Chapter 2. Fees of California Government Code >> Division 7. >> Title 1. >> Chapter 2.

Officers of the state, or of a county or judicial district, shall not perform any official services unless upon the payment of the fees prescribed by law for the performance of the services, except as provided in this chapter. This section shall not be construed to prohibit any notary public, except a notary public whose fees are required by law to be remitted to the state or any other public agency, from performing notarial services without charging a fee.

No fee shall be charged in proceedings upon habeas corpus.

(a) Neither the state nor any county, city, district, or other political subdivision, nor any public officer or body, acting in his or her official capacity on behalf of the state, or any county, city, district, or other political subdivision, shall pay or deposit any fee for the filing of any document or paper, for the performance of any official service, or for the filing of any stipulation or agreement that may constitute an appearance in any court by any other party to the stipulation or agreement. This section does not apply to civil jury fees or civil jury deposits. This section does not apply to the State Compensation Insurance Fund or where a public officer is acting with reference to private assets or obligations that have come under that officer's jurisdiction by virtue of his or her office, or where it is specifically provided otherwise. No fee shall be charged for the filing of a confession of judgment in favor of any of the public agencies named in this section.
  (b) No fee shall be charged any of the public agencies named in this section to defray the costs of reporting services by court reporters. Such fees shall be recoverable as costs as provided in Section 6103.5.
  (c) This section shall apply to probate referees, as described in Part 12 (commencing with Section 400) of Division 2 of the Probate Code.

Section 6103 does not apply to any fee or charge for official services required by Parts 2 (commencing with Section 1200) 3 (commencing with Section 2000), and 4 (commencing with Section 4000) of Division 2 of the Water Code.

(a) Section 6103 does not apply to any fee or charge or expense for official services rendered by a sheriff or marshal in connection with the levy of writs of attachment, execution, possession, or sale. The fee, charge, or expense may be advanced to the sheriff or marshal, as otherwise required by law.
  (b) (1) Notwithstanding Section 6103, the sheriff or marshal, in connection with the service of process or notices, may require that all fees which a public agency, or any person or entity, is required to pay under provisions of law other than this section, be prepaid by a public agency named in Section 6103, or by any person or entity, prior to the performance of any official act. This authority to require prepayment shall include fees governed by Section 6103.5.
  (2) This subdivision does not apply to the service of process or notices in any action by the district attorney's office for the establishment or enforcement of a child support obligation.
  (3) This subdivision does not apply to a particular jurisdiction unless the sheriff or marshal, as the case may be, imposes the requirement of prepayment upon public agencies and upon all persons or entities within the private sector.
  (4) The requirement for prepayment of a fee deposit does not apply to orders or injunctions described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (x) of Section 527.6, paragraph (1) of subdivision (w) of Section 527.8, or paragraph (1) of subdivision (w) of Section 527.85 of the Code of Civil Procedure, Division 10 (commencing with Section 6200) of the Family Code (Prevention of Domestic Violence), and Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 15600) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code (Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act). However, a sheriff or marshal may submit a billing to the superior court for payment of fees in the manner prescribed by the Judicial Council irrespective of the in forma pauperis status of any party under Rules 3.50 to 3.63, inclusive, of the California Rules of Court. The fees for service, cancellation of service, and making a not found return may not exceed the amounts provided in Sections 26721, 26736, and 26738, respectively, and are subject to the provisions of Section 26731.

(a) (1) For any order or injunction described in paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 6103.2, the sheriff or marshal may notify the protected person by electronic or telephonic means within 24 hours after service of process that the order or injunction has been served on the restrained person, including the date and time when the order or injunction was served, if the protected person has requested this notification and has registered a telephone number or email address at which the protected person may be contacted for this purpose.
  (2) The sheriff may provide the notification described in subdivision (a) via an automated statewide victim information and notification system if the sheriff has access to that system, his or her county participates in that system, and local, state, or federal funds are made available for the operation of that system.
  (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the sheriff may provide the notification described in subdivision (a) by publishing the notice of service of process on the sheriff's Internet Web site.
  (c) If the sheriff participates in the notification program authorized under this section and the service of process is provided by a marshal, the marshal shall promptly inform the sheriff of the date and time when the order or injunction was served, and the sheriff shall provide the notice described in subdivision (a) to the protected person.

Section 6103 does not apply to any fee or charge for official services required by any of the following:
  (a) The Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Act (Article 3 (commencing with Section 100825) of Chapter 4 of Part 1 of Division 101 of the Health and Safety Code).
  (b) Article 3 (commencing with Section 106875) of Chapter 4 of Part 1 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code.
  (c) The California Safe Drinking Water Act (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 116270) of Part 12 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code).
  (d) The Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Law of 1997 (Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 116760) of Part 12 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code).
  (e) Article 2 (commencing with Section 116800) and Article 3 (commencing with Section 116825) of Chapter 5 of Part 12 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code.
  (f) Part 5 (commencing with Section 4999) of Division 2 of the Water Code.
  (g) Division 7 (commencing with Section 13000) of the Water Code.

(a) Whenever a judgment is recovered by a public agency named in Section 6103, either as plaintiff or petitioner or as defendant or respondent, in any action or proceeding to begin, or to defend, which under the provisions of Section 6103 no fee for any official service rendered by the clerk of the court, including, but not limited to, the services of filing, certifying, and preparing transcripts, nor fee for service of process or notices by a sheriff or marshal has been paid, other than in a condemnation proceeding, quiet title action, action for the forfeiture of a fish net or nets or action for the forfeiture of an automobile or automobiles, the clerk entering the judgment shall include as a part of the judgment the amount of the filing fee, and the amount of the fee for the service of process or notices which would have been paid but for Section 6103, designating it as such. The clerk entering the judgment shall include as part of the judgment the amount of the fees for certifying and preparing transcripts if the court has, in its discretion, ordered those fees to be paid.
  (b) When an amount equal to the clerk's fees and the fees for service of process and notices is collected upon a judgment pursuant to subdivision (a), those amounts shall be due and payable to the clerk and the serving officer respectively. The clerk shall ascertain from the serving officer's return the amount of fees he or she would have charged had it not been for the provisions of Section 6103. Remittances of the amounts so due shall be made within 45 days by the fiscal officer of the plaintiff or petitioner or respondent or defendant in the action or proceeding unless those fees have been collected by the levying officer and remitted to the court. No interest shall be computed or charged on the amount of the fee. If the judgment pursuant to subdivision (a) consists only of the amount of the filing fee, it shall be at the public agency's discretion whether to seek collection. If the public agency determines not to seek collection of the filing fee, it shall notify the clerk and no further action as provided for in this section may be brought against the public agency.
  (c) If the remittance is not received within 45 days of the filing of a partial satisfaction of judgment in an amount at least equal to the fees due to the clerk or a satisfaction of judgment has been filed, notwithstanding any other provision of law and except as provided in subdivision (b), the court may issue a writ of execution for recovery from the public agency of those fees plus the fees for issuance and execution of the writ plus a fee for administering this section.
  (d) The superior court shall set a fee, not to exceed the actual costs of administering this section, up to a maximum of twenty-five dollars ($25), which shall be added to the writ of execution.

Section 6103 does not apply to any fee or charge for official services established by a city or county ordinance as a reasonable and nondiscriminatory inspection fee to defray the costs of the inspection by such city or county of work done in, under, on or about any city or county street or highway, whether such work is done pursuant to franchise, statutory authority, or otherwise. Section 6103 does not apply to a reasonable and nondiscriminatory fee or charge established by a city or county ordinance to defray the costs of insuring such city or county against liability for injury or death to persons and damage to property resulting from such work in streets and highways. This section does not authorize a fee or charge for the mere issuance of a permit to do such work, nor does this section authorize the assessment against, or collecting of, any fee or charge from the State.

Section 6103 does not apply to any fee or charge for official services established by a city, county, city and county, or district as a reasonable and nondiscriminatory inspection fee to defray the costs of the inspection by such city, county, city and county, or district of building construction work performed within the boundaries of such city, county, city and county, or district, whether such work is done pursuant to franchise, statutory authority, or otherwise. Section 6103 does not apply to a reasonable and nondiscriminatory fee or charge established by a city, county, city and county, or district ordinance to defray the costs of providing plan-checking services to any applicant, whether such plan-checking services are performed by the city, county, city and county, or district having jurisdiction over the construction or are contracted by such city, county, city and county, or district to an independent plan-checking firm. This section does not authorize a fee or charge for the mere issuance of a permit to do such work, nor does this section authorize the assessment against, or collecting of any fee or charge from, the state or its agencies when, and to the extent that, such inspection or services are otherwise required by law, to be, and are in fact, performed by another governmental agency.

(a) Sections 6103 and 27383 do not apply to any fee or charge for recording full releases executed or recorded pursuant to Section 7174 of the Government Code, Sections 4608 and 5003.7 of the Public Resources Code, and Sections 2194, 11496, 12494, and 32362 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, where there is full satisfaction of the amount due under the lien which is released.
  (b) The fee for recording full releases listed in subdivision (a) shall be six dollars ($6).
  (c) In the case of full releases recorded by the state taxing agency pursuant to Section 7174 of the Government Code, the recording agency shall be billed quarterly or, at the option of the agency, at more frequent intervals. All billing shall refer to the agency certificate number of the recorded releases.
  (d) The fee for recording full releases for any document relating to an agreement to reimburse a county for public aid granted by the county shall be six dollars ($6).
  (e) The fee for filing any release of judgment which was in favor of a government agency and recorded pursuant to Section 6103 or 27383 shall be six dollars ($6).
  (f) Sections 6103 and 27383 do not apply to any fee or charge for recording a notice of state tax lien under subdivision (d) of Section 7171 or a certificate of release under subdivision (h) of Section 7174.
  (g) The fee for recording a notice of state tax lien pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 7171 and a certificate of release under subdivision (h) of Section 7174 shall be as permitted by Sections 27361, 27361.2, 27361.4, and 27361.8.
  (h) In the case of recording a notice of state tax lien pursuant to subdivision (f) or a certificate of release pursuant to subdivision (f), the recording agency shall be billed quarterly or at the option of the agency at more frequent intervals. All billing shall refer to the agency notice or certificate number.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except as provided in this section, the local child support agency and the district attorney shall be exempt from the payment of any fees, including fees for service of process and filing fees, in any action or proceeding brought for the establishment of a child support obligation or the enforcement of a child or spousal support obligation.
  (b) A court or county may be reimbursed for those direct costs related to the establishment of a child support obligation or the enforcement of a child or spousal support obligation which have been agreed to pursuant to a plan of cooperation. Any reimbursement pursuant to a plan of cooperation shall not include any amount which is payable as a filing fee.
  (c) For purposes of this section, a "plan of cooperation" includes an agreement entered into by a court and the Administrative Office of the Courts of the California Judicial Council which provides for reimbursement for the cost of providing clerical and administrative support furnished by the court.

Section 6103 does not apply to any fee or charges required to be paid to the State Director of Health Services or to the State Board of Equalization pursuant to Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 25100) of, and Chapter 6.8 (commencing with Section 25300) of, Division 20 of the Health and Safety Code, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 25174.7, subdivision (b) of Section 25205.1, subdivision (n) of Section 25205.7, subdivision (d) of Section 25205.8, and subdivision (e) of Section 25205.9.

Section 6103 does not apply to any fee or charge for official services required by Title 7.3 (commencing with Section 66700).

Section 6103 does not apply to any fee charged by a county clerk or county recorder, or clerk of the court, pursuant to Section 17980.1 or 17980.2 of the Health and Safety Code.

Whenever an oath or affidavit is necessary in order that the State or any political subdivision thereof may recover funds or property due the State or political subdivision, no fee shall be charged for the taking of the oath.

Whenever an oath or affidavit is necessary in order that a person may obtain charity or relief from any agency or department of the United States, the State or any political subdivision thereof, no fee shall be charged for the taking of the oath.

Neither the State, nor any county or city, nor any public officer or body acting in his official capacity on behalf of the State, any county, or city, including notaries public, shall receive any fee or compensation for services rendered in an affidavit, or application relating to the securing of a pension, or the payment of a pension voucher, or any matter relating thereto.

(a) A public entity, including the state, a county, city, or other political subdivision, or any officer or employee thereof, including notaries public, shall not demand or receive any fee or compensation for doing any of the following:
  (1) Recording, indexing, or issuing certified copies of any discharge, certificate of service, certificate of satisfactory service, notice of separation, or report of separation of any member of the Armed Forces of the United States.
  (2) Furnishing a certified copy of, or searching for, any public record that is to be used in an application or claim for a pension, allotment, allowance, compensation, insurance (including automatic insurance), or any other benefits under any act of Congress for service in the Armed Forces of the United States or under any law of this state relating to veterans' benefits.
  (3) Furnishing a certified copy of, or searching for, any public record that is required by the Veterans Administration to be used in determining the eligibility of any person to participate in benefits made available by the Veterans Administration.
  (4) Rendering any other service in connection with an application or claim referred to in paragraph (2) or (3).
  (b) A certified copy of any record referred to in subdivision (a) may be made available only to one of the following:
  (1) The person who is the subject of the record upon presentation of proper photo identification.
  (2) A family member or legal representative of the person who is the subject of the record upon presentation of proper photo identification and certification of their relationship to the subject of the record.
  (3) A county office that provides veterans' benefits services upon written request of that office.
  (4) A United States official upon written request of that official. A public officer or employee is liable on his or her official bond for failure or refusal to render the services.
  (c) (1) If the county recorder receives a written, faxed, or digitized image of a request for a certified copy of any discharge, certificate of service, certificate of satisfactory service, notice of separation, or report of separation of any member of the Armed Forces of the United States referred to in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) that is accompanied by a notarized statement sworn under penalty of perjury, or a faxed copy or digitized image of a notarized statement sworn under penalty of perjury, that the requester meets one of the descriptions in subdivision (b), the county recorder may furnish a certified copy to the requester pursuant to this section.
  (2) A faxed or digitized image of the notarized statement accompanying a faxed or digitized image of a request received pursuant to this subdivision for a certified copy of any discharge, certificate of service, certificate of satisfactory service, notice of separation, or report of separation of any member of the Armed Forces of the United States shall be legible. If the notary's seal is not photographically reproducible, or does not show the name of the notary, the county of the notary's principal place of business, the notary's telephone number, the notary's registration number, and the notary's commission expiration date typed or printed in a manner that is photographically reproducible below, or immediately adjacent to, the notary's signature in the acknowledgment, the county recorder shall not provide the certified copy. If a request for a certified copy of any discharge, certificate of service, certificate of satisfactory service, notice of separation, or report of separation of any member of the Armed Forces of the United States is made in person, the official shall take a statement sworn under penalty of perjury that the requester is signing his or her own legal name and is an authorized person pursuant to subdivision (b), and that official may then furnish a certified copy to the applicant.
  (3) For purposes of this subdivision, "digitized image" of a request means an image of an original paper request for a certified copy of any discharge, certificate of service, certificate of satisfactory service, notice of separation, or report of separation of any member of the Armed Forces of the United States.

No officer of a county or judicial district shall charge or receive any fee or compensation for administering or certifying the oath of office or for filing or swearing to any claim or demand against any county in the State.

Every officer of a county or judicial district, upon receiving any fees for official duty or service, may be required by the person paying the fees to make out in writing and to deliver to the person a particular account of the fees. The account shall specify for what the fees, respectively, accrued, and the officer shall receipt it. If the officer refuses or neglects to do so when required, he is liable to the person paying the fees in treble the amount so paid.

Upon payment of the fees required by law, the officer shall perform the services required. For every failure or refusal to do so, the officer is liable upon his official bond.