Civil case filing fees-amendments.

Plain English Breakdown

The official bill text does not specify how the additional $40 in filing fees will be allocated, only that it increases the total fee to $160. The original candidate statement about allocation was removed as unsupported by the provided source material.

Increasing Civil Case Filing Fees

This law raises the original filing fee for civil cases in district court from $120 to $160 and provides funding for this increase.

What This Bill Does

• Increases the initial cost to file a civil case in district court by $40, making it $160 instead of $120.
• Allocates $47,800 from state funds and $79,200 from federal funds to help cover this fee increase for people who need financial assistance.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who file civil cases in district courts will pay a higher initial fee.
• The Department of Family Services will receive funds to help cover the increased filing fees for people needing financial assistance.

Terms To Know

Civil case

A legal dispute between individuals or organizations that is not criminal in nature, such as a lawsuit over money or property.

Filing fee

The cost paid to the court when starting a legal case or submitting documents.

Limits and Unknowns

• This law does not apply to state agencies until July 1, 2024.
• It is unclear how this change will affect people who cannot afford the higher filing fee.

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 23LSO-0002
Bill No.:

HB0014

Effective:

7/1/2023

LSO No.:

23LSO-0002

Enrolled Act No.:

HEA No. 0089

Chapter No.:

161

Prime Sponsor:

Joint Judiciary Interim Committee

Catch Title:

Civil case filing fees-amendments.

Subject:

Increasing the amount of the original filing fee for civil actions in district court.

Summary/Major Elements:

This act increases the original filing fee for civil actions in district court by forty dollars ($40.00), going from one hundred twenty dollars ($120.00) to one hundred sixty dollars ($160.00). In doing so, the civil filing fee will be equal to the filing fee for probate cases.

The act appropriates forty-seven thousand eight hundred dollars ($47,800.00) from the general fund and seventy-nine thousand two hundred dollars ($79,200.00) from federal funds to the Department of Family Services for purposes of paying the increased filing fee in civil actions for fiscal year 2024.

The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent.

While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

23LSO-0002

ORIGINAL House

ENGROSSED
Bill No
.
HB0014

ENROLLED ACT NO. 89,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2023 General Session

AN ACT relating to courts; increasing the original filing fee required for commencing or filing civil matters in district court; providing appropriations; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 5
‑
3
‑
206(a)(i) is amended to read:

5
‑
3
‑
206.

Fees.

(a)

For all civil matters filed or commenced, the clerk of each district court shall charge the following fees:

(i)

For filing instruments or documents in each civil action and certifying one (1) copy of any order, decree or judgment at the time of its filing for each party, an original filing fee of
one hundred twenty dollars ($120.00)
one hundred sixty dollars ($160.00),
which shall be paid by the plaintiff.

This fee shall apply to original actions commenced and to actions that are reopened after a final decree previously has been entered. Forty dollars ($40.00) of the filing fee shall be for court automation, ten dollars ($10.00) shall be for indigent civil legal services and both shall be remitted as provided in W.S. 5
‑
3
‑
205;

Section 2.

There is appropriated

forty-seven thousand eight hundred dollars ($47,800.00) from the general fund and there is appropriated seventy-nine thousand two hundred dollars ($79,200.00) from federal funds to the department of family services for payment of fees increased under this act for the period beginning July 1, 2023 and ending June 30, 2024.

This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose.

Any unexpended, unobligated funds from these appropriations shall revert on June 30, 2024 as provided by law.

Section 3
.

This act is effective July 1, 2023
.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

1