Court Rules

Fifteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Palm Beach County Filing Fees and Waivers

60 rules from official source documents

35 of 60 checked against the court's document. Each rule says how far it was checked. A value with a question mark is not in the court's wording on its card.

Filing fees, payment methods, fee waiver requirements, deferrals, and clerk payment rules. This page is scoped to Fifteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Palm Beach County; use the court rules overview to switch categories without leaving this court.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to
Petition for declaratory statement

A Petition for Declaratory Statement is subject to the same filing fee as a Petition for Adoption, with no additional fee when a TPR filing fee has already been paid.

2. The Clerk shall charge the same filing fee as is charged for the filing of a Petition for Adoption. No additional filing fee shall be assessed for the filing of the Petition for Declaratory Statement if a filing fee has been paid for the TPR.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to
Transcript and digital recording copy

A transcript or digital recording copy cannot be released until full payment is received or a court order authorizes release.

The CRS Department will not release a transcript or digital recording copy until full payment or a court order is received.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to
Transcript and digital recording copy

A transcript or digital recording may be produced at public expense only when a court order is obtained.

Transcript and/or digital recording requests to the CRS Department must not be produced at public expense without a court order.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Fee
$70
Applies to
Foreclosure sale

Foreclosure plaintiffs must submit the $70.00 Clerk Sale Fee before the sale date.

Foreclosure Plaintiffs shall submit the $70.00 Clerk Sale Fee prior to the sale date.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Fee
$70
Applies to
Certificate of title

The Clerk will not issue the Certificate of Title until the $70.00 clerk sale fee and all other fees are paid.

The Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller shall not issue the Certificate of Title until the $70.00 clerk sale fee, and all other fees, are paid.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Fee
$50
Applies to
Motion to cancel foreclosure sale

A motion to cancel a foreclosure sale that results in reopening the case must include payment of the $50 reopen fee.

All motions to cancel foreclosure sales that result in the case being reopened shall include payment of the $50 reopen fee

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to
Petition for modification

Petitions for Modification must be filed with the clerk, accompanied by any applicable filing fee, and served on the opposing party.

Petitions for Modification must be filed with the clerk along with the appropriate filing fee, if applicable, and served on the opposing party.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to
Mediation fees

Parties must pay mediation fees within ten days of the order and present the receipt to the ADR office at mediation.

Parties MUST pay the mediation fees within ten (10) days of the date of this order, and the receipt shall be presented to the ADR office at the mediation session.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to
Mediation fees

A party who has not paid the required mediation fee will not receive a family mediation session unless the party is indigent or has been excused from payment.

No family mediation session will be held for any party who fails to make the required payment unless the party has been found indigent or excused from payment.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Fee
$60
Applies to
Mediation fee after failure to appear

A party that fails to appear must pay the applicable $60.00 or $120.00 fee to the Clerk within 15 days after the mediator's report is filed, and both parties must pay if both fail to appear.

The party who failed to appear shall pay the required fee of $60.00 or $120.00 to the Clerk of the Court within 15 days of the filing of the mediator’s report. If both parties fail to appear, each shall pay the $60.00 or $120.00 to the Clerk of the Court within 15 days of the filing of the mediators report.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to
Family mediation

Mediation fees are paid to the Circuit Court Clerk based on the parties' combined income.

Pursuant to FS 44.108(2)(a) & (b), mediation fees are to be paid to the Clerk of the Circuit Court based on the combined income of the parties.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Fee
120
Applies to
Family mediation

For combined annual income over $50,000 but under $100,000, the mediation fee is $120 per person per session.

☐ B. The parties' combined income is greater than $50,000 but less than $100,000 per year ($120 per person per session)

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Fee
60
Applies to
Family mediation

For combined annual income below $50,000, the mediation fee is $60 per person per session.

☐ C. The parties' combined income is less than $50,000 ($60 per person per session)

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to
Family mediation

An applicant determined to be indigent after completing an Affidavit of Indigency is not assessed a mediation fee.

☐ D. The Applicant has completed an Affidavit of Indigency and has been determined to be indigent (no mediation fee assessed)

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to
Family mediation

A party who has not paid will not receive a family mediation session unless the party is indigent or has been excused from payment.

C. No family mediation session will be held for any party who fails to make the required payment unless the party has been found indigent or excused from payment.

Judge Luis Delgado

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to
Family mediation

Parties with combined annual income over $100,000 must use private mediation.

G. If the parties have a combined annual income greater than $100,000.00, parties must utilize private mediation. Please refer to paragraph 4 of this order for additional instructions.

Judge Luis Delgado

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to
Mediation nonappearance fee

A party who fails to appear must pay the applicable $60 or $120 fee to the Clerk of the Court within 15 days after the mediator's report is filed.

The party who failed to appear shall pay the required fee of $60.00 or $120.00 to the Clerk of the Court within 15 days of the filing of the mediator’s report.

Judge Luis Delgado

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Applies to
Mediation nonappearance fee

If both parties fail to appear, each must pay the applicable $60 or $120 fee to the Clerk of the Court within 15 days after the mediator's report is filed.

If both parties fail to appear, each shall pay the $60.00 or $120.00 to the Clerk of the Court within 15 days of the filing of the mediators report.

Judge Luis Delgado

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

Applies to
Transcript and digital recording copy

The CRS Department must establish applicable fees for producing transcripts and digital recording copies.

A schedule of applicable fees for production of transcripts and digital recording copies shall be established by the CRS Department.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

Applies to
Transcript and digital recording copy

Effective July 1, 2022, the fee schedule governs transcript and digital recording copy production, except designated offices are billed under the Circuit's Statement of Services.

Effective July 1, 2022, transcript and digital recording copy production shall be in accordance with the fee schedule, except that the Office of the Public Defender, the Office of the State Attorney, and the Office of Regional Conflict Counsel shall be billed as set forth in the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court Reporting Statement of Services.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

Applies to
Transcript and digital recording copy

An indigent criminal defendant is not entitled to publicly funded transcript or digital recording copy creation for preparing a postconviction motion.

Likewise, indigent criminal defendants are not entitled to the creation of a transcript and/or digital recording copies at the public expense for purposes of preparing a postconviction motion.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

Fee
$25
Applies to
Electronic recording cd dvd

A copy of an electronic recording on a CD or DVD costs $25, with one disc permitted per court event.

$25.00 (1 CD/DVD per court event)

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

Fee
$20
Applies to
Electronic recording digital download

A digital download of an electronic recording costs $20, with one download permitted per court event.

$20.00 (1 Digital Download per court event)

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

Fee
$12.5
Applies to
Public record request review

Public-record review of digital downloads or CD/DVD items costs $12.50 per 15 minutes or fraction thereof, with a $12.50 minimum deposit.

Digital Downloads and/or CD/DVD items: $12.50 per 15-minute increment of review time, with a $12.50 minimum deposit for up to 15 minutes of review time.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Fee
$60
Applies to
Mediation fees

Each party must pay a $60.00 mediation fee when the parties' combined annual income is less than $50,000.

If the parties have a combined annual income of less than $50,000, each of the parties shall pay the sum of $60.00.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Fee
$120
Applies to
Mediation fees

Each party must pay a $120.00 mediation fee when the parties' combined annual income is greater than $50,000 but less than $100,000.

If the parties have a combined annual income greater than $50,000 but less than $100,000.00, each of the parties shall pay the sum of $120.00.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Fee
$60
Applies to
Mediation nonappearance cost

A party that fails to appear must pay the required $60 or $120 cost to the court clerks within 15 days after the mediator's report is filed.

La parte que no ha comparecido deberá pagar los costos requeridos de $60.00 o de $120.00 a los Secretarios del Tribunal, dentro de los quince días siguientes al registro del reporte del mediador.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Fee
$60
Applies to
Mediation nonappearance cost

If neither party has appeared, each party must pay the Court Clerks $60.00 or $120.00 within fifteen days after the mediator’s report is filed.

Si las dos partes no han comparecido, cada una pagará los $60.00 o los $120.00 a los Secretarios del Tribunal, dentro de los quince días siguientes al registro del reporte del mediador.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Fee
$60
Applies to
Mediation nonappearance cost

The party who did not appear must pay $60.00 or $ 120.00 to the Clerk of Court’s office no later than 15 days after the Mediator filed the report.

Pati ki pa parèt la yo mande pou li peye $60.00 Oswa $ 120.00 bay biwo Sekretè Tribinal la pa pita ke 15 jou de lè ke Medyatè a te depoze rapò a.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Fee
$60
Applies to
Mediation nonappearance cost

If both parties fail to appear, each must pay $60.00 or $120.00 to the Court Clerk’s office no later than 15 days after the Mediator filed the report.

Si se nou tou le de pati yo ki pa parèt chak ap peye $60.00 oswa $120.00 bay biwo Sekretè Tribinal la pa pita ke 15 jou de lè ke Medyatè a te depoze rapò a.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Applies to
Family mediation

When the parties' combined annual income exceeds $100,000, they arrange for private mediation.

☐ A. The parties' combined income is greater than $100,000 per year(parties arrange for private mediation)

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026INFO

Civil cases

Applies to
Petition for adoption

No filing fee is charged for a petition for adoption when a termination of parental rights filing fee was previously paid.

The Clerk shall not charge a filing fee for the Petition for Adoption if a filing fee for the Petition for Termination of Parental Rights had previously been paid.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026INFO

Applies to
Competency evaluation

Competency-evaluation payment follows the expert’s contract with the responsible party or, absent a contract, the current Administrative Order; combined competency-and-sanity evaluations are paid proportionately by the responsible parties.

10. If an order is entered for the determination of competency, the appointed expert shall be paid in accordance with his or her current contract with the responsible party, or in the absence of a contract, the current Administrative Order regarding payment of appointed experts. Evaluations that include both competency and sanity will be proportionately paid for by the responsible parties.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026INFO

Applies to
Competency evaluation

The Court pays for competency evaluations under its contract with the expert or, if no contract exists, under the current Administrative Order.

11. Payment for competency evaluations to determine competence to proceed or to determine recommended treatment for competence to proceed shall be made by the Court in accordance with the contract between the Court and the expert, or if no contract exists, then in accordance with the current Administrative Order regarding payment of appointed experts.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026INFO

Applies to
Sanity or sentencing evaluation

The requesting party must pay for sanity evaluations or evaluations requested as an aid for sentencing, under the applicable contract or Administrative Order.

12. When a request is made for an evaluation of the defendant to determine the defendant’s sanity or as an aid for sentencing, the requesting party shall pay. Payment shall be made in accordance with the contract between the responsible party and the expert, or if no contract exists, then in accordance with the current Administrative Order regarding payment of appointed experts.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Applies to
Transcript and digital recording copy ?

See, e.g. Roesch v. State, 633 So. 2d 1, 2 (Fla. 1993), absent a court order under 27.52(5)(f) FSS.

Summary: Publicly funded transcript or digital recording copy production for an indigent criminal defendant's postconviction motion requires a court order under section 27.52(5)(f), Florida Statutes.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Fee
2000 ?
Applies to
Social investigation fee ?

Pursuant to Section 61.20, Florida Statutes, the court may assess a fee for this study unless the parties are indigent. The fee assessed in this case is $2,000 for a comprehensive study and $1,000 for a limited evaluation and $75.00 per hour for a custody evaluation updated (for evaluations completed more than 6 (six) months prior to trial date).

Summary: The court assesses a $2,000 fee for a comprehensive study, a $1,000 fee for a limited evaluation, and $75 per hour for an updated custody evaluation completed more than six months before trial.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Applies to
Social investigation fee ?

Both parties must, within SEVEN (7) days of service of this Order, remit the fee, indicated above (if any), made payable to the evaluator.

Summary: Both parties must remit the assessed fee to the evaluator within seven days after service of the order.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Applies to
Eviction answer ?

Peye grefye tribunal la lajan lwaye ou dwe yo. Ou DWE peye grefye tribunal la lajan lwaye a chak fwa ou dwe jiskaske pwosè a fini.

Summary: The tenant must pay the clerk the rent amount owed and must continue paying the clerk each time rent becomes due until the case ends.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Applies to
Family mediation ?

A. Parties MUST pay the mediation fees within ten (10) days of the date of this order, and the receipt shall be presented to the ADR office at the mediation session.

Summary: Parties must pay mediation fees within 10 days after the order and present the receipt to the ADR office at the mediation session.

Judge Luis Delgado

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Applies to
Family mediation ?

B. Payment must be made by cash, money order, check or Master Card/Visa credit card to the Clerk of the Courts, at each of the courthouse locations.

Summary: Mediation fees may be paid by cash, money order, check, or Master Card/Visa credit card at courthouse locations.

Judge Luis Delgado

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Fee
$60
Applies to
Family mediation ?

D. If the parties have a combined annual income of less than $50,000, each of the parties shall pay the sum of $60.00.

Summary: Each party must pay $60 when the parties' combined annual income is less than $50,000.

Judge Luis Delgado

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Fee
$120
Applies to
Family mediation ?

E. If the parties have a combined annual income greater than $50,000 but less than $100,000.00, each of the parties shall pay the sum of $120.00.

Summary: Each party must pay $120 when the parties' combined annual income is greater than $50,000 but less than $100,000.

Judge Luis Delgado

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Applies to
Family mediation ?

F. If a party has been found to be indigent, that party shall bring a copy of the Determination of Indigence Status or appropriate court order to the ADR office, in which case the fee will be waived for that party.

Summary: An indigent party must bring proof of indigence to the ADR office, and that party's fee will be waived.

Judge Luis Delgado

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Applies to
Transcript and digital recording copy ?

A determination of civil indigent status under 57.082 FSS does not entitle an indigent party to a civil, family, and civil traffic infraction case to creation and production of transcripts and/or digital recording copies at the public expense.

Summary: Civil indigent status does not entitle a party in civil, family, or civil traffic infraction cases to publicly funded transcripts or digital recording copies.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Fee
$12.5 ?
Applies to
Transcript public record request review ?

Transcript items: $12.50 per item requested and per 15-minute increment of review time, with a $12.50 minimum deposit for up to 15 minutes of review time.

Summary: Public-record review of transcript items costs $12.50 per item and per 15-minute increment of review time, with a $12.50 minimum deposit.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Applies to
Court reporting order ?

All payments are final once payment is received by our office and production has begun on an order, or an order has already been completed.

Summary: Payments become final after the office receives them and begins production or completes the order.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Applies to
Incorrect payment ?

Cashier's checks and money orders can be mailed back at the requestor's expense. Otherwise, payments must be picked up in person within 30 days of notification that the payment(s) were incorrect or the payment(s) will be voided and destroyed.

Summary: Incorrect cashier's checks and money orders may be mailed back at the requestor's expense; other incorrect payments must be picked up within 30 days or they will be voided and destroyed.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Civil cases

Applies to
Mediation fees ?

Payment must be made by cash, money order, check or Master Card/Visa credit card to the Clerk of the Courts, at each of the courthouse locations.

Summary: Mediation fees may be paid by cash, money order, check, or Master Card/Visa credit card to the Clerk of the Courts at any courthouse location.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Civil cases

Applies to
Mediation fees ?

If a party has been found to be indigent, that party shall bring a copy of the Determination of Indigence Status or appropriate court order to the ADR office, in which case the fee will be waived for that party.

Summary: An indigent party's mediation fee is waived if the party brings the Determination of Indigence Status or an appropriate court order to the ADR office.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Applies to
Guardian background check fee ?

All fees must be verified with the sheriff department.

Summary: Guardian fingerprinting or criminal-check fees must be verified with the sheriff's department.

Judge Charles E. Burton

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Applies to
Court approved provider fees ?

To be eligible for the sliding scale, a social security earnings statement must be provided.

Summary: Eligibility for the provider's sliding scale requires submission of a Social Security earnings statement.

Judge Lauren Burke

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.INFO?

Applies to
Court reporting order ?

1) If the requested court event was not recorded.

Summary: A refund is issued when the requested court event was not recorded.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.INFO?

Applies to
Court reporting order ?

2) If the requested court event is beyond retention policy.

Summary: A refund is issued when the requested court event is beyond the retention policy.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.INFO?

Applies to
Court reporting order ?

3) If the digital recording is damaged/corrupted.

Summary: A refund is issued when the digital recording is damaged or corrupted.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.INFO?

Applies to
Court reporting order ?

4) If a duplicate request has been received.

Summary: A refund is issued when a duplicate request has been received.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.INFO?

Applies to
Court reporting order ?

5) If a completed Prohibition Against Dissemination form has not been received within the specified timeframe as e-mailed to the requestor.

Summary: A refund is issued if the completed Prohibition Against Dissemination form is not received within the timeframe previously emailed to the requestor.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.INFO?

Applies to
Court reporting order ?

6) If production has not yet began on an order and a timely notice of cancellation was received by our office.

Summary: A refund is issued when production has not begun and the office receives timely notice of cancellation.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.INFO?

Applies to
Court reporting order ?

7) If an incorrect payment has been received.

Summary: A refund is issued when the office receives an incorrect payment.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.INFO?

Civil cases

Applies to
Social investigation fee ?

The fee is waived by the court due to an inability to pay.

Summary: The court may waive the social-investigation fee when a party is unable to pay.

Court-level rulesOfficial source
Common questions about Fifteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Palm Beach County filing fees and waivers rules

Are filing fees or waivers addressed in Fifteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Palm Beach County?

Fifteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Palm Beach County: A fee is required for covered filings. A Petition for Declaratory Statement is subject to the same filing fee as a Petition for Adoption, with no additional fee when a TPR filing fee has already been paid.

View ruleOfficial source Source: page 3, section C. PETITION FOR DECLARATORY STATEMENT

Judge Luis Delgado: A fee is required for covered filings. A party who has not paid will not receive a family mediation session unless the party is indigent or has been excused from payment.

View ruleOfficial source Source: page 2, section Fees

Judge Charles E. Burton: The rule addresses filing fees, payment, or waiver procedures. Guardian fingerprinting or criminal-check fees must be verified with the sheriff's department. Machine summary, not yet verified; check the linked order.

View ruleOfficial source Source: page 1, section Fingerprint-Electronic Only and Credit Reports for All Guardians

57 more rules answer this question in the list above.