THE COURTS
Title 204—JUDICIAL SYSTEM GENERAL PROVISIONS
PART II. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
[ 204 PA. CODE CH. 29 ]
Promulgation of Consumer Price Index Pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 1725.1(f) and 3571(c)(4) and Financial Regulations, 204 Pa. Code §§ 29.401—403; No. 624 Judicial Administration Docket
[54 Pa.B. 6561]
[Saturday, October 19, 2024]In accordance with Supreme Court Order No. 624 of the Judicial Administration Docket, the Court Administrator of Pennsylvania is authorized to obtain and publish in the Pennsylvania Bulletin the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for calendar year 2025 as required by Act 54 of 2024, 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 1725.1(f) and 3571(c)(4) (as amended) and to revise the Financial Regulations, 204 Pa. Code §§ 29.401—403, accordingly.
In accordance with the Supreme Court Order, 204 Pa. Code §§ 29.401—403 is amended in the attached form and shall be effective on January 1, 2025.
Filed in the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts on October 8, 2024.
ANDREA TUOMINEN,
Court Administrator of Pennsylvania
Annex A
TITLE 204. JUDICIAL SYSTEM GENERAL PROVISIONS
PART II. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
CHAPTER 29. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Subchapter K. COSTS, FINES AND FEES § 29.401. Scope.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court, pursuant to Art. V, § 10 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, and 42 Pa.C.S. § 1721, has authorized by Administrative Order, the Court Administrator of Pennsylvania to promulgate regulations relating to the accounting methods to be utilized in connection with the collection of fees and costs charged and collected by prothonotaries, and clerks of courts of all courts of common pleas, or by any officials designated to perform the functions thereof, as well as by the minor judiciary, including magisterial district judges, and judges and staff of all divisions of the Philadelphia Municipal Court.
Under authority of said Administrative Order and pursuant to the authority vested in the governing authority under 42 Pa.C.S. § 3502(a) of the Judicial Code, the following regulations are adopted to implement Act 54 of 2024, 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 1725.1(f) and 3571(c)(4) (as amended).
§ 29.401a. Consumer Price Index—costs and fines.
Pursuant to Article V, Section 10 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, and 42 Pa.C.S. § 1721, the Supreme Court has authorized the Court Administrator of Pennsylvania to obtain and publish in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on or before November 30 the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for calendar year 2023 as required by Act 54 of 2024, 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 1725.1(f) and 3571(c)(4) (as amended). See, No. 624 Judicial Administration Docket.
The Court Administrator of Pennsylvania reports that the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index, All Urban Consumers, U.S. City Average, for calendar year 2023 was 3.4% percent. (See, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Series CUUROOOOSAO, January 20, 2024.)
§ 29.402. 42 Pa.C.S. § 1725.1. Costs.
(a) Civil cases.—In calendar year 2025, the costs to be charged by magisterial district judges in every civil case, except as otherwise provided in this section, shall be as follows:
(1) Actions involving $500 or less
$67.00 (2) Actions involving more than $500 but
not more than $2,000$89.00 (3) Actions involving more than $2,000 but
not more than $4,000$111.50 (4) Actions involving between $4,001
and $12,000$167.00 (5) Landlord-tenant actions involving $2,000
or less$100.50 (6) Landlord-tenant actions involving more
than $2,000 but not more than $4,000$122.50 (7) Landlord-tenant actions involving more
than $4,000 but not more than $12,000$167.00 (8) Order of execution
$50.50 (9) Objection to levy
$22.50 (10) Reinstatement of complaint
$11.50 (11) Entering Transcript on Appeal or
Certiorari$6.00 Said costs shall not include, however, the cost of postage and registered mail which shall be borne by the plaintiff.
(a.1) Custody cases.—In calendar year 2025, the cost (in addition to the cost provided by general rule) to be charged by the court of common pleas shall be as follows:
(1) Custody cases, except as provided in
section 1725(c)(2)(v)$10.00 (b) Criminal cases.—In calendar year 2025, the costs to be charged by the minor judiciary or by the court of common pleas where appropriate in every criminal case, except as otherwise provided in this section, shall be as follows:
(1) Summary conviction, except motor vehicle
cases$63.50 (2) Summary conviction, motor vehicle
cases, other than paragraph (3)$50.50 (3) Summary conviction, motor vehicle
cases, hearing demanded$61.50 (4) Misdemeanor
$72.50 (5) Felony
$83.50 Such costs shall not include, however, the cost of postage and registered mail which shall be paid by the defendant upon conviction.
(c) Unclassified costs or charges.—In calendar year 2025, the costs to be charged by the minor judiciary in the following instances not readily classifiable shall be as follows:
(1) Entering transcript of judgment from
another member of the minor judiciary$11.50 (2) Marrying each couple, making record
thereof, and certificate to the parties$56.00 (3) Granting emergency relief pursuant to
23 Pa.C.S. Ch. 61 (relating to protection
from abuse)$22.50 (4) Issuing a search warrant (except as
provided in subsection (d))$22.50 (5) Any other issuance not otherwise provided
in this subsection$22.50 § 29.403. 42 Pa.C.S. § 3571.
In calendar year 2025, Commonwealth portion of fines, etc.
* * * * * (c) Costs in magisterial district judge proceedings.
(2) Amounts payable to the Commonwealth:
(i) Summary conviction, except motor vehicle
cases$22.40 (ii) Summary conviction, motor vehicle cases
other than subparagraph (iii)$22.40 (iii) Summary conviction, motor vehicle cases,
hearing demanded$22.40 (iv) Misdemeanor
$29.00 (v) Felony
$44.50 (vi) Assumpsit or trespass involving:
(A) $500 or less
$28.00 (B) More than $500 but not more than
$2,000$44.50 (C) More than $2,000 but not more than
$4,000$66.90 (D) Between $4,001 and $12,000
$111.35 (vii) Landlord-tenant proceeding involving:
(A) $2,000 or less
$44.70 (B) More than $2,000 but not more than
$4,000$55.70 (C) More than $4,000 but not more than
$12,000$77.95 (viii) Objection to levy
$11.25 (ix) Order of execution
$33.65 (x) Issuing a search warrant (except as
provided in section 1725.1(d) (relating to costs))$15.75 (xi) Order of possession
$15.00 (xii) Custody cases (except as provided in
section 1725(c)(2)(v))$8.00 (Editor's Note: Ellipses refer to the text of 42 Pa.C.S. § 3571).
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 24-1489. Filed for public inspection October 18, 2024, 9:00 a.m.]
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