Prothonotary's report

A total of 287 cases were started in February in the office of Carbon County Prothonotary Joann M. Behrens, according to a monthly statistical report released by the officeholder.A breakdown of cases is as follows:Assessment appeal, 1; civil actions, 40; custody complaints, 16; complaints to modify custody, 15; district justice appeals, 5; divorce complaints, 18; complaints in ejectment, 4; equity action, 1; mortgage foreclosure complaints, 27; protection from abuse petitions, 43; PFSVI (sexual violent individual), 1; quiet title action, 1; audit/financial report, 1; court rules, 2; judgments, 73; miscellaneous cases, 6; stipulations/waiver of liens, 2; and writ of executions, 31.The office also processed 156 passport applications and provided assistance to the public in passport renewals 35 times.Behrens' financial report shows $32,853.84 was generated last month as follows:Prothonotary's fees, $27,617.69; interest income, $3.91; custody fees, $950; data processing fees, $4,082.24; PFA surcharge, courts, $100; PFA surcharge, Sheriff; $100; and remote access fees, $900.The prothonotary also remitted $5,124.85 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Revenue, representing state fees collected locally, and $57.60 to the Administrative Offices of the Pennsylvania Courts, this being surcharges on new custody cases in accordance with Act 119 of 1996. Another $1,193.67 was deposited in the Prothonotary's Automation Fund for future use in automating the office.Revenue from deedsCarbon County Recorder of Deeds Emmett P. McCall reported his office recorded 173 deeds, 116 mortgages and 280 other writs during the month of February.As a result of those transactions, McCall turned over to the Carbon County General Fund the sum of $21,605.41. A breakdown of that revenue includes: transfer fees, $16,494; data processing fees, $1,737.01; notaries, $90; commission on transfers and writs, $2,604.40; and Affordable Housing administrative fee, $680.McCall remitted $284.50 in state writ taxes to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, while Carbon County municipalities and school districts shared realty transfer tax disbursements totaling $129,656.93, the same amount that was forwarded to the state in realty transfer taxes.McCall deposited $1,698 in the Recorder of Deeds Record Improvement Fund and $1,132 in the Carbon County Records Improvement Fund, these being fees assessed by state law on each transaction for records management needs. An additional $17,821 was collected and remitted to the state for its Judicial Computer System program.Also, $3,855.60 was collected last month for the Affordable Housing Program in Carbon County.In all, funds collected in the Recorder's office last month amounted to $305,710.77.