Terrell County; Probate Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee

New technology fees for Terrell County courts

The law lets Terrell County’s Probate Court clerk collect technology fees set by the probate judge. Fees can reach $5 per civil case filing and $5 added to each criminal fine in Probate Court. The same fees apply in Magistrate Court only when the probate judge also serves as its judge. Collections fund only Probate Court technology needs: computers, software, audiovisual and office equipment, related leases, upkeep, and installation. They also fund turning court records and archives into digital files for public access. The clerk must keep collections in a separate account, subject to audit by an auditor approved by the county governing authority. Fee authority ends July 1, 2035. Any money left remains dedicated to general Terrell County technology uses.