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Increased Court fees Save Email Print
Posted: 6:04 PM Jul 1, 2008
Last Updated: 6:04 PM Jul 1, 2008

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If you think gas and groceries are the only thing going up, think again. The cost of doing legal business in Florida increased today, and everything from speeding tickets to divorces are going to cost you more.

Getting pulled over can be bad enough, but when you go to pay your ticket you might be surprised at the new cost.

Harold Bazzel, Clerk of Circuit Court, said, "It's significant. Matter of fact, in my years here it's probably the biggest increase that we've ever seen."

Starting today court fees have gone up across the board because of new state legislation that's trying to help fund the state court system.

"The purpose of this is to help fund the state court system these fines and funds go to pay for the public defender, the state attorney, and the office of state administration. That was the only way the legislature had to pick up the short fall because of revenues being down."

The increased fees are aimed at raising nearly $120 million statewide. Traffic fines have gone up an extra $17.50. That's a 12.50 administrative charge and a $5 increase in court costs.

If getting divorced isn't expensive already that just went up too from $364 last year to petition for divorce to over $400 now.

Another increase that's drawing attention is tenant eviction. If a landlord wants to evict a tenant they'll have to fork out some big bucks.

Last year it cost a little less than $80. Now you'll have to pay $270 to kick a tenant out.

"Any fee that you pay to do business at the courthouse has gone up."

The legislature is hoping that the over one hundred fee increases will help with budget cuts throughout the state.

To find out how much these court fees are increasing, log onto the clerk of circuit court website at baycoclerk.com.

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