Sec. 152.1873. DIVORCE AND CONTEMPT FEES IN ORANGE COUNTY. (a) Each person who files a divorce case in Orange County shall pay to the clerk of the district court a filing fee of not less than $5. The fee is taxed, collected, and paid as other costs and is used to assist in maintaining the Orange County Juvenile Board as provided by Subsection (g).

(b) A person found in contempt of court for failure or refusal to pay child or spousal support or to comply with a court order relating to access to or possession of a child shall pay costs of court as determined by the district clerk. The costs are collected to provide legal services, court costs, and expenses of service in support cases.

(c) The person initiating the contempt procedure shall pay the costs to the clerk of the district court. The court may require a person found in contempt to reimburse the complainant for these costs and other expenses incurred by the complainant in prosecuting the contempt action.

(d) A receipt of all disbursements of money paid to the Orange County Juvenile Board in a matter involving contempt shall be kept on file.

(e) The costs prescribed by Subsection (b) may not be assessed against a person who files a pauper's affidavit and is found to qualify as a pauper.

(f) Fees collected under this section shall be deposited in a separate fund known as the "divorce and contempt fees fund" by the county treasurer. A record shall be kept of all fees collected and expended. The divorce and contempt fees fund is subject to regular audit by the county auditor or other authorized person. An annual report of receipts and expenditures in the account shall be made to the commissioners court by the auditor.

(g) The Orange County Juvenile Board shall administer the fees collected under this section to meet the expenses of the juvenile board, including postage, equipment, stationery, office supplies, subpoenas, salaries, and other expenses authorized by the board. The fund shall be supplemented from the general fund or other available funds of the county as necessary.

Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 352, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Amended by:

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 699 (H.B. 884), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 699 (H.B. 884), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2015.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 699 (H.B. 884), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2015.