JIM MATTOX Attorney General 

# The Attorney General of Texas

March 10, 1986

Supreme Court Building P. 0. BOX 12548 Austin. TX. 78711.2548 512/475-2501 Telex 9101674-1387 Telecopier 51214750266 HonorableMike Driscoll Harris CountyAttorney 1001Preston, Suite 634 Houston, Texas 77'302 opinionNo. .I?+-448

Ret Whether a county clerkmust collect $5.00 in court costs in probate matters under article 1630d,V.T.C.S.

714 Jackson, Suite 700 Da11as.TX. 75202-4508 2,4/742-8944

4824 Alberta Ave., Suite 160 El Paso. TX. 79905.2793 9151533~3484

,001 Texas. suite 700 Houston, TX. 77002.3111 713/2235886

806 Broadway, Suite 312 Lubbock, TX. 79401.3479 8061747-5238

4309 N. Tenth. Suite B McAllen. TX. 78501-1685 512K82.4547

2M) Main Plaza. Suite 400 San Antonio, TX. 782052797 512f2254191

A,, Equal Opportunity1 Affirmative Action Employer DearMr. Driscoll:

You have askedwhether probateproceedingsare civil suitswithin the meaning of sec,tion3 of article 1630d, V.I 

### :.c.s. Article 1630d, V.T.C.S.,provides inpart as follows:

Sec. 2. The commissioners court, by order, shall eritablishan appellate judicial system fund to:
(1) assist the courts of appeals in the supreme judicial district of the State of Texas in processing appeals filed from the county court, county courtsat law,probate courts,and district courts; and
(2) defray costs and expenses incurred for the operation of the court of appealswithin the State of Texas forwhich the county is requiredby law to reimburse other counties within the supreme judicial district.

Sec. 3. (a) In order to fund the appellate judicial system, the commissioners court of each countywithin the supreme judicial district of the State of Texas shall set a court costs fee of not more than $5 for each civil suit filed in a county court, county court at law, probate court, or district court in the county, except for suits for the collection of delinquent taxes. (Emphasis added).

You have informedus that onAugust 27, 1985,pursuant to section 2 of article 163Oi. the conmissionerscourt of Harris County approved

p. 2035RonorableMike Driscoll - Eage 2 (JM-448)

an order establishicgan appellate judicial system fund and saLtinga court cost fee of $5.00 for each civil suit filed in a county ccurt, county court at law, probate court, or district court, except for suits for collection of delinquent taxes. The orderbecame effective on September 1, 1985.

It is our duty to give full recognition to the legislativeintent and purpose in construing section 3(a). See Patterson v. City of Dallas, 355 S.W.2d 838 (?lex.Civ. App. -Dallas 1962, writ ref'd n.r.e.). We must ascertain whether probate proceedinns are civii suits in the context of st,ction.3(a). -As quo&d above,-section ?(a) of article 1630d allows tht!county clerk to collect the $5.00 fee for each "civil suit" filed in specifiedcourts in the counties in a court of appeals district with s population of at least three million. V.T.C.S. art. 1630d, 591, 3(a). Although the term "civil jurisdiction" as used in the s:ete constitution does not include probate jurisdiction, see Tex. Gillette's Estate, Ccnst. art. V, 158, 16, 17, 22; State v. 10 S.U.2d 984 (Tex. Comm'n App. 1928, judgmt adopted), we believe that :thelegislature's use of the-term "civil suit" in section 3(a) necessarily includes those suits In which a probate courthas jurisdiction.
Jurisdiction over probate proceedings is conferred by the constitutionand statutescf this state. See Tex. Const. art.V, 588, 16, 22. See also V.T.C.S. art. 1970-110ay se+ (statutoryprobate courts in Harris County); Boman v. Howell, 618 S.W.2d 913 (Tex.Civ. APP. - Fort Worth 1981, ncywrit). jurisdiction of some probate courts, including the probste courts in Harris County, is limitedby statute to the general jurisdiction of a probate court. See V.T.C.S. art. 1970-110a. §2; Prob. Code, §3(11). Probate matters Gbe filed in a county court, statutoryprobate court, or certain county courts at law. See Prob. Code %5.

- Legislative history reveals that there was no reason to list "probate court" in section 3(a) of article 163Cd.V.T.C.S.,unless the legislatureintended the cc'urt costs fees to apply to probatematters. The originalversion as introduced in the Texas Rouse of Representatives did not include the term "probate court" as coming under the jurisdiction of the appe:.l.ate judicial system. However, a House Committee substitute,passc:d by both houses, added the termwithin the provision. See H.B. No. 1889, Bill File for H.B. No. 1889, Legislative ReferenTLibrary. Consequently,we conclude that the legislature would not have provided a cOurt costs fee for civil suits filed in a probate court unless it intended civil suits to include probare proceedings. See Prob. Code §3(bb) (definitionof probatematters or probateproceezgs).
Moreover, this conclur.ion is consistentwith established judicial policy that probate matters are generally treated in the same manner

p. 2036-.

HonorableMike Driscoll - P;%ge 3 (JM-448)

as any other civil action. See Kots v. Kots, 613 S.W.2d 760, 761 (Tex.Civ. App. - Beaumont 198r1-10writ); see also Maddox v. Surber, 677 S.W.2d 226 (Tex.Civ. .4pp.- Houston [lswT 1984,no writ).

SUMMARY
Section 3(a) of article 1630d, V.T.C.S., authorizes the county clerk, on order of the commissioners court, to collect a court cost fee of $5.00 for all civil suits, including probate proceedings, fil,sdin a county court, county court at law, probatk court, or district court in certain courts oE appealsdistricts.

MATTOX AttorneyGeneral of Texas
JACKHIGHTOWFP FirstAssistantAttorneyG$zueral

MARY KELLER ExecutiveAssistantAttormy General
ROBERT GRAY SpecialAssistantAttorneyGeresal
PRICK GILPIli Chairman,Opinion Committe~a Preparedby Tony Guillory AssistantAttorney General

p. 2033