Florida Legislature Increases Several Court Fees and Charges
Governor Charlie Crist signed legislation that increased more than 140 court-related fees on July 1, 2008. The bill, titled CS/SB 1790, raises fees on a wide variety of court-related activities, including divorce filings, tenant evictions, applying for a public defender, recording official documents, traffic infraction fines and some costs related to criminal prosecutions.
The increases range from an additional 50 cents to certify a public record to the doubling of fines for offenses like DUI. The legislation also adds fees, including a new $10 charge for issuing a summons and a $295 fee for filing a counterclaim, cross-claim or third party complaint.
Why the Increase?
The Florida Legislature, not the Clerk’s office or local judiciary, regulates court fees. Fees have not been adjusted since 2004 when a revision of Article V of the Florida Constitution altered how the court system is funded. The fee increases are expected to ease, but not eliminate, next year’s budget shortfalls in the state court system. The changes will generate an estimated $121 million for the state’s general revenue fund, $75 million of which would be allocated for Florida’s courts, prisons, state attorney, public defender and other related offices. While the Clerk’s office is responsible for collecting fees for various court-related activities, it will not receive any additional revenue from these increases.
For a list of fees or more information, visit www.mypalmbeachclerk.com or call the Clerk & Comptroller at (561) 355-2996.