> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.cottfile.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.cottfile.com/admin-guide/configuring-fees.md).

# Fees

Fees are not configured in the Admin Panel. The court-side amount comes from Verdict CMS, and the platform fees are fixed in code. The **Fee Schedules** page in the parish sidebar is a **read-only** view that mirrors Verdict CMS.

{% hint style="info" %}
**There is no fee builder.** The Admin Panel does not let you define flat, per-page, or graduated fee rules, and there is no fee-versioning by effective date. This page documents how a filer's charge is actually computed and what the read-only Fee Schedules view shows.
{% endhint %}

## How a Filing Is Charged

When a clerk accepts a filing, the filer's stored card is charged the sum of three parts:

1. **Court amount** — the court's docket total for the filing, sourced from Verdict CMS (after any advance-deposit drawdown and clerk adjustments).
2. **E-filing fee** — a fixed **$6.00** platform fee.
3. **Convenience fee** — **3.05%** of the court amount plus the e-filing fee.

The court amount, e-filing fee, and convenience fee always sum to the total the card is charged. The e-filing and convenience fees are hidden from the clerk UI but are part of the filer's total.

## Fee Exemptions

A filing is fee-exempt when its case type carries a **$0 base fee** — for example, criminal case types. Exemption is a property of the case type in Verdict, **not** an account-level or organization-level flag. Fee-waived filings are charged $0 (no court amount, no e-filing fee, no convenience fee).

## Advance Deposits

Some case types carry a **base fee** in Verdict that acts as an advance deposit. On a new case, that base fee seeds the case's deposit balance; subsequent filings draw the balance down. On an existing case, the current deposit balance is used. Filers are charged only the shortfall once the deposit is exhausted.

## The Read-Only Fee Schedules View

Open a parish from the **Parishes** card grid, then choose **Fee Schedules** in the parish sidebar. The page shows a read-only table sourced from Verdict CMS, with columns for **Category**, **Type**, **Amount**, **Filing Type**, **Document Type**, and **Effective** date. If no fee schedules have synced, the page shows "No fee schedules configured."

{% hint style="info" %}
This view reflects what Verdict CMS holds. To change court fees, change them in Verdict — there is nothing to edit here.
{% endhint %}


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