> 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 For parishes on Verdict CMS, fees are not configured in the Admin Panel: the court-side amount comes from Verdict, 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. **Standalone parishes are the exception** -- see below. {% 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 Fee Schedules view shows. {% endhint %} ## How a Filing Is Charged When a clerk accepts a filing, the filer's stored card is **charged first** -- before anything is stamped or recorded. The charge is the sum of three parts: 1. **Court amount** -- the court's docket total for the filing (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. A filing with a $0 court amount that isn't waived still charges the platform minimum of **$6.18**. If the card declines, the filing moves to **Payment Failed**: nothing is stamped and nothing is recorded with the court. The filer pays from their "Payments due" page, and the filing returns to the clerk's queue for a normal acceptance -- which does not charge again. ## Deposits and Top-Ups * Some case types carry a **base fee** that acts as an advance deposit. On a new case it seeds the case's deposit balance; later filings draw it down, and filers are charged only the shortfall. * Filers can add an **Additional Advance Deposit** or an **Escrow Deposit** with a filing, and can top up an existing case's deposit from the filing screen (**Add Funds**). A standalone top-up charges only the 3.05% convenience fee -- no $6 e-filing fee. * New deposit money is added to the court amount **before** the platform fees are calculated. ## Fee Exemptions and Waivers There are several distinct mechanisms: * **Fee-exempt case types** -- a case type is exempt only when its advance-deposit schedule is **exactly $0** and no filing subtype carries a positive base fee that overrides it. A case type with **no** schedule at all is not exempt -- its filings still charge docket fees (or the $6.18 platform minimum). * **Fee-exempt organizations** -- the **Fee exempt** toggle on the [Organizations](/admin-guide/organizations.md) page waives every filing from that organization automatically; the clerk sees a banner and no approval is needed. * **Government filers** -- waiver requests with reason "Government Agency" are approved automatically at submission. * **Filer-requested waivers** -- reviewed by the clerk, who can **Approve Waiver** (nothing is charged) or **Deny**. * **Defer Court Costs** -- a clerk option on existing civil cases: the court's costs are drawn from the deposit already on the case, but the $6 + 3.05% platform fees are still charged. A filing that carries an advance or escrow deposit cannot be fully waived -- the deposit money must be collected, so the clerk uses Defer Court Costs instead. ## The Fee Schedules View (Verdict Parishes) Open a parish from the **Parishes** card grid, then choose **Fee Schedules** in the parish sidebar. The page shows a read-only table sourced from Verdict CMS, with columns for **Category**, **Type**, **Amount**, **Filing Type**, **Document Type**, and **Effective** date. If no fee schedules have synced, the page shows "No fee schedules configured." {% hint style="info" %} This view reflects what Verdict CMS holds. To change court fees at a Verdict parish, change them in Verdict -- there is nothing to edit here. {% endhint %} ## Standalone Parishes A standalone parish (one not connected to Verdict CMS) manages its own reference data **in the Admin Panel**: its Filing Types and Docket Entries pages are editable. The fees live in two places: * **Filing Types** -- each filing subtype carries an **Advance deposit ($)**, charged when a filer opens a new case of that type. * **Docket Entries** -- each docket entry type carries a **Base fee ($)** and an optional **Per-page rate ($)**. Per-page entries charge the base amount plus the per-page rate for every page after the first. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation by asking a question. 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