If electronic file and serve is used, additional costs are imposed, including a $0.75 filing fee paid to the court and any service charges determined by the e-file and serve provider.
Civil Cases
Type of Filing |
Fee |
Complaint, Petition for Instituting Civil Action, Suit or Proceeding |
$225 |
Violence Against Women Act of 1998 (VAWA) Cases |
No Fee |
First Amended Complaint |
$50 |
Second Amended Complaint and Each Subsequent Amended Complaint |
$75 |
Answer |
$75 |
Amended Answer(s) |
$20 |
Cross-Complaint |
$125 |
Third Party Complaint |
$100 |
Motion for Summary Judgment |
$100 |
Motion to Dismiss |
$100 |
Motion for Reconsideration |
$100 |
Application for Writ of Habeas Corpus and Any other Applications/ Petitions for Writ |
$200 |
Petition to Perpetuate Testimony |
$25 |
Other Motions, Requests, or Filings Not Specifically Designated Above |
$25 per motion, including motions in the alternative |
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|
Drug Court
Type of Fee |
Fee |
Participant Assessment Fee (payable $30/month or $15/biweekly) |
$540 |
Family Court Cases
Type of Filing |
Fee |
Complaint, Petition, or other first paper for Divorce/Dissolution, Legal Separation, Nullity, Custody and/or Visitation, Guardianship, Change of Name, and Paternity |
$225 |
Petition for Adoption |
$225 |
Order to Show Cause to Modify or to Enforce: Custody and/or Visitation Judgment or Child Support Orders |
$20 |
Other Motions, Requests, or Other Filings Not Specifically Designated Above |
$25 per motion, including motions in the alternative |
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|
Family Court Mediation Services
Each party pays for three hours of mediation, which is non-refundable. If mediation lasts more than three hours, each party pays the additional fee in one hour increments. “Gross Income” equals all income before any withholding or deductions. Payments must be made seven business days before the scheduled mediation session.
Per Party-Gross Income |
Fee |
Less than $15,000 |
$10/hr |
$20,000 or more |
$15/hr |
$25,000 or more |
$20/hr |
$30,000 or more |
$25/hr |
$40,000 or more |
$40/hr |
$50,000 or more |
$60/hr |
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|
Probate Filings
Type of Filing |
Fee |
First Petition for Letters of Administration, Petition for Special Letters of Administration, Petition for Letters of Testamentary |
$225 |
Creditor Filing a Claim Against an Estate |
$75 |
Filing of Last Will & Testament & Codicil |
$50 |
Filing of Subsequent Wills & Testaments & Codicils |
$50 |
Estate of Limited Value |
$150 |
Other Motions, Requests, or Other Filings Not Specifically Designated Above |
$25 per motion, including motions in the alternative |
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|
Small Claims Cases
Type of Filing |
Fee |
Claim of $500 or less |
$20 |
Claim of $501 to $2,000 |
$40 |
Claim of $2,001 to $3,000 |
$50 |
Claim of $3,001 to $5,000 |
$75 |
Amendment to Smail Claims Complaint and Summons (including Re-filing the Complaint or the Changing of Any Hearing Date) |
$10 |
Notice of Appeal in Small Claims Cases |
$150 |
Motion for Order to Show Cause |
$20 |
Motion for Order in Aid of Judgment |
$20 |
Other Motions, Requests, or Other Filings Not Specifically Designated Above |
$25 per motion, including motions in the alternative |
Marshal Service Division
Type of Service |
Fee |
Service of Summons and Copy of a Complaint (including Small Claims Complaint), Petition or Application Furnished by Plaintiff for Each Defendant (Non E-file cases) |
$40* |
Service of Subpoenas or Witness Summons for Each Witness |
$40* |
Service of Order to Show Cause or Order in Aid of Judgment to each Defendant |
$40* |
Service of All Other Documents Not Listed Above for Each Person Served (including Notices, Writs, Releases, Warrants of Arrest, Orders from other jurisdictions) |
$50* |
Writs of Attachment |
$100* |
Releases and Modification of Writs of Attachment |
$100* |
Enforce Writs of Possession |
$100* |
Postponement of Sale |
$100* |
All Other Marshal Service Division Services Not Listed Above (including Notices, Writs, Releases, Warrants of Arrest, Orders from other jurisdictions) |
$100* |
* Plus Vehicle Usage Flat Mileage Fee (for any Marshal Service Division service requiring usage of a vehicle) |
+$30
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Transcripts
Type of Transcript |
Fee |
Original |
$5/pg |
Expedited Transcripts (Expedited: within 10 Calendar days of request) |
$7/pg |
Additional Copies |
$2/pg |
Jury Trials
For each jury trial less than five business days, there is requirement to submit a refundable advance deposit of $1,500, paid to the Superior Court no later than five business days before the start of trial. For each additional day, there is a requirement to submit a refundable advance deposit of $500/day. Payment for each additional day must be made prior to start of the day’s proceedings.
Type of Service |
Fee |
Demand for Civil Jury Trial |
$400 non-refundable |
Service of Summons on Each Prospective Juror (charged against the party requesting a jury trial) |
$10 each |
Jury Compensation |
$50/day |
Superior Court Document Handling
Type of Document |
Fee |
Photocopy of Any Document (including Copies of Birth or Death Certificates) |
$1/pg |
Electronic Copy |
$1/pg |
Copies of Audio Recording, if blank tape or CD provided to Court |
$20/tape/CD |
Copies of Audio Recording, if blank tape or CD not provided to Court |
$25/tape/CD |
Docket Sheet, first page |
$20 |
Docket Sheet, each additional page |
$2 |
Docket Certification |
$20 |
Comparison Cost (comparing duplicate with original for Clerk’s certification) |
$10/pg |
Certification of Document(s) (including Certification of True Copies Filed with the Recorder’s Office, Affidavit of Single Status, Certification of Birth Certificate) |
$25 |
Filing Copy of Commission of Notary Public |
$1 |
Comparing and Certifying the Signature, Seal, and Effective Date of Notary Public |
$40 |
Search & Authentication of Contents of Commission of Notary Public |
$40 |
Authentication/Exemplification by Judge |
$30 |
Case Searches (in excess of 15 minutes)—whenever a person requests that a member of the Clerk’s Office initiate a search of cases for a party, a case number, or other case information |
$20/hr (non-prorated) |
All Other Document Handling Services |
$25 |
Witness Travel and Appearance
Description |
Fee |
For witness travel costs, ground transportation, and accommodations: A witness who is summoned to appear and does appear in a civil proceeding which is held on the same island in the Commonwealth where the witness is served, no travel fees shall be paid. A witness who is summoned and appears for a civil proceeding which is on a different island in the Commonwealth, shall receive the cost of transportation necessary for his appearance and return. In such a case, the party requesting the witness summons shall purchase and present a ticket for transportation to the Clerk of the Court at the time of the issuance of witness summons. The summons and ticket shall be served at the same time; provided, however, if part or all of said transportation is provided at no expense to the witness, the latter shall be entitled to receive ticket or money only for the part of the travel at the witness’s expense.
|
Variable |
Regular Witness Fee |
$40/day |
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Commonwealth Recorder
If E-filing or E-services are used, additional costs are imposed: those costs include a $2/filing fee paid to the court and any service charges determined by the E-filing provider.
Type of Service |
Fee |
Recording of Documents (Deeds, Leases, Assignments, Powers of Attorney, and Other Conveyances) |
$20 1st/pg. $2 each add’l pg. |
Recording of Marriage Certificate |
$25 |
Recording of UCC Documents |
$20/1st pg. $2 each add’l pg |
Copy of UCC Documents |
$2/pg. |
Recording of Maps |
$25/pg. |
Electronic or Print Copies of Maps |
$50/pg |
All Other Recordings |
$20/1st pg. $2 each add’l pg. |
Miscellaneous
Service/ Document |
Fee |
Criminal Record Clearance |
$25 |
Traffic History (Taxi, Insurance, etc.) |
$25 |
Traffic Clearance (renewal of license) |
$5 |
Acknowledgment/Affidavit (except in criminal cases) |
$15 |
E-filing and E-services (in addition to charges imposed by the electronic filing service provider) |
+ $0.75/filing |
Notice of Appeal* in Civil, Criminal, and Traffic Cases |
$175 |
Notice of Appeal* in Small Claims Cases |
$150 |
Violence Against Women Act of 1998 (VAWA) Cases |
No Fee |
All Other Clearances |
$25
|
Supreme Court
Type of Service |
Fee |
Notice of Appeal in Civil, Criminal, and Traffic Cases (including Interlocutory Appeals and Civil Cross-Appeals) (Paid to the Superior Court) |
$175 |
Extraordinary Writs |
$300 |
Petition for Rehearing |
$250 |
Motion for Extensions of Time for Filing Briefs |
$50 |
Motion for Late Filing of Briefs |
$100 |
Motions Determined by the Full Court |
$200 |
Motion/Application for Stay of Judgment |
$150 |
Emergency Motions |
$200 |
Motion for Appeal Conference |
$25 |
Certified Question (CNMI Government Agencies/Micronesian Legal Service Corporation) |
No Fee |
Motion for Leave to File Amicus Brief |
$200 |
Other Motions, Requests, or Other Filings Not Specifically Designated Above |
$100 |
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|
Supreme Court Document Handling
Type of Document |
Fee |
Photocopy of Any Document |
$1/pg |
Electronic Copy |
$1/pg |
Copies of Audio Recording, if blank tape or CD provided to Court |
$20/tape/CD |
Copies of Audio Recording, if blank tape or CD not provided to Court |
$25/tape/CD |
Docket Sheet, first page |
$20 |
Docket Sheet, each additional page |
$2 |
Docket Certification |
$20 |
. Authentication of Document(s) |
$25 |
Service of Process by Clerk of Court, whenever required |
$25 |
All Other Document Handling Services |
$25 |
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Bar Admission
*Plus National Conference of Bar Examiners fees for Character & Fitness Report and Investigation (fees vary)
Type of Filing |
Fee |
Application for Admission (Attorney Applicant)* |
$1,000 |
Late Application Fee (Attorney Applicant)* |
$1,300 |
Application for Admission (Regular Applicant)* |
$500 |
Late Application Fee (Regular Applicant)* |
$800 |
Application for Limited Admission* |
$500 |
Petition for Reinstatement (including petitions after suspension or termination, in addition to NMI Bar Fees) |
$1,500 |
Attorney’s Certificate to Practice Law |
$150 |
Certificate of Good Standing |
$50 |
Disciplinary History |
$75 |
Application of Pro Hac Vice Admission |
$5,000 |
Other Bar Admission-Related Petitions/Requests |
$100 |