Fee Exemptions

Cowlitz County Clerk's Office

Fee Exemptions

Effective 7/24/2015

  • Fees to be charged to all cities, other counties, other states, unless specifically stated by statute.
  • Fees to be charged to all state agencies unless there is a specific statutory authority (98 Wn2d 606).
  • No statutory authority to NOT charge federal agencies except U.S. Immigration and V.A.
  • Fees to be paid in advance except for state and county (36.18.060). (Clerk's Office can voucher State & County).


CategoryDescriptionRCW
Abstracts
  • To Department of Licenses
AGO 61-62 No.136
  • For filings from another county clerk for LFO collection
36.18.020(4)
Adoption
  • No filing fee if filed under another Petition already pending under Chapter 26.33 RCW
26.33.030(2)
  • Preplacement report filed prior to petition for adoption
26.33.190(5)
  • Revocation of Consent pursuant to 26.33.160

Aliens, Commitment ofNo charge to U.S. Immigration office for copies10.70.150
Anit-HarassmentNo charge for forms and brochures10.14.040(4)
Appeals to Supreme
Court or Court of Appeals		By state or municipality2.32.070
By indigent party4.88.330
Appeals, Criminal RALJNo initial filing fee - See Criminal36.18.020(2)(b)
Appeals, Explanatory StatementsNo costs to either party29A.32.040
Attorney GeneralExempt from filing fees relating to paternity or support74.20.300
Ballot TitleNo filing fee29A.72.080
Child Support / Spousal Maintenance PetitionsNo filing fee if filed by State of Washington26.18.040(2)
Condemnation
(Eminent Domain)		No fee for school districts, exept on appeal8.16.150
CriminalNo fee for filing - costs assessed upon conviction or plea of guilty, upon failure to prosecute RALJ appeal or affirmance of lower court conviction36.18.020(2)(h)
DependencyNo filing fee13.34.040
DisclaimerUpon deposit of money/property (required) - No costs to determine conflicting claims of property (costs may be assessed by court)4.08.170
Domestic ViolenceNo charge for forms, brochures or obtaining Protection Orders26.50.030(4) 36.18.020(3)
Domestic ViolenceNo charge for filing or service of process; No charge for certified
copies to petitioners		26.50.040
DSHSSee Social and Health Services, Department of
EmancipationsNo charge for one certified copy of Decree to Petitioner.13.64.050(3)
Eminent DomainSee Condemnation
Employment Security(Judicial Review on Unemployment Compensation)



  • No fees of any kind chargeable to individuals
50.32.110
  • No fees for department for any of Clerks services
50.32.190
Explanatory Statement AppealsNo costs to either party29.81.230
Forms and BrochuresNo fee for forms and brochures under the Domestic
Violence Act		36.18.020 (3) 26.50.030 (4)
Guardianship or Limited Guardianship
  • No fee for filing when assets less than $3,000.00
11.88.030(3)
  • No prepayment when filed by AG - may be ordered paid by estate
11.88.030(2)(b)
Guardianship to EstateCause Code migration/ no additional fee is charged to transfer the guardianship file to a probate proceeding when migration is ordered11.88.150(2)
Immigration, USSee Aliens, Commitment of10.70.150
Irrigation DistrictNo fee for Oath of Commissioner/Board Member of Joint Irrigation District87.80.100
In Forma PauperisWaiver of filing fee due to financial hardship36.18.022
Insurance CommissionerExempt from filing fees48.31.230
Juvenile OffenderNo fee for filing or service13.04.160
Juvenile Dependency
  • No fee for filing or service on Dependency, Guardianship, Terminations
13.34.040
  • No filing fee on Truancy
36.18.020(2)(a)
Labor & IndustriesNo filing fee to file complaint to prosecute for collection of wage assignments49.48.040(2)
Mental Illness JuryNo jury feeMPR 3.3
PropertyFiling to determine conflicting claims of, see Disclaimer
ProsecutorExempt from filing fees related to paternity or support74.20.300
Prosecutor
(State of WA)		No fees for copies of criminal pleadings9.94A.110
Public AssistanceSee Social & Health Services, Department of (Judicial Review)
Reciprocal
(URESA)		See UIFSA
Relinquishment of a ChildNo filing fee to a department, agency or prospective adoptive parent under RCW 26.33.08036.18.020(3)
Service PersonnelNo fees for copies to service personnel of US armed forces
(for determining entitlements to family allowances and other benefits)		73.04.120
Sex Offender RegistrationNo Fees for Copies to Law Enforcement Agencies36.18.016
SBH 2223
Social & Health Services
  • Judicial review, no filing fees for individuals
74.08.080(3)(a)
  • Exempt from filing and copy fees relating to paternity or support
74.20.300
Support Enforcement(DSHS) Exempt from filing and copy fees relating to paternity or support (also see UIFSA)74.20.300
UIFSA(Uniform Interstate Family Support Act)26.21.325
No filing fee - fees may be assessed
Unemployment CompensationSee Employment Security
URESASee UIFSA
Veterans(Marital Status) No fees for copies for family or legal representative of deceased for VA or other governmental agencies when required in connection with any claim pending before Veterans' Bureau or governmental agency administering benefits to war veterans73.04.120
Veterans(Pension, Bounty, Back Pay) No fee for administering oaths, preparing official certificate or perfecting a voucher to procure a pension, bounty or back pay for Honorably Discharged, or spouse, orphan or legal representative73.04.010
Vulnerable AdultNo filing fee74.34.110(9)
Wage Claim AssignmentsCourt costs by L & I for Prosecution49.48.040(2)