The returned check fee shall be $30 per check returned to a
County office for nonpayment due to insufficient funds. This fee will
be assessed in addition to the original amount of the check.
Fees for copying public records shall be as follows:
A. Printed, typed, or written material. Except as provided below, the
fee for photographic copies of public records which are 11 inches
by 17 inches or smaller in size shall be $0.25 per page, up to and
including 100 copies, plus $0.10 per page for each copy beyond 100
copies; provided that the minimum fee for any request to produce photographic
copies of public records shall be $1. Two-sided copies shall be counted
as two copies.
B. Drawings, plots, plats and maps. To the extent that County equipment
permits the reproduction of drawings, plots, plats, maps, or other
documents which are greater than 11 inches by 17 inches in size, the
fee for photographic copies of public records which are greater than
11 inches by 17 inches in size shall be as follows:
(2) Direct line tax maps: $10.
(3) Orthophoto/tax map composites: $20.
(5) Plots/Plats/Maps no larger than 11 inches by 17 inches: $3.
(6) Plots/Plats/Maps larger than 11 inches by 17 inches: $10.
(7) Zoning Maps/indexes: $10.
C. Magnetic tapes of recorded oral dialogue. Copies of magnetic tapes
of recorded hearings, meetings, or workshops, if still available,
will be made upon request. The cost shall be determined by the hourly
rate of pay of the employee preparing the copy multiplied by the time
to the nearest quarter of an hour necessary to make the copy plus
$5 per tape cassette used.
D. Information stored in computer databases. The fee to produce copies
of information stored in computer databases shall be based upon the
cost of producing computer-generated copies, the amount of machine
operating time necessary to produce the copies, and the amount of
computer programming (if any) required, to be determined as follows:
(1) Cost of producing computer-generated copies. The cost of producing
mailing labels based upon the contents of the County's automated tax
rolls is and shall be $0.06 per label. The cost of producing a name
and address listing based upon the contents of the County's automated
tax rolls is and shall be $0.06 per name/address. If information stored
in computer databases is requested to be transferred to magnetic media,
such as computer tape or floppy diskette, the requesting party must
supply the computer tape or floppy diskette of appropriate size. Any
additional out-of-pocket cost incurred by the County shall be invoiced
at the County's actual cost.
(2) Cost for machine operating time. In addition to the cost of producing computer-generated copies specified by Subsection
D(1) above, a further reproduction fee shall be charged based upon the amount of machine operating time necessary to produce said copies, and shall be calculated at the rate of $60 per hour. The minimum charge shall be $15. Whenever the cost of producing computer-generated copies, based upon the amount of machine operating time necessary to produce said copies, is expected to exceed $50, a deposit of 50% must be provided by the requesting party before processing of the information request may commence.
(3) Cost for computer programming. In addition to the cost of producing
computer-generated copies specified above and the cost for machine
operating time also specified above, a further reproduction fee shall
be charged based upon the amount of computer programming (if any)
required to produce said copies, and shall be calculated at the rate
of $60 per hour. The minimum charge shall be $60. Whenever the cost
of producing computer-generated copies, based upon the amount of computer
programming (if any) required to produce said copies, is expected
to exceed $50, a deposit of 50% must be provided by the requesting
party before processing of the information request may commence.
(4) Exception for data requests by political subdivisions, agencies,
and nonprofit organizations. The fees established above shall not
apply to information requests by political subdivisions or agencies
of Kent County; instead, copies of information stored in computer
databases shall be provided to political subdivisions and agencies
of Kent County at no fee or cost. The fees established shall apply
to all state and federal governments and their agencies and political
subdivisions, other counties and their agencies and political subdivisions,
and tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations, except that the cost of producing
mailing labels based upon the contents of the County's automated tax
rolls is and shall be $0.03 per label, and the cost of producing a
name and address listing based upon the contents of the County's automated
tax rolls is and shall be $0.03 per name/address.
(5) Paper copies from microfilm. Kent County does not have the facilities
required to duplicate microfilm. Hence, any public record which is
maintained on microfilm may only be reproduced in paper copy form.
The cost for paper copies from microfilm records shall be $0.50 per
page, up to and including 100 copies, plus $0.25 per page for each
copy beyond 100 copies. The minimum charge for any such request shall
be $1.
(6) Transcripts. If magnetic tapes of recorded hearings, meetings, or workshops are available, a typed verbatim transcript shall be made upon written request. The cost for one copy of a transcript shall be at the rate of $1 per typed page (double-spaced) plus the hourly rate of pay of the employee preparing the transcript multiplied by the time necessary to complete the transcript. Additional copies may be purchased at the rates established under Subsection
A, Printed, typed or written material, above.
(7) Publications. From time to time a flat document fee is established for the purchase of certain publications of Kent County. Examples are the Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Regulations, Building Code and Supplement, etc. The cost for copies of portions of such publications shall be as stated in Subsection
A, Printed, typed, or written material, above. The cost to purchase the complete publication shall be in accordance with the fee established at the time of publication.
E. Exceptions to reproduction fee schedule.
(1) No cost shall be charged for reproducing public records which have
been exempted from the provisions of this policy directive of the
Kent County Levy Court.
(2) Whenever a reciprocal agreement to share information at a predetermined
cost has been reached between Kent County and any non-County end-user,
the terms of said agreement shall dictate the cost of reproducing
public records governed by said agreement.
F. Terms of payment of reproduction fees. Full payment of the applicable
fee(s) for reproduction of any public records maintained by Kent County
must be received from the requesting party prior to delivery of any
public records which have been reproduced, unless other billing arrangements
have been approved in advance by the applicable department manager,
row officer, or other custodian of said public records.
Board of Assessment fees shall be as follows:
A. Information content sheet: $1.
B. Property record cards: $1 per card.
C. Fax copies of property record cards: $1.50.
E. Extended research: $15 per hour.
[Amended 8-11-2009 by Ord. No. 09-15]
Clerk of the Peace fees shall be as follows:
A. Marriage and civil union licenses.
[Amended 12-13-2011 by Ord. No. 11-22]
(2) Nonresident:
$100.
[Amended 5-8-2012 by Ord. No. 12-09]
(3) Active-duty
military: $50.
[Added 5-8-2012 by Ord. No. 12-09]
(4) Recording
fee for each license: $20.
[Added 8-15-2017 by Ord.
No. 17-15]
B. Ceremony.
(3) Active-duty
military: $50.
[Added 5-8-2012 by Ord. No. 12-09]
C. Certified copy of marriage and civil union licenses: $25 (of which
$15 goes to the State of Delaware for domestic violence).
[Amended 12-13-2011 by Ord. No. 11-22]
D. License extension: $25/month (for up to six months).
E. If one
or both parties are residents of Kent County, the resident rate shall
apply. If both parties are nonresidents of Kent County, the nonresident
rate shall apply.
F. For the
purpose of this section, the term "resident" shall mean a resident
of Kent County, Delaware, who has been domiciled within the County
for at least one year and shall include the son or daughter of a person
who has been domiciled within the County for one year or more, notwithstanding
the actual place of residence of the son or daughter immediately prior
to the date of the marriage.
Information technology fees shall be as follows:
A. Reports: $0.06 per name ($0.03 per name for nonprofit organizations).
B. Labels: $0.06 per label ($0.03 per name for nonprofit organizations).
C. Computer operation time: $60 per hour (minimum $15).
D. Customized programming: $60 per hour (minimum $60).
E. Deposit of 50%: required when fees are estimated to exceed $50.
[Amended 10-10-2006 by Ord. No. 06-40]
Fees pertaining to the Department of Public Works are set in Chapter
128 of the Kent County Code. Additionally, the uniform rate for contract users and the uniform maintenance rates for residents of sanitary sewer districts are set annually in the budget.
[Amended 5-23-2006 by Ord. No. 06-17; 8-25-2009 by Ord. No.
09-16]
Recorder of Deeds fees shall be as follows:
A. Recording, comparing and indexing a deed: $10 per page.
B. Each tax parcel number: $5 per document.
C. Recording, comparing and indexing a mortgage: $10 per page.
D. Recording, comparing, and indexing an assignment: $10 per page.
E. Noting on margin of record of mortgages name or names of assignees
in assignment of mortgage: $7 per document.
F. Recording and indexing a 26.5 inches by 36 inches development plot:
$35 per page.
G. Recording and indexing a development plot larger than 26.5 inches
by 36 inches: $60 per page.
H. An additional fee of $40 per document may be charged for each and
every document not conforming to the standards published by the Recorder
of Deeds.
I. Noting a satisfaction of mortgage: $10 per document.
J. Preparing office copy: $1 per page.
K. Preparing certified copy: $7 per page.
L. Preparing certified copy for foreclosure: $7 per page.
M. Mailing any copy: $2 per page.
N. Faxes:
$1 first page; $0.50 each additional page.
O. Recording and indexing federal tax and other liens: $10 per document.
P. Recording and indexing discharges related to liens: $5 per document.
Q. Recording and indexing releases related to liens: $5 per document.
R. Recording and indexing Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) financing statements
and continuations, per document, regardless of number of pages: $25
per document.
S. Recording and indexing terminations related to UCC financing statements
and continuations: $25 per document.
T. Recording and indexing assignments related to UCC financing statements
and continuations: $25 per document.
U. Recording and indexing amendments related to UCC statements: $15
per document.
V. Recording
and indexing federal tax and other liens: $47 per document.
W. Releases:
$42 per document.
X. Federal
tax and other liens related to discharges: $42 one page; $51 two pages.
Y. Federal
tax and other liens related to U.S. judgments: $10 per page; $40 if
nonconforming.
Z. Unlimited Internet access to Recorder of Deeds indexes and images:
$50 monthly, per user, unlimited.
AA. Document
fee for all documents recorded: $31 (includes $30 state and $1 County).
BB. Redaction
of sensitive information by written request: $5 per document.
CC. Rejection
fee for all rejected documents: $20 per document.
[Added 3-26-2013 by Ord. No. 13-04]
DD. Technology
fee: $5 per document.
[Added 8-15-2017 by Ord.
No. 17-14]
[Amended 1-31-2006 by Ord. No. 06-01; 1-30-2007 by Ord. No. 07-03; 4-13-2010 by Ord. No. 10-02; 10-23-2018 by Ord. No. 18-11]
Tax Office fees shall be as follows:
A. Letters to owners of mobile homes stating that taxes are current:
$20.
B. Monitions:
(1) County notification to property owners of delinquent tax and/or sewer
service charges and warning of possible exposure of property to public
sale by Sheriff: $80.
(2) Notification issued to delinquent property owners by County attorney
giving second notice of possible exposure of property to public sale
by Sheriff: $80.
(3) Title searches: $60, plus photocopy charges.
(4) Bring-down title search: $60, plus photocopy charges.
(5) Preparation of monition: $100.
(6) Metes and bounds description: $25.
(7) Superior Court filing fee for monition (fixed cost set by Superior
Court plus E-Filing fees incurred.
(8) Preparation of VE (Venditioni Exponas): $60.
(9) Superior Court filing fee for Venditioni Exponas (fixed cost set
by Superior Court plus E-Filing fees incurred.
(10)
Notice letters, per defendant: $10 plus postage.
(11)
Notice letters, per lienholder: $10 plus postage.
(12)
Preparation and filing of affidavit of notice to each: $75 plus
E-filing fees.
(13)
Sales scheduled by Sheriff: $100.
(14)
Mileage and other expenses (Posting Sale Properties): $45.
(15)
Completion of a sale: $50.
(16)
Advertising: amount varies with cost of ad and number of weeks
ad runs.
(17) Preparation and filing of voluntary dismissal of monition: $10 plus
E-filing fees.
[Amended 11-13-2007 by Ord. No. 07-33]
A. Register of Wills fees shall be as follows:
(1) Filing petition for granting letters of administration and testamentary:
$5 per page; two or more personal representatives: $10.
(2) Granting letters of administration under seal, making bond and making
registry thereof:
|
Value of Estate
|
Fee
(per account)
|
---|
|
$1 and less than $29,999.99
|
$25
|
|
Over $30,000 and less than $99,999.99
|
$50
|
|
Over $100,000 and less than $499,999.99
|
$75
|
|
Over $500,000 and less than $999,999.99
|
$100
|
|
Each additional increment of $0 up to $500,000
|
$100
|
(3) Exemplification: $25, plus $2 each additional page.
(4) Short certificates: $5, no expiration date.
[Amended 7-23-2019 by Ord. No. 19-12]
(6) Renunciation: $3 per page.
(7) Small estate and funeral director affidavits: $5, no expiration date.
[Amended 7-23-2019 by Ord. No. 19-12]
(8) Filing certified death certificate: $1.
(9) Register's order (advertising, including handbills): $7.
(11)
Statement of claim: $20.
[Amended 7-23-2019 by Ord. No. 19-12]
(13)
Certification: $5, plus $2 each additional page.
(14)
Two witnesses: $5 for all.
(16)
Rule 190: $5 per personal representative.
(17)
Requesting a will from out-of-state: $25.
(18)
No DE estate tax due affidavit: $10 unprobated and probated.
[Amended 4-26-2011 by Ord. No. 11-09]
(20)
Taking and registering probate of will (order and decree): $2.
(21)
Recording a will: $2 per page.
[Amended 7-23-2019 by Ord. No. 19-12]
(22)
Recording and indexing final accounting: $20.
(25)
Spousal allowance: $20.
[Amended 7-23-2019 by Ord. No. 19-12]
(26)
Petition or application for revoking letters: $10.
(27)
Register of wills hearing: $25.
(28)
Filing any paper in estate folder not otherwise specified: $1
per page.
(30)
Sitting in trial, per day: $50.
(31)
Form 650 or 651 - no asset form: $20.
[Amended 7-23-2019 by Ord. No. 19-12]
(33)
Providing an order page: $10.
(34)
Life estate termination: $15.
(35)
Advertising costs: rates vary with cost of ad.
(36)
Adjusting, settling and certifying accounts: 1.75% of the amount
of net personal estate (disregarding all disbursements made, or to
be made, for legacies, bequests or distributive shares due to legatees,
heirs at law, or persons otherwise entitled).
(37) Affidavit of jointly held real property: $10.
[Added 4-26-2011 by Ord. No. 11-09]
(38) Disclaimer document fee: $10.
[Added 4-26-2011 by Ord. No. 11-09]
(39) Small estate affidavit via mail: $10.
[Added 4-26-2011 by Ord. No. 11-09; amended 7-23-2019 by Ord. No. 19-12]
(40)
Redesignation of letters of administration to letters of testamentary
with will annexed: $25.
[Added 7-23-2019 by Ord.
No. 19-12]
(41)
Reopening an estate that has been administratively closed due
to inactivity by the Court of Chancery (reversing an administrative
closing - admin. closed): $250.
[Added 7-23-2019 by Ord.
No. 19-12]
(42)
Late fee for filing a document more than 30 days late: $25.
[Added 7-23-2019 by Ord.
No. 19-12]
(43)
Missed appointments: $25.
[Added 7-23-2019 by Ord.
No. 19-12]
B. NOTE: Costs for services required but not provided by Kent County
Register of Wills (i.e., other agency costs, out-of-state fees, etc.)
are passed directly to the customer receiving the service.
C. The Register of Wills shall keep a printed list of fees for public
inspection.
Sheriff's fees shall be as follows:
A. Serving a writ of summons and complaint.
(1) Serving a writ of summons and complaint, rule to show cause, name
change, citation on appeal, wage attachment and writ of possession/replevin
on one defendant: $30.
(2) For each additional defendant at the same address: $5.
(3) For each additional defendant at a different address: $30.
B. Serving a writ of summons and complaint, out-of-state service.
(1) Summons and Complaint: $75.
(2) Additional summons at same location: $75.
C. Serving upon Secretary of State.
(1) Sheriff's fee for summons, complaint, etc.: $30.
(2) Sheriff's fee for each additional defendant: $5.
(3) Sheriff's fee for each subpoena: $15.
(4) Secretary of State fee for each defendant payable to Secretary of
State:
(b)
For a Title 8 (two sets of paperwork required): $50.
D. Serving upon Insurance Commissioner (two sets of paperwork required).
(1) Sheriff's fee for subpoena: $15.
(2) Sheriff's fee for summons, complaint, etc.: $30.
(3) Sheriff's fee for each additional defendant: $5.
(4) Insurance Commissioner's fee for each defendant made payable to Insurance
Commissioner (summons or subpoena): $25.
E. Serving a Scire Facias.
(1) Serving a Scire Facias: $30.
(2) Each additional defendant at the same address: $5.
(3) Posting at time of serving (same address as served): $5.
(4) Posting property different time of serving: $30.
(5) Posting at a different address than served: $30.
F. Levying an execution on goods and chattels and lands and tenements,
and making inventory, causing appraisement and making return: $100.
G. Serving Subpoena Duces Tecum, per person: $15.
H. Writs of Levari Facias and Venditioni Exponas: no charge.
I. Scheduling sale of:
(1) VE Monition and VE-FFA: $130.
(2) Levari Facias deposit of $500 for actual costs incurred by the Sheriff's
Office): $500.
J. A fee of 4% will be charged on all Sheriff’s sales (tax, mortgage
and personal). The maximum fee under this subsection shall be $10,000.
The minimum fee under this subsection shall be $500.
[Amended 6-27-2006 by Ord. No. 06-22; 8-9-2011 by Ord. No. 11-17]
K. Notice to lienholder: $30.
L. Standby for evictions.
[Amended 6-27-2006 by Ord. No. 06-22]
(1) If Sheriff/Deputy required to be on stand-by at property for eviction,
per hour: $100 per hour.
(2) If Sheriff/Deputy required to replevy and seize fees: $100 per hour.
M. Transport.
(1) Transporting prisoners to WCI and New Castle and Sussex County Courts:
$100.
(2) Transporting prisoners to DCC and Stevenson: $50.
(3) Transporting prisoners to MCI and Kent County Family Court: $25.
N. Certified mailing fees: $20.
[Amended 6-27-2006 by Ord. No. 06-22; 7-12-2011 by Ord. No. 11-14]
[Added 5-12-2009 by Ord. No. 09-09]
Meeting room space in any County building or facility may be
used, or reserved for use, by individuals and groups not part of the
Kent County government organization for a fee in accordance with the
following schedule:
A. County Complex at 555 Bay Road, Dover, Delaware.
[Amended 9-24-2019 by Ord. No. 19-19]
|
Room Location
|
Base Rental
|
With PA System
|
With Audio-Visual Equipment
|
---|
|
Levy Court Chamber*
|
$40/hour
|
$55/hour
|
$60/hour
|
|
Room 117**
|
$20/hour
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
|
Room 126**
|
$20/hour
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
|
Room 220
|
$30/hour
|
$45/hour
|
$50/hour
|
|
Room 221**
|
$20/hour
|
n/a
|
$35/hour
|
|
NOTES:
|
---|
|
*
|
The Levy Court Chamber may be authorized for use only by state
or other government- affiliated entities (Kent County Policy 4, Section
4-1.C).
|
---|
|
**
|
After 5:00 p.m. nonprofit and community service organizations
are exempt from the fees associated with usage of Rooms 117, 126 and
221 (without audio-visual equipment) and the Library Conference Room.
|
B. EMS Conference Room at 911 Public Safety Boulevard, Dover, Delaware.
(1) Affiliated public safety, police, fire, EMS and emergency services
groups: no charge.
(2) All other outside groups: $30/hour.
C. EMS Conference Room at Wheatley Pond Road Center, Smyrna, Delaware.
(1) Affiliated public safety, police, fire, EMS and emergency services
groups: no charge.
(2) All other outside groups: $20/hour.
D. Kent County Library Conference Room, Dover, Delaware.
(1) Affiliated library services support groups: no charge.
(2) All other outside groups: $30/hour. After 5:00 p.m., nonprofit and
community service organizations are exempt from the fees associated
with usage of the Library Conference Room.