TheXonorableTmHanna

Criminal

District

Attorney Jefferson

County P. 0. Box 2553 ma-t, !mias 77704 l%eEIo~ableHankAnderson Bunty At-=%' WichikaCbunty WichitaFalls, '&xas 76301 opinicm No. H-756
Fe: col.rtcosts~ohcanbe collededatthe time a suit or instnment is filed for service

by constables

or sheriffs.

(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 assessand collectservicefees at the timeof filingof suits or hsats which requireservice? (3) May ComtyandDistrict Clerks collecta depositat the time of filing in order to secure servicefees?

p. 3196IheExmrsblelbnIianna

lheBmorableHankAndersm- page 2 W-756) 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,

article3933apresently 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 prccessorsmsother instrwnttiess such serviceis successfully performed. hxmdingly, we anmer the first questionin the negative. Thesecond~questi~arewfietheraCounty.orDistrictClerkmay wllect fees for service at the tim of filingandwhether 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 petitionis filed for eventual paymentof that fee is governedby Rule 142, T.R.C.P.,

whichprovides: 'Ibeclerkmayreqdre frantheplaintiffsecurity

NJ attorn& or othr officerof the court shallbe suretyinanyoause~inthewurt,except underspecialleaveofwurt. (misadded).
III addition,

Rule146 provides: Inlieuofalxxdforwsts,thepartyre&red togive the sammydepositwiththeclerkof wurtorthejusticeofthepeacesuchs~asthe wurtorjusticefrantimetot.hsmay&signate as sufficienttopaythe accruedwsts.

p. 3197lhe 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

GeneralOpinionS-42 (1953) indicated: Ittillthusbsseenthattheanmtyor district

clerk shall file the petitionin every casewhenitispresentedtohbn,butheisnot ~toissueanyprucessthereonwithout securityforwstsinsaidcause,ordessa sunofnrxeyis depositedwith the clerk sufficient tosecuretbsestirnatedwsts,orunlessthsplaintiff shall file a paupersaffidavit 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 requiresecurity or an affidavit

of inability

to pay wsts prior to issuing

any process for service.

SUMMARY Under article 3933a,a sheriffis 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 requiresecurity

for such fees or an affidavit of hability tipsy a&s prior to issuing

any process.

p. 3198lheE%nmrable~Ranna

The Bmrable Hank Anderson- page 4 (H-756) l%eEkmorableJoeFk?.sweber



## opinion cumlittee j*

p. 3199