In Philippine remedial law, the payment of docket fees is not merely a procedural technicality; it is a jurisdictional requirement. The court acquires jurisdiction over a case only upon the payment of the prescribed fees. For a "Collection of Sum of Money"—one of the most common civil actions—understanding how these fees are structured is essential for both legal practitioners and litigants to avoid the summary dismissal of a complaint.

1. The Legal Basis: Rule 141

The computation of docket fees is primarily governed by Rule 141 of the Rules of Court, as amended by various Administrative Matters (A.M.) issued by the Supreme Court, most notably A.M. No. 04-2-04-SC.

The fees are generally graduated, meaning the higher the amount being claimed, the higher the filing fees. These fees are paid to the Clerk of Court at the time of filing.

2. Components of the "Total Claim"

When computing fees for a sum of money case, you do not just look at the principal debt. The "amount of the claim" includes:

The Principal: The main amount owed.
Interest: Accrued interest as of the date of filing.
Penalties: Contractual penalties or surcharges.
Liquidated Damages: Amounts pre-agreed upon in case of breach.
Attorney’s Fees: The amount demanded for legal representation.

Important Note: Under the Manchester Development Corporation vs. Court of Appeals doctrine, the specific amount of damages sought must be stated in the body and the prayer of the complaint. If the amount is not specified, the court may refuse to accept the filing or dismiss the case for lack of jurisdiction.

3. Determining the Proper Court

The amount of the claim determines whether the case is filed in the Metropolitan/Municipal Trial Courts (MeTC/MTCC/MTC) or the Regional Trial Court (RTC). As of the most recent adjustments under R.A. 11576:

Court	Jurisdictional Amount (Principal Only)
MTC/MeTC	Claims not exceeding ₱2,000,000.00
RTC	Claims exceeding ₱2,000,000.00

Note: For the purpose of determining jurisdiction, interests, damages, and attorney's fees are generally excluded. However, for the purpose of computing docket fees, these amounts are included.

4. The Computation Breakdown

The Clerk of Court uses a specific assessment form, but the general categories of fees include:

A. Basic Filing Fee

This is a graduated fee. For example, in the RTC:

If the claim is ₱150,000 or less, the fee is relatively small (approx. ₱2,000).
For claims in the millions, the fee scales significantly. For every ₱1,000 in excess of a certain threshold, a fixed amount (e.g., ₱7.00 or ₱10.00) is added.

B. Judiciary Development Fund (JDF)

Established under Presidential Decree No. 1949, this fund is used for the modernization of the courts and staff allowances. It usually constitutes a significant portion of the total fees.

C. Special Allowance for the Judiciary (SAJ)

Additional fees mandated by Republic Act No. 9227 to fund the social benefits and allowances of justices, judges, and other court personnel.

D. Legal Research Fund (LRF)

A small fixed fee (usually 1% of the filing fee but not less than ₱10.00) collected for the University of the Philippines Law Center.

E. Mediation Fees

If the case is subject to Court-Annexed Mediation (CAM), a fixed mediation fee is collected at the outset.

5. Small Claims Cases

For collection of sum of money where the claim (principal only) does not exceed ₱1,000,000.00, the Revised Rules on Small Claims apply.

The procedure is simplified, and while docket fees are still required, they are generally lower than regular civil actions.
Indigent litigants may be exempted from paying these fees upon filing a motion and proving their financial status.

6. The "Sunbeam" and "Heirs of Hinog" Doctrines

While the rule is "pay or get dismissed," the Supreme Court has provided some leeway:

Good Faith: If the party paid an insufficient amount based on the Clerk of Court’s assessment, they are usually allowed to pay the deficiency within a reasonable time or within the prescriptive period.
Lien on Judgment: If damages arise after the filing of the case (e.g., interests accruing during trial), the additional docket fees constitute a lien on the judgment.

7. Filing as an Indigent

If a plaintiff cannot afford the docket fees, they may apply to litigate as an Indigent Party under Rule 3, Section 21.

Requirements: Proof that their gross income and that of their family does not exceed double the monthly minimum wage, and they do not own real property with an assessed value of more than a certain threshold (usually ₱300,000).
Effect: If approved, the payment of docket fees is waived, but the fees will be considered a lien on any favorable judgment the indigent party might receive.

Summary Table: Key Factors

Factor	Impact on Fees
Total Amount	Direct correlation; higher claims result in higher fees.
Nature of Damages	Interests and attorney's fees increase the taxable base.
Location	Some local judicial regions may have minor variations in local fund contributions.
Pauper Status	Potential waiver of fees if indigent status is proven.