About these fees
All fees and costs are set by Texas statute. Paying them is not a guarantee that you will prevail in your lawsuit — court costs and fees pay for clerical services performed at the time they are charged. The District Clerk cannot refund any fee, whatever the outcome of your case.
Base filing fees
| Filing | Fee |
|---|---|
| New civil suit, family or non-family | $350.00 |
| Divorce | $350.00 |
| Suit affecting the parent-child relationship (SAPCR) | $350.00 |
| Adoption (excludes Bureau of Vital Statistics fees) | $350.00 |
| Name change | $350.00 |
| Expunction (plus $25.00 per agency for mailing) | $350.00 |
| Petition for non-disclosure | $350.00 |
| Occupational driver's license | $350.00 |
| Civil case transferred into Caldwell County | $350.00 |
| SAPCR or family motions | $80.00 |
| Civil motions, non-family | $80.00 |
| SAPCR transferred into Caldwell County | $80.00 |
| Issuance fee — citation, subpoena, writ, abstract, order of sale | $8.00 |
| Record search | $5.00 |
| Certified seal | $5.00 |
| Copies, hard copy | $1.00 per page |
| Copies, electronic delivery | $1.00 per page for the first 10 pages, then $0.10 per page |
The $80.00 motion fee covers motions to modify, motions for enforcement, motions for contempt, motions for new trial, third-party petitions, cross-actions, counterclaims, interventions and interpleaders, notices of application for judicial writ of withholding, petitions for licence suspension and motions to revoke a stay of suspension.
This table lists the fees this office is most often asked about. For any fee not shown here, call (512) 398-1806 rather than relying on an estimate.
Sheriff and constable service fees
Service of process is charged separately by the Sheriff or constable, on the schedule signed by the Commissioners Court.
If you cannot afford the fees
File a sworn Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs with your case. The court decides whether costs are waived.