TheXonorableTmHanna opinicmNo. H-756
CriminalDistrictAttorney
JeffersonCounty Fe: col.rtcosts~ohcanbe
P. 0. Box 2553 collededatthe time a suit
ma-t, !mias 77704 or instnment is filed for
serviceby constablesor sheriffs.
l%eEIo~ableHankAnderson
Bunty At-=%'
WichikaCbunty
WichitaFalls, '&xas 76301
(1) Are sheriffsentitledto fees under article
3933a,V.T.C.S.,formsucxessfulatt6qtsto
ca@et+service of process?
(2) May County and DistrictClerks assess and
collectservicefees at the timeof filingof
suits or hsats which requireservice?
(3) May ComtyandDistrict Clerks collecta
depositat the time of filingin order to secure
servicefees?
p. 3196
IheExmrsblelbnIianna
lheBmorableHankAndersm- page 2 W-756)
l%s HonorableJce Rzsweber
Prior to its 1975 mt, article3933a,V.T.C.S.,authorized
fees when servics"is perfonmzdor attenptedand return is made."
(imphasisadded). lkwever,article3933a presentlyauthorizessuch fees
&YwfEn service"is parfomrd and returnmade." Acts 1975, 64th Leg.,
ch. 480, p. 1297. Inouropinion, theclear iqortof the1975ankxKbnt
to article3933a is that sheriffsmay no longer collecta 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 serviceat the tim of filing andwhether sewrity for
such feesmaybe requird atthattims.
Sinceasheriffismtentitledtoafeeforserviceofpr0cessor
~meotherinstrunentunlesssuchsenriceissuccessful,~beli~it
clearthat~feesmayIkotbetaxedascosts~tilthesenriceis
anpleted. Thus, aComtyor DistrictCl&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 eventualpaymentof that fee is governedby Rule
142, T.R.C.P.,whichprovides:
'Ibeclerkmayreqdre frantheplaintiffsecurity
NJ attorn& or othr officerof the court shall be
suretyinanyoause~inthewurt,except
underspecialleaveofwurt. (misadded).
IIIaddition,Rule146 provides:
Inlieuofalxxdforwsts,thepartyre&red
togive the sammydepositwiththeclerkof
wurtorthejusticeofthepeacesuchs~asthe
wurtorjusticefrantimetot.hsmay&signate
as sufficienttopaythe accruedwsts.
p. 3197
lhe Howrable Ttm Hanna
IheI33mrableRankAndersw- page 3 (H-756)
TheHorxxableJoe Resdxr
See also FUle 145, regardingaffidavitsof inabilityto pay costs.
--
Oxpare Rule 143, concerningotter wsts. In interpretingFade 142,
AttornqyGeneralOpinionS-42 (1953)indicated:
Ittillthusbsseenthattheanmtyor
districtclerk shall file the petitionin every
casewhenitispresentedtohbn,butheisnot
~toissueanyprucessthereonwithout
securityforwstsinsaidcause,ordessa
sunofnrxeyis depositedwith the clerk sufficient
tosecuretbsestirnatedwsts,orunlessthsplaintiff
shall file a paupersaffidavitin lieu of the bond
or deposit.
l?ui, at the timsapetitionis filed,aclerkmayrefuse to issue
processprior to the receiptof securityfor costs orzmaffidavitof
inabilitytopaywsts. Acwrdi@y,ws answer ttE-qlleStiOllh
theneyativeandthe thirdinths affirmative.While a clerkn~ynot
assess fees forserviceas wstspriorti the succWSful.Psturnthereof,
he may requiresecurityor an affidavitof inabilityto pay wsts prior
to issuingany processfor service.
SUMMARY
Under article3933a,a sheriffis not
mtitledtia fee for an nsuccessfulattenpt
tOserVeprocesS.
Acountyor DistrictClerkxraynot assess
fees for serviceas costs prior to the successful
pE%fozmanceofselxice. Atthetheapetition
is filed,a clerkrnayrequiresecurityfor such
fees or an affidavitof hability tipsy a&s
prior to issuingany process.
p. 3198
lheE%nmrable~Ranna
The Bmrable Hank Anderson- page 4 (H-756)
l%eEkmorableJoeFk?.sweber
opinion
cumlittee
j*
p. 3199