Oregon Statutes - Chapter 21 - Fees Generally - Section 21.480 - Legal aid and mediation program fees in circuit courts.

(1) In all counties wherein legal representation is provided for the poor without fee by a nonprofit legal aid program operating under the Legal Services Program established pursuant to ORS 9.572, the clerk of the circuit court shall collect the fees provided for in subsection (2) of this section to assist in defraying the operating costs of the legal aid program and to fund mediation programs offered through the State Department of Agriculture. The fees provided for in subsection (2) of this section are in addition to all other fees collected by the clerk of the court and shall be collected by the clerk in the same manner that other fees are collected by the clerk.

(2) The clerk shall collect the following fees from the plaintiff or other moving party in each civil suit, action or proceeding in the circuit court when the plaintiff or party files the first document in the suit, action or proceeding, and from a defendant or respondent when the defendant or respondent files an appearance in the suit, action or proceeding:

(a) $9.50, for filings in the small claims department of a circuit court.

(b) $18, upon the filing of a complaint that is subject to the filing fee established under ORS 105.130 (2). If the defendant demands a trial, the clerk shall collect a fee of $38 from the defendant, and an additional fee of $21 from the plaintiff. In no event shall the plaintiff in an action subject to the filing fee established under ORS 105.130 be required to pay a total fee of more than $39 under the provisions of this subsection.

(c) $33, if the action, suit or proceeding is subject to the filing fees established by ORS 21.111.

(d) $30, if the action, suit or proceeding is subject to the filing fees established by ORS 21.110 (2).

(e) $38, for any other filings in a circuit court not specifically provided for in this subsection, including all probate proceedings, protective proceedings under ORS chapter 125, adoption proceedings and change of name proceedings.

(3) In addition to the fees provided for in ORS 21.010, the State Court Administrator shall collect a fee of $55 from an appellant or petitioner whenever a filing fee is collected under ORS 21.010 and a fee of $15 from each respondent whenever an appearance fee is collected under ORS 21.010.

(4) All fees collected by the clerk under this section shall be deposited with the State Court Administrator. All fees collected under this section shall be distributed in the manner provided by ORS 9.574.

(5) Ten percent of the funds deposited with the State Court Administrator under this section shall be transferred by the State Court Administrator on a monthly basis to the State Department of Agriculture, until such time as the amount specified under subsection (6) of this section has been transferred to the State Department of Agriculture for the biennium. Moneys transferred to the State Department of Agriculture under this section are continuously appropriated to the department and may be used by the department only for the purpose of funding mediation programs established by the department. Moneys appropriated to the department under this subsection may not be used by the department to fund the costs of conducting individual farm credit mediations. The department shall consult with the director of the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government in establishing and operating mediation programs funded under this subsection.

(6) The amount transferred by the State Court Administrator to the State Department of Agriculture under subsection (5) of this section may not exceed $150,000 in any biennium. [1977 c.112 §1; 1981 c.664 §1; 1983 c.114 §1; 1985 c.342 §5; 1989 c.385 §1; 1997 c.801 §§45,45a; 2003 c.737 §§92,94,96; 2003 c.791 §§8,8a; 2005 c.817 §2; 2007 c.129 §18]

Note: The amendments to 21.480 by section 24, chapter 860, Oregon Laws 2007, apply only to filings made in circuit courts on or after July 1, 2009. See section 25, chapter 860, Oregon Laws 2007. The text that applies on and after July 1, 2009, is set forth for the user’s convenience.

21.480. (1) In all counties wherein legal representation is provided for the poor without fee by a nonprofit legal aid program operating under the Legal Services Program established pursuant to ORS 9.572, the clerk of the circuit court shall collect the fees provided for in subsection (2) of this section to assist in defraying the operating costs of the legal aid program and to fund mediation programs offered through the State Department of Agriculture. The fees provided for in subsection (2) of this section are in addition to all other fees collected by the clerk of the court and shall be collected by the clerk in the same manner that other fees are collected by the clerk.

(2) The clerk shall collect the following fees from the plaintiff or other moving party in each civil suit, action or proceeding in the circuit court when the plaintiff or party files the first document in the suit, action or proceeding, and from a defendant or respondent when the defendant or respondent files an appearance in the suit, action or proceeding:

(a) $10.50, for filings in the small claims department of a circuit court.

(b) $20, upon the filing of a complaint that is subject to the filing fee established under ORS 105.130 (2). If the defendant demands a trial, the clerk shall collect a fee of $41 from the defendant, and an additional fee of $23 from the plaintiff. In no event shall the plaintiff in an action subject to the filing fee established under ORS 105.130 be required to pay a total fee of more than $43 under the provisions of this subsection.

(c) $35, if the action, suit or proceeding is subject to the filing fees established by ORS 21.111.

(d) $32, if the action, suit or proceeding is subject to the filing fees established by ORS 21.110 (2).

(e) $41, for any other filings in a circuit court not specifically provided for in this subsection, including all probate proceedings, protective proceedings under ORS chapter 125, adoption proceedings and change of name proceedings.

(3) In addition to the fees provided for in ORS 21.010, the State Court Administrator shall collect a fee of $58 from an appellant or petitioner whenever a filing fee is collected under ORS 21.010 and a fee of $18 from each respondent whenever an appearance fee is collected under ORS 21.010.

(4) All fees collected by the clerk under this section shall be deposited with the State Court Administrator. All fees collected under this section shall be distributed in the manner provided by ORS 9.574.

(5) Ten percent of the funds deposited with the State Court Administrator under this section shall be transferred by the State Court Administrator on a monthly basis to the State Department of Agriculture, until such time as the amount specified under subsection (6) of this section has been transferred to the State Department of Agriculture for the biennium. Moneys transferred to the State Department of Agriculture under this section are continuously appropriated to the department and may be used by the department only for the purpose of funding mediation programs established by the department. Moneys appropriated to the department under this subsection may not be used by the department to fund the costs of conducting individual farm credit mediations. The department shall consult with the director of the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government in establishing and operating mediation programs funded under this subsection.

(6) The amount transferred by the State Court Administrator to the State Department of Agriculture under subsection (5) of this section may not exceed $150,000 in any biennium.

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Last modified: August 7, 2008