Case Information
*1 opinicm No. H-756 TheXonorableTmHanna Criminal District Attorney
Jefferson County Fe: col.rtcosts~ohcanbe P. 0. Box 2553 collededatthe time a suit ma-t, !mias 77704 or instnment is filed for
service by constables or sheriffs.
l%eEIo~ableHankAnderson
Bunty At-=%'
WichikaCbunty
Wichita Falls, '&xas 76301
(1) Are sheriffs entitled to fees under article 3933a, V.T.C.S., formsucxessfulatt6qtsto ca@et+service of process?
(2) May County and District Clerks assess and collect service fees at the timeof filing of suits or hsats which require service? (3) May ComtyandDistrict Clerks collect a deposit at the time of filing in order to secure service fees?
IheExmrsblelbnIianna page 2 W-756)
lheBmorableHankAndersm-
l%s Honorable Jce Rzsweber
Prior to its 1975 mt, article 3933a, V.T.C.S., authorized fees when servics "is perfonmzd or attenpted and return is made." (imphasis added). lkwever, article 3933a presently authorizes such fees &YwfEn service "is parfomrd and return made." Acts 1975, 64th Leg., ch. 480, p. 1297. Inouropinion, theclear iqortof the1975ankxKbnt to article 3933a is that sheriffs may no longer collect a fee for service of prccess orsmsother instrwnttiess such service is successfully performed. hxmdingly, we anmer the first question in the negative.
Thesecond~questi~arewfietheraCounty.orDistrictClerkmay wllect fees for service at the tim of filing andwhether sewrity for such feesmaybe requird atthattims.
Sinceasheriffismtentitledtoafeeforserviceofpr0cessor ~meotherinstrunentunlesssuchsenriceissuccessful,~beli~it clearthat~feesmayIkotbetaxedascosts~tilthesenriceis anpleted. Thus, aComtyor District Cl&has 1~) autbrity to cqllect aswurtcc6ts a fee forserviceofpmcesspriorto theactual service and retwm of pmcess. See Rule 17, T.R.C.P. -
While ths clerkmaymtwllecta fee for serviceofpmcessbefore senriceismade,thequesticnofrequiringsecurityatthetimethe petition is filed for eventual payment of that fee is governedby Rule 142, T.R.C.P., whichprovides:
'Ibeclerkmayreqdre frantheplaintiffsecurity NJ attorn& or othr officer of the court shall be suretyinanyoause~inthewurt,except underspecialleaveofwurt. (misadded).
III addition, Rule146 provides:
Inlieuofalxxdforwsts,thepartyre&red togive the sammydepositwiththeclerkof wurtorthejusticeofthepeacesuchs~asthe wurtorjusticefrantimetot.hsmay&signate as sufficienttopaythe accruedwsts.
lhe Howrable Ttm Hanna
IheI33mrableRankAndersw- page 3 (H-756)
TheHorxxableJoe Resdxr
See also FUle 145, regarding affidavits of inability to pay costs. -- Oxpare Rule 143, concerning otter wsts. In interpreting Fade 142, Attornqy General Opinion S-42 (1953) indicated:
Ittillthusbsseenthattheanmtyor district clerk shall file the petition in every casewhenitispresentedtohbn,butheisnot ~toissueanyprucessthereonwithout securityforwstsinsaidcause,ordessa sunofnrxeyis depositedwith the clerk sufficient tosecuretbsestirnatedwsts,orunlessthsplaintiff shall file a paupers affidavit in lieu of the bond or deposit.
l?ui, at the timsapetitionis filed, aclerkmayrefuse to issue process prior to the receipt of security for costs orzmaffidavitof inability topaywsts. Acwrdi@y,ws answer ttE-qlleStiOllh theneyativeandthe thirdinths affirmative. While a clerkn~ynot assess fees forserviceas wstspriorti the succWSful.Psturnthereof, he may require security or an affidavit of inability to pay wsts prior to issuing any process for service.
SUMMARY Under article 3933a, a sheriff is not mtitledtia fee for an nsuccessfulattenpt tOserVeprocesS.
Acountyor District Clerkxraynot assess fees for service as costs prior to the successful pE%fozmanceofselxice. Atthetheapetition is filed, a clerkrnay require security for such fees or an affidavit of hability tipsy a&s prior to issuing any process.
lheE%nmrable~Ranna
The Bmrable Hank Anderson - page 4 (H-756)
l%eEkmorableJoeFk?.sweber
opinion cumlittee
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