee for the first hour and $6 per quarter-hour thereafter (minimum one quarter-hour), plus actual postage; the court may waive these fees if the judge determines the requester is indigent.

The following fees shall be charged to the public in response to requests for public access to the official case records of the magisterial district courts: 1. Photocopies per page - $.25 2. Staff time required to respond to a public access request - No fee for the first hour of staff time. After the first hour, the fee shall be $6 per ¼ hour with a minimum of ¼ hour. 3. Actual postage costs incurred by the court. 4. Fees under this paragraph may be waived by the court if the magisterial district judge determines that the requestor is indigent.

WARNING

Fee

6

Applies to

Public access request

Staff time for a public access request is free for the first hour; afterward, the fee is $6 per quarter hour, with a quarter-hour minimum.

Staff time required to respond to a public access request - No fee for the first hour of staff time. After the first hour, the fee shall be $6 per ¼ hour with a minimum of ¼ hour.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Report of investigation

The investigation-report fee is taxed as costs to the adopting parent or parents and paid directly to the agency.

The fee for the report of investigation shall be taxed as costs to the adopting parent or parents and is payable directly to the agency.

WARNING

Fee

0.25

Applies to

Public access request

Photocopies of official case records cost $0.25 per page.

Photocopies per page - $.25

WARNING

Applies to

Complaint

Plaintiffs are subject to additional e-filing fees for consumer credit card debt collection complaints if implemented by the Lancaster County Prothonotary.

Plaintiffs are required to electronically file complaints for consumer credit card debt collection actions and are subject to additional e-filing fees as may be implemented by the Lancaster County Prothonotary.

WARNING

If a hearing lasts more than one-half day, an additional fee is due for each additional one-half day or part of one-half day, payable as directed by the Divorce Master.

If a hearing requires more than one-half day, an additional fee will be due for each one-half day or part thereof and paid for as directed by the Divorce Master.

WARNING

Applies to

Public access request

A public access requester must pay the actual postage costs incurred by the court.

Actual postage costs incurred by the court.

WARNING

Applies to

Filing

Fees billed through the CountySuite Portal must include the Prothonotary’s statutory filing fees.

Filing fees billed by CountySuite Portal shall include the Prothonotary’s statutory filing fees.

WARNING

Applies to

Public access request

The court may waive the public access request fees if the magisterial district judge determines that the requester is indigent.

Fees under this paragraph may be waived by the court if the magisterial district judge determines that the requestor is indigent.

WARNING

Fees billed through the CountySuite Portal must include the Prothonotary’s statutory filing fees.

Filing fees billed by CountySuite Portal shall include the Prothonotary’s statutory filing fees.

INFO

Applies to

E filing

The Prothonotary may charge an e-filing convenience fee according to the Prothonotary’s fee schedule.

The Prothonotary is authorized to charge a convenience fee for E-Filing as set forth in the Prothonotary’s fee schedule.

INFO

The Prothonotary may charge an e-filing convenience fee according to the Prothonotary’s fee schedule.

The Prothonotary is authorized to charge a convenience fee for E-Filing as set forth in the Prothonotary’s fee schedule.