(1) At the time of first appearance in all civil actions and special proceedings in all courts of record, except in the supreme court and the court of appeals, and except in the probate proceedings in the district court or probate court of the city and county of Denver, and except as provided in subsection (3) of this section and in sections 13-32-103 and 13-32-104, there shall be paid in advance the total docket fees, as follows: (a) On and after July 1, 2009, by the petitioner in a proceeding for dissolution of marriage, legal separation, or declaration of invalidity of marriage and by the petitioner in an action for a declaratory judgment concerning the status of marriage, a fee of two hundred thirty dollars; (a.5) On and after October 1, 2013, by the petitioner in a proceeding for dissolution of a civil union, legal separation of a civil union, or declaration of invalidity of a civil union and by the petitioner in an action for a declaratory judgment concerning the status of a civil union, a fee of two hundred thirty dollars; (b) On and after July 1, 2009, by the respondent in a proceeding for dissolution of marriage, legal separation, or declaration of invalidity of marriage and by the respondent to an action for a declaratory judgment concerning the status of marriage, a fee of one hundred sixteen dollars; (b.5) On and after October 1, 2013, by the respondent in a proceeding for dissolution of a civil union, legal separation of a civil union, or declaration of invalidity of a civil union and by the respondent to an action for a declaratory judgment concerning the status of a civil union, a fee of one hundred sixteen dollars; (c) (I) to (III) Repealed. (III.5) Except as provided in subsections (1)(c)(IV) and (1)(c)(V) of this section: (A) On or after January 1, 2019, by each plaintiff, petitioner, third-party plaintiff, and party filing a cross claim or counterclaim, when a money judgment sought is less than one thousand dollars and such action is commenced in a court of record of appropriate limited jurisdiction, a fee in the amount of eighty-five dollars. (B) On or after January 1, 2019, by each defendant, respondent, third-party defendant, or other party in such court not filing a cross claim or counterclaim, when a money judgment sought is less than one thousand dollars and such action is commenced in a court of record of appropriate limited jurisdiction, a fee in the amount of eighty dollars. (C) On or after January 1, 2019, by each plaintiff, petitioner, third-party plaintiff, and party filing a cross claim or counterclaim, when a money judgment sought is one thousand dollars or more but less than fifteen thousand dollars and such action is commenced in a court of record of appropriate limited jurisdiction, a fee in the amount of one hundred five dollars. (D) On or after January 1, 2019, by each defendant, respondent, third-party defendant, or other party in such court not filing a cross claim or counterclaim, when a money judgment sought is one thousand dollars or more but less than fifteen thousand dollars and such action is commenced in a court of record of appropriate limited jurisdiction, a fee in the amount of one hundred dollars. (E) On or after January 1, 2019, by each plaintiff, petitioner, third-party plaintiff, and party filing a cross claim or counterclaim, when a money judgment sought is fifteen thousand dollars or more but does not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars and such action is commenced in a court of record of appropriate limited jurisdiction, a fee in the amount of one hundred thirty- five dollars. (F) On or after January 1, 2019, by each defendant, respondent, third-party defendant, or other party in such court not filing a cross claim or counterclaim, when a money judgment sought is fifteen thousand dollars or more but does not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars and such action is commenced in a court of record of appropriate limited jurisdiction, a fee in the amount of one hundred thirty dollars. (IV) The general assembly hereby declares that docket fees for actions filed in the small claims division of the county court should reflect the range of the monetary jurisdictional limit established for such actions and that such fees should promote access to the courts and reflect appropriate contributions from litigants using the court system based on the money judgment sought in an action. The general assembly hereby declares that it is appropriate to establish docket fees for the small claims division of the county court as follows: (A) On and after July 1, 2008, when the money judgment sought by the plaintiff in an action filed in the small claims division of the county court is five hundred dollars or less, a plaintiff shall pay a fee of thirty-one dollars. (B) On and after July 1, 2008, when the money judgment sought by the plaintiff in an action filed in the small claims division of the county court is five hundred dollars or less, a defendant filing an answer without a counterclaim in such an action shall pay a fee of twenty-six dollars. (C) On and after July 1, 2008, when the money judgment sought in an action filed in the small claims division of the county court exceeds five hundred dollars and is no more than seven thousand five hundred dollars, a plaintiff shall pay a fee of fifty-five dollars. (D) On and after July 1, 2008, when the money judgment sought in an action filed in the small claims division of the county court exceeds five hundred dollars and is no more than seven thousand five hundred dollars, a defendant filing an answer without a counterclaim in such an action shall pay a fee of forty-one dollars. (E) On and after July 1, 2008, if a defendant files an answer with a counterclaim in an action in the small claims division of the county court and the amount sought in the action and amount sought in the counterclaim are each five hundred dollars or less, the fee for such answer and counterclaim shall be thirty-one dollars. (F) On and after July 1, 2008, if a defendant files an answer with a counterclaim in an action in the small claims division of the county court and the amount sought in either the action or the counterclaim is more than five hundred dollars and is not more than seven thousand five hundred dollars, the fee for such answer and counterclaim shall be forty-six dollars. (V) A defendant or third-party defendant shall not be charged any fee, charge, or cost for filing an answer in response to a forcible entry and detainer complaint, regardless of whether the filing of the answer includes a counterclaim or cross claim, and regardless of whether a money judgment is being sought for any amount. (d) On and after January 1, 2019, by each plaintiff, petitioner, third-party plaintiff, and party filing a cross claim or counterclaim filed in a district court of the state, a fee of two hundred thirty-five dollars; (e) On and after July 1, 2008, by each appellant, a fee of one hundred sixty-three dollars; (f) On and after January 1, 2019, by an appellee and by each defendant or respondent not filing a cross claim or counterclaim, a fee of one hundred ninety-two dollars; (g) On and after July 1, 2008, by a petitioner in adoption proceedings, a fee of one hundred sixty-seven dollars. (2) On and after July 1, 2008, in any proceeding held pursuant to articles 5, 10, 11, 13, and 14 of title 14, C.R.S., where a decree or final or permanent order has been entered and more than sixty days have passed, there shall be assessed at the time of filing a motion to modify, amend, or alter said decree or order a fee of one hundred five dollars. (3) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, if parties appear jointly, only one fee shall be charged or paid, and no fee shall be charged in any event for the filing of a disclaimer, or for an acknowledgment of service for the purpose of conferring jurisdiction, or for an appearance or answer filed by a guardian ad litem, or by an attorney appointed by the court to represent and protect the interest of any defendant. (b) (I) No docket fee shall be charged in mental health proceedings under article 10 or 10.5 of title 27, C.R.S.; but, where an estate is thereafter probated for any mental incompetent, the committing court has a claim against such estate, as a cost of the mental health proceedings, in the sum of twenty dollars, in addition to any other expense of commitment allowed and paid by the county, to be paid by the conservator of such estate as a claim pursuant to section 15-14- 429, C.R.S. (II) On and after July 1, 2009, all claims of twenty dollars that are paid to and collected by the committing court under subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (b) shall be transmitted to the state treasurer for deposit in the judicial stabilization cash fund created in subsection (6) of this section. (c) No docket fee shall be charged in proceedings concerning dependent or neglected children, relinquishment of children, or delinquent children. (4) (a) In a civil case in which there is a contested trial to the court or a trial to a jury and a monetary judgment rendered which is paid in whole or in part in cash or other property, there shall be assessed, against the judgment debtor, by the clerk of the court an additional fee as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection (4). This additional fee shall be paid to the clerk of the district court upon request for full or partial satisfaction of judgment and before the certificate of satisfaction of judgment is issued. (b) The additional fee to be paid by the judgment debtor, as provided in paragraph (a) of this subsection (4), is as follows: (I) Judgments over $5,000 and not more than $10,000, a total additional fee of $10; (II) Judgments over $10,000 and not more than $20,000, a total additional fee of $30; (III) Judgments over $20,000 and not more than $30,000, a total additional fee of $50; (IV) Judgments over $30,000 and not more than $50,000, a total additional fee of $90; (V) Judgments over $50,000, $90 plus an additional fee of $2 for each $1,000 above $50,000. (5) (a) Each fee collected pursuant to subsection (1)(a) or (1)(a.5) of this section must be transmitted to the state treasurer and divided as follows: (I) Fifteen dollars must be deposited in the Colorado child abuse prevention trust fund created in section 26.5-3-206; (II) One hundred fifteen dollars shall be deposited in the performance-based collaborative management incentive cash fund created in section 24-1.9-104, C.R.S.; (III) Fifty dollars shall be deposited in the judicial stabilization cash fund created in subsection (6) of this section; (IV) Five dollars shall be deposited in the court security cash fund established pursuant to section 13-1-204; (V) Twenty-six dollars shall be deposited in the justice center cash fund created in paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of this section; (VI) One dollar shall be deposited in the general fund pursuant to section 2-5-119, C.R.S.; (VII) Pursuant to section 25-2-107 (2) or 25-2-107.5, C.R.S., three dollars shall be deposited in the vital statistics records cash fund created in section 25-2-121, C.R.S.; (VIII) Five dollars shall be deposited in the displaced homemakers fund created in section 8-15.5-108, C.R.S.; (IX) Five dollars shall be deposited in the Colorado domestic abuse program fund created in section 39-22-802 (1), C.R.S.; and (X) Five dollars shall be deposited in the family violence justice fund created in section 14-4-107 (1), C.R.S. (b) Each fee collected pursuant to paragraph (b) or (b.5) of subsection (1) of this section shall be transmitted to the state treasurer and divided as follows: (I) Repealed. (II) On and after July 1, 2010, seventy-five dollars shall be deposited in the judicial stabilization cash fund created in subsection (6) of this section, five dollars shall be deposited in the court security cash fund established pursuant to section 13-1-204, twenty-six dollars shall be deposited in the justice center cash fund created in paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of this section, five dollars shall be deposited in the Colorado domestic abuse program fund created in section 39-22-802 (1), C.R.S., and five dollars shall be deposited in the family violence justice fund created in section 14-4-107 (1), C.R.S. (c) to (g) Repealed. (g.5) Each fee collected pursuant to subsection (1)(c)(III.5)(A), (1)(c)(III.5)(C), or (1)(c)(III.5)(E) of this section shall be transmitted to the state treasurer and five dollars shall be deposited in the court security cash fund established pursuant to section 13-1-204, thirty-eight dollars shall be deposited in the justice center cash fund created in subsection (7)(a) of this section, and one dollar shall be deposited in the general fund pursuant to section 2-5-119. The remaining balance shall be deposited in the judicial stabilization cash fund created in subsection (6) of this section. (h) Repealed. (h.5) Each fee collected pursuant to subsection (1)(c)(III.5)(B), (1)(c)(III.5)(D), or (1)(c)(III.5)(F) of this section shall be transmitted to the state treasurer and five dollars shall be deposited in the court security cash fund established pursuant to section 13-1-204, and thirty- eight dollars shall be deposited in the justice center cash fund created in subsection (7)(a) of this section. The remaining balance shall be deposited in the judicial stabilization cash fund created in subsection (6) of this section. (i) Each fee collected pursuant to sub-subparagraph (A) of subparagraph (IV) of paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of this section shall be transmitted to the state treasurer and divided as follows: (I) Repealed. (II) On and after July 1, 2010, fourteen dollars shall be deposited in the judicial stabilization cash fund created in subsection (6) of this section, five dollars shall be deposited in the court security cash fund established pursuant to section 13-1-204, eleven dollars shall be deposited in the justice center cash fund created in paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of this section, and one dollar shall be deposited in the general fund pursuant to section 2-5-119, C.R.S. (j) Each fee collected pursuant to sub-subparagraph (B) of subparagraph (IV) of paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of this section shall be transmitted to the state treasurer and divided as follows: (I) Repealed. (II) On and after July 1, 2010, ten dollars shall be deposited in the judicial stabilization cash fund created in subsection (6) of this section, five dollars shall be deposited in the court security cash fund established pursuant to section 13-1-204, and eleven dollars shall be deposited in the justice center cash fund created in paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of this section. (k) Each fee collected pursuant to sub-subparagraph (C) of subparagraph (IV) of paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of this section shall be transmitted to the state treasurer and divided as follows: (I) Repealed. (II) On and after July 1, 2010, thirty-eight dollars shall be deposited in the judicial stabilization cash fund created in subsection (6) of this section, five dollars shall be deposited in the court security cash fund established pursuant to section 13-1-204, eleven dollars shall be deposited in the justice center cash fund created in paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of this section, and one dollar shall be deposited in the general fund pursuant to section 2-5-119, C.R.S. (l) Each fee collected pursuant to sub-subparagraph (D) of subparagraph (IV) of paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of this section shall be transmitted to the state treasurer and divided as follows: (I) Repealed. (II) On and after July 1, 2010, twenty-five dollars shall be deposited in the judicial stabilization cash fund created in subsection (6) of this section, five dollars shall be deposited in the court security cash fund established pursuant to section 13-1-204, and eleven dollars shall be deposited in the justice center cash fund created in paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of this section. (m) Each fee collected pursuant to sub-subparagraph (E) of subparagraph (IV) of paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of this section shall be transmitted to the state treasurer and divided as follows: (I) Repealed. (II) On and after July 1, 2010, fifteen dollars shall be deposited in the judicial stabilization cash fund created in subsection (6) of this section, five dollars shall be deposited in the court security cash fund established pursuant to section 13-1-204, and eleven dollars shall be deposited in the justice center cash fund created in paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of this section. (n) Each fee collected pursuant to sub-subparagraph (F) of subparagraph (IV) of paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of this section shall be transmitted to the state treasurer and divided as follows: (I) Repealed. (II) On and after July 1, 2010, thirty dollars shall be deposited in the judicial stabilization cash fund created in subsection (6) of this section, five dollars shall be deposited in the court security cash fund established pursuant to section 13-1-204, and eleven dollars shall be deposited in the justice center cash fund created in paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of this section. (o) Each fee collected pursuant to subsection (1)(d) of this section shall be transmitted to the state treasurer and divided as follows: (I) Repealed. (II) On and after January 1, 2019, one hundred sixty-one dollars shall be deposited in the judicial stabilization cash fund created in subsection (6) of this section, five dollars shall be deposited in the court security cash fund established pursuant to section 13-1-204, sixty-eight dollars shall be deposited in the justice center cash fund created in subsection (7)(a) of this section, and one dollar shall be deposited in the general fund pursuant to section 2-5-119. (p) Each fee collected pursuant to paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of this section shall be transmitted to the state treasurer and divided as follows: (I) Repealed. (II) On and after July 1, 2010, ninety dollars shall be deposited in the judicial stabilization cash fund created in subsection (6) of this section, five dollars shall be deposited in the court security cash fund established pursuant to section 13-1-204, and sixty-eight dollars shall be deposited in the justice center cash fund created in paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of this section. (q) Each fee collected pursuant to subsection (1)(f) of this section shall be transmitted to the state treasurer and divided as follows: (I) Repealed. (II) On and after January 1, 2019, one hundred nineteen dollars shall be deposited in the judicial stabilization cash fund created in subsection (6) of this section, five dollars shall be deposited in the court security cash fund established pursuant to section 13-1-204, and sixty- eight dollars shall be deposited in the justice center cash fund created in subsection (7)(a) of this section. (r) Each fee collected pursuant to paragraph (g) of subsection (1) of this section shall be transmitted to the state treasurer and divided as follows: (I) Repealed. (II) On and after July 1, 2010, one hundred forty-three dollars shall be deposited in the judicial stabilization cash fund created in subsection (6) of this section, five dollars shall be deposited in the court security cash fund established pursuant to section 13-1-204, fifteen dollars shall be deposited in the justice center cash fund created in paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of this section, one dollar shall be deposited in the general fund pursuant to section 2-5-119, C.R.S., and three dollars shall be deposited in the vital statistics records cash fund created in section 25-2- 121, C.R.S. (s) Each fee collected pursuant to subsection (2) of this section shall be transmitted to the state treasurer and divided as follows: (I) Repealed. (II) On and after July 1, 2010, ninety-five dollars shall be deposited in the judicial stabilization cash fund created in subsection (6) of this section and ten dollars shall be deposited in the justice center cash fund created in paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of this section. (6) There is hereby created in the state treasury the judicial stabilization cash fund, referred to in this subsection (6) as the "fund", that shall consist of all fees required to be deposited in the fund. The moneys in the fund shall be subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly for the expenses of trial courts in the judicial department. Any moneys in the fund not expended for the purpose of this subsection (6) may be invested by the state treasurer as provided in section 24-36-113, C.R.S. All interest and income derived from the investment and deposit of moneys in the fund shall be credited to the fund. Any unexpended and unencumbered moneys remaining in the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall remain in the fund and shall not be credited or transferred to the general fund or any other fund. (7) (a) There is hereby created in the state treasury the justice center cash fund, referred to in this subsection (7) as the "fund", that shall consist of all fees required by law to be deposited in the fund and any lease payments received by the judicial department from agencies occupying the state justice center. The money in the fund shall be subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly for the expenses related to the design, construction, maintenance, operation, and interim accommodations for the state justice center, including but not limited to payments on any financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements entered into pursuant to the provisions of section 2 of Senate Bill 08-206, as enacted at the second regular session of the sixty-sixth general assembly, collectively referred to in this subsection (7) as "financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements". Any money in the fund not expended for the purpose of this subsection (7) may be invested by the state treasurer as provided in section 24-36-113. All interest and income derived from the investment and deposit of money in the fund shall be credited to the fund. Any unexpended and unencumbered money remaining in the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall remain in the fund and shall not be credited or transferred to the general fund or any other fund. (b) (I) The general assembly hereby finds and declares: (A) The state judicial department is in need of additional space; (B) The state museum and the offices of the state historical society occupy a building on the same block at Fourteenth avenue and Broadway as the current offices of the Colorado supreme court, the Colorado court of appeals, and the supreme court library; (C) By building a new facility on the entire block at Fourteenth avenue and Broadway, the judicial department will consolidate its offices into a single location and the state judicial department will operate more efficiently and cost-effectively; and (D) It is appropriate for the judicial department to pay the state museum and the state historical society for its building and for vacating its current location at Fourteenth avenue and Broadway and to assist in relocation expenses so that the entire block is available for use by the state judicial department. (II) Repealed. (III) The general assembly further finds and declares that it is not the general assembly's intent that the judicial department artificially raise the fees that are required by law to be deposited in the fund in order to increase the amount of money appropriated from the fund to the maintenance fund created in subsection (7)(d) of this section. (c) (I) For the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2014, and each fiscal year thereafter so long as there are any payments due under any financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements, the executive director of the department of personnel shall calculate the net savings to the state by locating the department of law and any other executive branch agency in the new state justice center. (II) For the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2014, and each year thereafter so long as there are payments due on any financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements, the general assembly shall appropriate from the general fund to the fund the amount of savings calculated by the executive director of the department of personnel pursuant to subsection (7)(c)(I) of this section. Any money received in the fund pursuant to this subsection (7)(c) shall be used to prepay any obligations due pursuant to any financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement. (d) (I) The justice center maintenance fund is hereby created in the state treasury and referred to in this subsection (7)(d) as the "maintenance fund". The maintenance fund consists of money annually appropriated by the general assembly to the maintenance fund from the justice center cash fund and any other money that the general assembly may appropriate or transfer to the fund. The amount appropriated to the maintenance fund from the justice center cash fund must be equal to the amount described in subsection (7)(d)(II) of this section. The state treasurer shall credit all interest and income derived from the deposit and investment of money in the maintenance fund to the maintenance fund. Subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly and subject to capital development review of any controlled maintenance needs that the committee would typically review for state-funded projects, money from the maintenance fund may be expended for controlled maintenance needs of the Ralph L. Carr Colorado judicial center. (II) Current and projected appropriations to the maintenance fund from the justice center cash fund should be sufficient to pay for current and projected controlled maintenance needs for the Ralph L. Carr Colorado judicial center as outlined in the report required in subsection (7)(d)(IV) of this section, taking into account any projected interest earnings on the maintenance fund. (III) For purposes of this subsection (7)(d), "controlled maintenance" has the same meaning as set forth in section 24-30-1301 (4); except that it may include any maintenance needs that would ordinarily be funded in the judicial department's operating budget and it may include information technology equipment to support network operations, such as servers or uninterruptible power supply units, or to regulate or control building systems, such as lighting or HVAC. (IV) The judicial department shall provide a written report to the joint budget committee and the capital development committee on November 1, 2018, and each November 1 thereafter, that documents expenditures that have been made from the maintenance fund and that documents projected future expenditures from the maintenance fund over a twenty-year term, or such other term as requested by the capital development committee and the joint budget committee. Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a), the reporting requirement specified in this subsection (7)(d)(IV) continues indefinitely. (8) At the time of filing a motion pursuant to section 19-4-107.3 or 14-10-122 (6), C.R.S., seeking to set aside a final or permanent order concerning parentage based upon DNA evidence establishing the exclusion of the petitioner as the biological father of a child, or to terminate an order requiring the petitioner to pay child support for that child, the petitioner shall pay a fee of seventy dollars. The fee collected pursuant to this subsection (8) shall be transmitted to the state treasurer for deposit in the judicial stabilization cash fund created in subsection (6) of this section. (9) Beginning January 1, 2025, the court shall collect the equal justice fee on filings specified in subsection (1) of this section in the amount of thirty dollars on civil actions filed in district court and ten dollars on civil actions filed in county court, except for filings in small claims court, on behalf of the equal justice authority and transmit the equal justice fee in the manner specified in section 13-5.7-205 (2).
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