Florida Courts Want More of Your Money
Whether you're going through a divorce, evicting a tenant, or paying a simple parking ticket - you expect to pay more.
The Florida Legislature is increasing several court fees.
Take a look at the press release sent to CBS12.com:
Changes Take Effect on July 1, 2008
WEST PALM BEACH, FL (June 16, 2008) - Governor Charlie Crist recently signed into law legislation that increases 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 filing for divorce, 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 legislature also added some fees, including a new $10 charge for issuing summons and a $295 fee for filing a counterclaim, cross-claim, or third party complaint. A list of the most commonly used fees is available online at the Clerk & Comptroller's Web site, www.mypalmbeachclerk.com.
The last day to file court actions under the old fees will be June 30, 2008, by 5 p.m.
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 next year's budget shortfalls in the state court system, but not eliminate them. 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) 355-2468.
