FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 5277

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Background: The district courts in Washington State are courts of limited jurisdiction. They have concurrent jurisdiction with superior courts over misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor violations and civil cases under $75,000. District courts have exclusive jurisdiction over small claims and infractions. Washington State has 49 district courts established in the 39 counties.District court clerks are required by statute to collect certain fees for their official services. Some of the official services for which district court clerks collect a fee include issuance of a writ, filing a supplemental proceeding, preparation of a transcript of a judgment, certification of any document on file or of record, and preparation of the record of a case for appeal to superior court.

Summary: At the option of the district court, clerks may collect fees for the following services:

preparing a certified copy of an instrument on file or of record in the clerk's office: $5 for the first page or a portion of the first page and $1 for each additional page;
authenticating or exemplifying an instrument: $2 for each additional seal affixed;
preparing a copy of an instrument on file or of record without a seal: 50 cents per page;
copying a document without a seal or that is in an electronic format: 25 cents per page;
copies made on a CD: $20 per CD;
receiving faxed documents authorized by court rules: up to $3 for the first page and $1 for each additional page; and
services such as processing ex parte orders, performing historical searches, compiling statistical reports, and conducting exceptional record searches: up to $20 per hour or portion of an hour.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate	34	15
House	59	39	(House amended)
Senate	33	12	(Senate concurred)