The cost of being a client or an attorney just got a bit higher in Minnesota.  Governor Tim Pawlenty signed a court funding bill last week that outlined the appropriations for Minnesota’s judiciary. The bill, SF 802 (excerpt only), includes a list of increased fees as well as an increase in an attorney’s annual registration fee.  Among the increased fees are filing fees and motion fees, which will increase by 29% ($240 to $310) and 82% ($55 to $100), respectively. Jury fees will increase from $75 to $100, while attorneys will now pay an additional $50 to $75 as a  ‘public defender fee’ each year as part of the attorneys’ annual licensing fees.

What does it all mean?

In most counties, filing a civil case that requests a jury will now cost at least $410.00, not including any other county fees, such as the fee collected to support the county law library.  Filing motions and replies to motions in a case will now cost $100. The filing fee for conciliation court will increase from $50 to $65, and the cost to file a marital dissolution action will increase from $270 to $340.  The full list of increased fees, which become effective after June 30,  include:

Source: S.F.802 (Minnesota Revisor of Statutes)