A Call For Action
As both the demand for domestic violence services and the cost of providing them have steadily increased over the years—and have surged since the economy downturn—funding for these life-saving services has stagnated or decreased. To address the critical shortage of funding for domestic violence and child abuse prevention services across the Commonwealth, state legislation has been introduced that will increase the existing fees on marriage licenses and divorce filings that are dedicated to funding statewide domestic violence services and child abuse prevention programs through the Children’s Trust Fund.
Background
- Since 1990, a $10 surcharge on the marriage license has been dedicated to funding statewide domestic violence services; this amount has never been increased.
- The existing $10 marriage license fee raises $733,000 per year for domestic violence services.
- Since 1988, a $10 surcharge on both the marriage license and the divorce filing fee has been dedicated to the Children’s Trust Fund; likewise, this amount has never been increased.
- The Children’s Trust Fund receives about $1.2 million per year for child abuse prevention efforts.
Marriage License Surcharge
- The cost of marriage license and divorce filing fees varies by county. Each county establishes its base cost; certain fees are added to that base cost, resulting in the total fee charged.
- The cost of a marriage license varies from a low of $20 (Franklin) to a high of $80 (Philadelphia). The cost in Bucks county is $60.00.
- The average cost of a marriage license in PA is $43.00.
- 35 other states have marriage license fees dedicated to domestic violence/child abuse funding.
Divorce Filing Fees
- As with marriage license fees, divorce filing costs vary from county to county, with the majority of the fee going to county.
- The divorce filing fee varies from a low of $55.50 (Potter) to a high of $338.50 (Cumberland). The cost in Bucks County is $310.00.
- The average cost of the divorce filing fee in PA is $136.00.
- Low-income people may use the in forma pauperis (IFP) process to waive court filing costs, thereby exempting those whose incomes deem them hardest hit by court costs.
- 12 other states have divorce filing fees dedicated to domestic violence/child abuse funding.
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