Drafter
Clerk 11/12/2010
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AN ORDINANCE increasing the service fee for marriage dissolution services charged by the family court services division of superior court as authorized under RCW 26.12.220; amending Ordinance 6241, Section 2, as amended, and K.C.C. 4.72.020 and adding a new section to K.C.C. chapter 4.72.
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BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. A. Section 2 of this ordinance increases the service fee for family court dissolution matters from no more than one hundred fifty to no more than two hundred dollars per hour.
B. These fees are authorized by the legislative authority of any county as allowed by RCW 26.12.220.
SECTION 2. Ordinance 6241, Section 2, as amended, and K.C.C. 4.72.020 are each hereby amended to read as follows:
Fees for family court services dissolution matters are established as follows:
A. The department of judicial administration shall prepare and adopt a fee schedule charging no more than ((one hundred fifty)) two hundred dollars, per hour, for:
1. ((Adoption services, including:
a. confirmation of birth parent consent reports in all independent nonagency adoptions;
b. stepparent adoption reports; and
c. other services as ordered by the court; and
2.)) Dissolution services including:
a. mediation and evaluation orientation;
b. mediation services;
c. conciliation services;
d. dissolution one and two party evaluations;
e. witness fees for court testimony provided by family court services staff;
f. paternity services including evaluations; and
g. marriage waivers((; and)).
B. The department of judicial administration is authorized to implement procedures, for cause, to waive all or part of the fees based on an applicant's showing of bona fide hardship. Collection of the service fee shall be the responsibility of the superior court and the department of judicial administration. Should it prove necessary, the prosecuting attorney shall assist the department of judicial administration, the superior court and the clerk of the superior court in collection of the fees.
SECTION 3. A. Section 4 of this ordinance adopts a fee for family court services adoption matters at a rate of no more than one hundred fifty dollars per hour.
B. The fee is authorized by the legislative authority of any county as allowed by RCW 26.12.220.
NEW SECTION. SECTION 4. There is hereby added to K.C.C. chapter 4.72 a new section to read as follows:
Fees for family court services adoption matters are established as follows:
A. The department of judicial administration shall prepare and adopt a fee schedule charging no more than one hundred fifty dollars, per hour, for:
1. Adoption services, including:
a. confirmation of birth parent consent reports in all independent nonagency adoptions;
b. stepparent adoption reports; and
c. other services as ordered by the court; and
B. The department of judicial administration is authorized to implement procedures, for cause, to waive all or part of the fees based on an applicant's showing of bona fide hardship. Collection of the service fee shall be the responsibility of the superior court and the department of judicial administration. Should it prove necessary, the prosecuting attorney shall assist the department of judicial administration, the
superior court and the clerk of the superior court in collection of the fees.
SECTION 5. This ordinance takes effect January 1, 2011.