RALEIGH, N.C. – It now costs more to get married, skip a court date or file a foreclosure in North Carolina.

A host of court fees went up Tuesday. State legislators decided last month to collect more to balance the state budget. Higher justice and public safety fees are expected to generate an extra $47 million this year.

Getting a marriage license issued now costs $60, up from $50. The additional $10 goes to domestic violence prevention programs.

The penalty for failing to appear for a court date doubled from $100 to $200. The base fee for filing a foreclosure is now $150, up from $75.

Other changes affect criminal record checks, seat belt violations, paying criminal monetary judgments by installment, and carrying out community service.

A bill that would make it easier for people to collect attorneys’ fees if they won public records lawsuits has cleared a key House committee intact, the N&O reports.

RALEIGH, N.C. – A North Carolina House committee has cleared legislation that would allow people who are illegally denied requests for public documents to get their legal fees paid by the offending government agency.

The House judiciary committee on Thursday unanimously approved a bill that in most cases would eliminate the discretion of judges whether or not to award the legal fees. Government agencies could avoid payouts if they relied on an appeals court ruling or advice from the attorney general’s office that was later overturned.

Lobbyists for two local government associations said their trade groups opposed the measure. They said attorneys working for local governments also ought to be authoritative sources of legal opinions.

RALEIGH, N.C.  – A government agency that illegally withheld public records or documents would have to award reasonable legal fees under a bill introduced in the state House.

North Carolina Press Association executive director Beth Grace said Tuesday the legislation can prevent people who fight city hall from going broke even if they win their case. Agencies that rely on legal advice to keep records closed wouldn’t have to pay.
 
Judges can now order government officials to pay legal bills, but are reluctant do so.
 
The measure introduced by Wake County Democrat Deborah Ross would create an Open Government Unit in the attorney general’s office that would mediate disputes before they went to court.

A similar plan passed the state Senate last summer but it died in the House.

House Speaker Joe Hackney says he wants to try again for a bill that would give legal fees to those who win in public records lawsuits, the N&O reports.