Rule 3.03.District civil fees and costs.

Rule 3.03 sets filing fees for civil cases in Kentucky District Court. The base fee is $75.00, paid to the clerk when the case is filed, but many case types carry a different, usually lower, fee. Small Claims cases, where the controversy doesn't exceed $2,500.00, cost $30.00. Cases where the amount in controversy is $500.00 or less, filed outside Small Claims Court, cost $40.00. Probate of an estate, guardianship or conservator appointments not tied to a pending probate, name changes, paternity determinations, and forcible detainer actions each carry a $40.00 fee. A petition to marry costs $20.00, and petitions under KRS 311.732 cost $10.00. Mental health proceedings under KRS Chapters 202A, 202B, or 387 carry no fee, except the $40.00 per-application fee for appointing guardians, conservators, and curators. As in Circuit Court, a $20.00 technology fee and other required statutory fees apply on top of whichever base fee fits the case.

The rule sets separate fees for moving a case up to Circuit Court. Appealing a district court civil judgment costs $60.00. If a counterclaim or cross-claim exceeds district court's jurisdictional limit and forces a transfer to Circuit Court, the filer pays an added $60.00 — or $15.00 if the claim only exceeds the lower, reduced-fee threshold without exceeding district court's overall jurisdiction.

Like Rule 3.02, the rule also lists a schedule of additional costs the clerk charges when a party requests a particular service: $40.00 to seat a six-person jury (including in paternity cases), $44.00 to file a third-party complaint, $5.00 to prepare a certification, $.25 per page for a copy of a document, $25.00 for a copy of a digital or video recording, $15.00 for a copy of an audio recording, $25.00 to issue a writ of attachment, execution order, or post-judgment writ of possession, and $15.00 to issue a garnishment. Publishing a notice costs whatever the newspaper charges, certified mail is billed as set by administrative order, an original deposition's appearance fees and mileage are assessed as costs, and library fees follow KRS 172.180 and KRS 453.060. The rule leaves room for the court to order further additional costs in cases that need extraordinary services.