[Adopted 11-26-1996 by L.L. No. 11-1996]
The Putnam County Legislature hereby determines
that investigations ordered by the Family Court and performed by the
Probation Department pursuant to § 653 of the Family Court
Act serve a useful social and judicial purpose. This Legislature further
determines that the number of such investigations being ordered by
the Family Courts of Putnam is increasing and that many of the parties
involved in such investigations are able to pay for some or all of
the cost involved in performing such investigations.
For performing such an investigation, the Family
Courts of Putnam are hereby authorized to fix a fee of not less than
$50 and not more than $500 to the parties in a custody or visitation
proceeding in the Putnam County Court, pursuant to the following guidelines
as established by the Director of the Department of Probation:
|
Adjusted gross income
|
Fee
|
|---|---|
|
Below $15,000
|
$50
|
|
Between $15,001 and $25,000
|
$100
|
|
Between $25,001 and 35,000
|
$200
|
|
Between $35,001 and $45,000
|
$300
|
|
Between $45,001 and $55,000
|
$400
|
|
In excess of $55,000
|
$500
|
Such fee may, in the discretion of the court,
be waived or modified when the parties lack sufficient means to pay
the fee.
[Amended 12-2-1997 by L.L. No. 15-1997]
The Court shall apportion the fee between the
parties based on their respective financial circumstances and the
equities of the case.
Fees collected pursuant to this article shall
be paid directly to the Putnam County Probation Department to be retained
and utilized for local probation services and shall not be considered
when determining state aid reimbursement pursuant to § 246
of the New York State Executive Law.
This article shall only be applicable to custody and/or visitation cases commenced under the Family Court Act on or after the effective date hereof, as set forth in § 83-12 below.
