UTBMS Code E109 — Court Fees/Filing Fees
Filing fees, docket fees, service of process fees, pro hac vice fees, and other costs charged by courts, agencies, or government bodies in connection with the matter.
schedule When This Code Is Used
When the law firm pays court filing fees, docket fees, admission fees, service of process charges, or other government-imposed costs required to prosecute or defend the matter.
warning Common Billing Violations
Marking up court filing fees rather than passing through at exact cost
Billing service of process charges at inflated rates through affiliated process server companies
Charging pro hac vice admission fees for attorneys who did not meaningfully contribute to the matter
Billing filing fees for motions that were filed without prior client approval
timer Typical Hours
N/A (expense item). Range: $50-$400 for standard filing fees, $100-$500 for pro hac vice, $50-$200 for service of process.
flag Red Flags to Watch For
Court fees that do not match published fee schedules for the relevant court
Service of process charges significantly exceeding market rates
Pro hac vice fees for attorneys who did not bill meaningful hours to the matter
Filing fees for motions or pleadings that were not pre-approved by the client
check_circle Best Practices for Review
Require that court fees be passed through at exact cost with no markup whatsoever
Verify filing fees against published court fee schedules
Require prior approval for pro hac vice applications and associated fees
Establish that service of process charges be competitively sourced
link Related Codes
analytics Key Statistics
Federal court filing fees range from $402 for a civil complaint to $605 for an appeal, with most state courts charging comparable amounts
Source: U.S. Courts Administrative Office, 2024
Court fees and filing costs typically represent 1-3% of total matter cost but can spike significantly in multi-jurisdiction litigation
Source: ACC Litigation Cost Benchmark Study, 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
What does UTBMS expense code E109 cover? expand_more
UTBMS expense code E109 covers Court Fees and Filing Fees including filing charges, motion fees, jury demand fees, and other court-imposed costs. These are legitimate pass-through expenses that should be reimbursed at actual cost without markup.
How should court filing fees be handled under E109? expand_more
E109 fees should be passed through at exact cost with no markup. Require receipts or court fee schedules as supporting documentation. Auto-verify amounts against published fee schedules for the jurisdiction. Watch for administrative charges disguised as court fees.
What billing issues arise with court fees under E109? expand_more
Issues include firms adding administrative surcharges on top of actual filing fees, billing for fees that were waived or refunded, charging for electronic filing system fees as court fees, and failing to seek fee waivers when available for pro hac vice or other applications.