> 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).

# Configuring Fees

Fee schedules define what filers are charged for each filing. Fees can be configured at multiple levels of specificity -- from a blanket fee for an entire court down to a fee for a specific docket entry within a specific filing type.

{% hint style="info" %}
Fee amounts are charged to the filer's stored card when a clerk accepts a filing. Specific fee amounts vary by parish and filing type -- consult your parish's fee schedule (e.g., Louisiana R.S. 13:841 for civil filing fees) and configure the matching amounts here. The system does not ship with pre-loaded fee amounts; each parish must configure its own schedule.
{% endhint %}

## Viewing Fee Schedules

Navigate to **Admin > Fee Schedules** and select a parish from the **Parish** dropdown at the top. You must select a parish before you can view or edit fee schedules. The table shows the court, filing type, docket entry, fee type, amount, and effective date for each schedule.

## Fee Types

The system supports three fee structures:

| Fee Type      | How It Works                                                                                                 |
| ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Flat**      | A fixed dollar amount regardless of page count. Example: $250.00 per filing                                  |
| **Per Page**  | A base amount plus an additional charge for each page in the document. Example: $50.00 base + $2.00 per page |
| **Graduated** | A tiered fee that varies based on conditions. The base amount represents the fee for the first tier          |

## Adding a Fee Schedule

1. Click **Add Fee Schedule**.
2. Fill in the form:

| Field                 | Required          | Description                                                                                                   |
| --------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Court**             | Yes               | The court this fee applies to                                                                                 |
| **Filing Type**       | No                | Optionally limit this fee to a specific filing type. Leave as "All case types" for a court-wide fee           |
| **Docket Entry**      | No                | Optionally limit this fee to a specific docket entry. Leave as "All docket entries" for broader applicability |
| **Fee Type**          | Yes               | Select Flat, Per Page, or Graduated                                                                           |
| **Amount ($)**        | Yes               | The base fee amount                                                                                           |
| **Per Page Rate ($)** | Only for Per Page | Additional charge per page. Only shown when fee type is "Per Page"                                            |
| **Description**       | No                | Optional note about this fee (e.g., "Standard civil filing fee")                                              |
| **Effective Date**    | Yes               | The date this fee takes effect                                                                                |
| **Expiration Date**   | No                | The date this fee expires. Leave blank if the fee has no end date                                             |

3. Click **Create**.

{% hint style="info" %}
**📹 GIF:** Adding a fee schedule -- clicking "Add Fee Schedule," selecting a court and filing type, choosing "Per Page" as the fee type, entering the base amount and per-page rate, setting the effective date, and clicking Create.
{% endhint %}

## Fee Resolution Order

When the system calculates fees for a filing, it looks for the most specific matching fee schedule:

1. **Court + Filing Type + Docket Entry** -- Most specific match
2. **Court + Filing Type** -- Matches any docket entry for that filing type
3. **Court only** -- Fallback fee for the entire court

Only fee schedules whose effective date has passed and whose expiration date (if set) has not yet passed are considered.

## Managing Effective Dates

Use effective and expiration dates to schedule fee changes in advance:

* To **increase a fee** on a future date, create a new fee schedule with the new amount and the future effective date. Set the expiration date on the old schedule to the day before.
* To **sunset a fee**, set an expiration date on the existing schedule.
* To **replace a fee immediately**, update the existing schedule or create a new one with today's effective date.

{% hint style="warning" %}
If multiple fee schedules overlap for the same court, filing type, and docket entry, the system uses the most recently effective one. Avoid overlapping date ranges to prevent confusion.
{% endhint %}

## Editing and Deleting

* Click the **pencil icon** to edit an existing fee schedule
* Click the **trash icon** to delete. Deleting a fee schedule does not affect fees already calculated on submitted filings

{% hint style="info" %}
**📹 GIF:** The fee schedules table showing court, filing type, docket entry, fee type, amount, and effective date columns -- clicking the pencil icon to edit an existing schedule and updating the amount.
{% endhint %}


---

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