PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

H.B. 19

House Bill No. 19

AN ACT concerning

Baltimore City - Circuit Court - Appearance Fees

FOR the purpose of altering the amount of the appearance fee to be collected when filing
for certain actions in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City under certain
circumstances; and generally relating to appearance fees for law actions filed
certain actions in Baltimore City.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings
Section 7-204(a)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1995 Replacement Volume and 1995 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article — Courts and Judicial Proceedings

7-204.

(a) (1) Except in Montgomery County and except as provided in paragraph (2)
of this subsection for BALTIMORE CITY AND Baltimore County and, in paragraph (3) of
this subsection for St. Mary's County, AND IN PARAGRAPH (4) OF THIS SUBSECTION
FOR BALTIMORE CITY, the clerk of each circuit court shall:

(i) Collect, in advance, a $10 fee for docketing the appearance of
counsel when bringing or defending a civil action in the court;

(ii) Charge as costs a $10 fee for docketing the appearance of counsel
when prosecuting or defending a criminal action in the court; and

(iii) Collect, in advance, a $10 fee for docketing the appearance of
counsel when bringing or defending a case in the Court of Appeals.

(2) The CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR BALTIMORE CITY AND THE
Clerk of the Circuit Court for Baltimore County shall:

(i) Collect, in advance, the following fee for docketing the appearance
of counsel when bringing or defending a civil action:

1.       A $20 fee for an action, including the collection of money
due on mortgage, in a court of equity; and

2.       A. A $10 fee for an action at law in a court of original
jurisdiction IN BALTIMORE COUNTY; AND

B. A FEE OF $20 FOR AN ACTION AT LAW IN A COURT OF
ORIGINAL JURISDICTION IN BALTIMORE CITY;

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