Ark. Code Ann. § 16-17-705 (2026)
Filing fees and costs
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- The uniform filing fee to be charged by the clerks of the district courts for initiating a cause of action in district court in this state shall be as prescribed in this section.
- No portion of the filing fee shall be refunded.
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- For initiating a cause of action in the civil division of district court $65.00
- For initiating a cause of action in the small claims division of district court $50.00
- A town, city, or county shall not authorize and a district court clerk shall not assess or collect any other filing fees than those authorized by this section, unless specifically provided by state law.
History. Acts 1987, No. 431, § 5; 1987 (1st Ex. Sess.), No. 34, § 1; 1995, No. 1256, § 5; 2003, No. 1185, §§ 165, 166; 2005, No. 2212, § 3; 2007, No. 663, § 3; 2009, No. 345, § 1.
Amendments. The 2007 amendment, in (b)(2), deleted “if that division is established pursuant to the Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 80, § 7(D)” following “court” and substituted “$50.00” for “$25.00”; and substituted “town, city, or county” for “municipality” in (c).
The 2009 amendment substituted “$65.00” for “50.00” in (b)(1); and made minor stylistic changes in (c).
Meaning of “this act”. Acts 1995, No. 1256, codified as §§ 5-65-115, 5-65-307, 14-20-102, 14-42-112, 16-10-133, 16-10-301 — 16-10-310, 16-14-105, 16-17-402, 16-17-705, 16-21-106, 16-21-113, 16-21-1103, 16-21-1503, 20-7-123, 20-18-502, 21-6-403, 24-8-315.
Cross References. District court generally, § 16-17-132.
Jurisdiction of circuit courts, Ark. Const. Amend. 80, §§ 6, 19.
Effective Dates. Acts 2007, No. 663, § 56, as amended by Acts 2009, No. 345, § 7, provided:
“(a) Sections 2 through 15 of this act are effective January 1, 2008.
“(b) Sections 16 through 50 and 52 through 55 of this act are effective January 1, 2012.
“(c) Section 51 of Act 663 of 2007 is effective January 1, 2012, except:
“(1) That portion of Section 51 of Act 663 of 2007 that is referred to in Act 663 of 2007 as 16-17-933, establishing the Cleburne County District Court and departments of that court, codified as § 16-17-936 is effective July 1, 2009; and
“(2) That portion of Section 51 of Act 663 of 2007 that is referred to in Act 663 of 2007 as 16-17-950, establishing the St. Francis County District Court and departments of that court, codified as § 16-17-954 is effective July 1, 2009.”
Case Notes
Constitutionality.
The imposition of part of the expenses of municipal courts on the counties in which they are established is not violative of constitutional provisions vesting county courts with original jurisdiction in all matters relating to county affairs. Crawford County v. City of Van Buren, 201 Ark. 798, 146 S.W.2d 914 (1941) (decision under prior law).
Appropriation Not Made.
If a municipal court was created after the last prior meeting of the quorum court and no appropriation was made for the payment of the services of the judge and clerk, they could recover from the county on its liability for one-half of their salaries, provided there was a balance more than sufficient to pay those salaries. Jackson County v. Pickens, 208 Ark. 15, 184 S.W.2d 591 (1945) (decision under prior law).
Association Dues.
There is no provision in the Constitution or the statutes which gives the county court the specific authority to pay dues to the county judges' association. Ark. Ass'n of County Judges v. Green, 232 Ark. 438, 338 S.W.2d 672 (1960).