MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2017 Regular Session
To: Ways and Means
By: Representatives Cockerham, Mickens
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 25-7-25 AND 25-7-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE FEE THAT JUSTICE COURT JUDGES AND CIRCUIT COURT CLERKS CHARGE TO ISSUE A MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 25-7-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
25-7-25. (1) Costs and fees in the justice court shall be charged as follows and shall be paid in advance to the clerk of the justice court in accordance with the provisions of Section 9-11-10:
(a) A uniform total fee in all civil cases, whether contested or uncontested, which shall include all services in connection therewith, except as hereinafter stated, each....................... $25.00
(b) For more than one (1) defendant, for service of process on each defendant........................................... 5.00
(c) After final judgment has been enrolled, further proceedings involving levy of execution on judgments, and attachment and garnishment proceedings.............................................. 15.00
(d) For all services in connection with the issuance of a peace bond..................................................... 25.00
(e) For celebrating a marriage, and certificate
thereof............................................ * * * 20.00
(f) Commission to take depositions............ 5.00
(g) Appeal with proceedings and bond.......... 5.00
(h) A clerk's fee to be collected in all criminal cases in which the defendant is convicted, as follows:
(i) For all violations in Title 63 other than driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or reckless driving. 5.00
(ii) All other criminal cases............ 25.00
(2) The justice court shall have the power to impose a fee not to exceed Fifty Dollars ($50.00) for an expungement or dismissal of any criminal affidavit, complaint or charge.
(3) In addition to the salary provided for in subsection (1) of Section 25-3-36, each justice court judge may receive a fee of not more than Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) for each marriage ceremony he performs in the courtroom or offices of the justice court at any time the courtroom or offices are open to the public. This fee shall be paid by the parties to the marriage. Each justice court judge may receive money or gratuities for marriage ceremonies performed outside of and away from the courtroom and the offices of the justice court, that the parties to the marriage request to have performed at any time the courtroom or offices of the justice court are closed. These monies or gratuities, in an amount agreed upon by the parties to the marriage, are not considered fees for the justice court and are not subject to the requirements set forth in the provisions of Section 9-11-10.
SECTION 2. Section 25-7-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
25-7-13. (1) The clerks of the circuit court shall charge the following fees:
(a) Docketing, filing, marking and registering each complaint, petition and indictment............................... $ 85.00
The fee set forth in this paragraph shall be the total fee for all services performed by the clerk up to and including entry of judgment with respect to each complaint, petition or indictment, including all answers, claims, orders, continuances and other papers filed therein, issuing each writ, summons, subpoena or other such instruments, swearing witnesses, taking and recording bonds and pleas, and recording judgments, orders, fiats and certificates; the fee shall be payable upon filing and shall accrue to the clerk at the time of collection. The clerk or his successor in office shall perform all duties set forth above without additional compensation or fee.
(b) Docketing and filing each motion to renew judgment, notice of renewal of judgment, suggestion for a writ of garnishment, suggestion for a writ of execution and judgment debtor actions and issuing all process, filing and recording orders or other papers and swearing
witnesses............................................. $ 35.00
(c) For every civil case filed, an additional fee to be deposited to the credit of the Comprehensive Electronic Court Systems Fund established in Section 9-21-14........................ $ 10.00
(d) For every civil case filed, an additional fee to be deposited to the credit of the Judicial System Operation Fund established in Section 9-21-45.................................... $ 40.00
(2) Except as provided in subsection (1) of this section, the clerks of the circuit court shall charge the following fees:
(a) Filing and marking each order or other paper and recording and indexing same..................................... $ 2.00
(b) Issuing each writ, summons, subpoena, citation, capias and other such instruments................................ $ 1.00
(c) Administering an oath and taking bond.. $ 2.00
(d) Certifying copies of filed documents, for each complete document.............................................. $ 1.00
(e) Recording orders, fiats, licenses, certificates, oaths and bonds:
First page.................................. $ 2.00
Each additional page........................ $ 1.00
(f) Furnishing copies of any papers of record or on file and entering marginal notations on documents of record:
If performed by the clerk or his employee,
per page.............................................. $ 1.00
If performed by any other person, per page.. $ .25
(g) Judgment roll entry.................... $ 5.00
(h) Taxing cost and certificate............ $ 1.00
(i) For taking and recording application for marriage
license, for filing and recording consent of parents when required by law, for
filing and recording medical certificate, filing and recording proof of age,
recording and issuing license, recording and filing returns............................................... $
* * * 30.00
The clerk shall deposit Fourteen Dollars ($14.00) of each fee collected for a marriage license in the Victims of Domestic Violence Fund established in Section 93-21-117, on a monthly basis.
(j) For certified copy of marriage license and search of record, the same fee charged by the Bureau of Vital Statistics of the State Board of Health.
(k) For public service not particularly provided for, the circuit court may allow the clerk, per annum, to be paid by the county on presentation of the circuit court's order, the following amount $5,000.00
However, in the counties having two (2) judicial districts, such above allowance shall be made for each judicial district.
(l) For drawing jurors and issuing venire, to be paid by the county................................................ $ 5.00
(m) For each day's attendance upon the circuit court term, for himself and necessary deputies allowed by the court, each to be paid by the county............................................ $ 50.00
(n) Summons, each juror to be paid by the county upon the allowance of the court................................ $ 1.00
(o) For issuing each grand jury subpoena, to be paid by the county on allowance by the court, not to exceed Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) in any one (1) term of court................. $ 1.00
(p) For each civil filing, to be deposited into the Civil Legal Assistance Fund....................................... $ 5.00
(3) On order of the court, clerks and deputies may be allowed five (5) extra days for attendance upon the court to get up records.
(4) The clerk's fees in state cases where the state fails in the prosecution, or in cases of felony where the defendant is convicted and the cost cannot be made out of his estate, in an amount not to exceed Four Hundred Dollars ($400.00) in one (1) year, shall be paid out of the county treasury on approval of the circuit court, and the allowance thereof by the board of supervisors of the county. In counties having two (2) judicial districts, such allowance shall be made in each judicial district; however, the maximum thereof shall not exceed Eight Hundred Dollars ($800.00). Clerks in the circuit court, in cases where appeals are taken in criminal cases and no appeal bond is filed, shall be allowed by the board of supervisors of the county after approval of their accounts by the circuit court, in addition to the above fees, for making such transcript the rate of Two Dollars ($2.00) per page.
(5) The clerk of the circuit court may retain as his commission on all money coming into his hands, by law or order of the court, a sum to be fixed by the court not exceeding one-half of one percent (1/2 of 1%) on all such sums.
(6) For making final records required by law, including, but not limited to, circuit and county court minutes, and furnishing transcripts of records, the circuit clerk shall charge Two Dollars ($2.00) per page. The same fees shall be allowed to all officers for making and certifying copies of records or papers which they are authorized to copy and certify.
(7) The circuit clerk shall prepare an itemized statement of fees for services performed, cost incurred, or for furnishing copies of any papers of record or on file, and shall submit the statement to the parties or, if represented, to their attorneys within sixty (60) days. A bill for same shall accompany the statement.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2017.