Filing & Pleadings
Filing Fees & Fee Waivers
What filing costs and how to ask the court to waive it if you can't afford to pay.
Local rules vary: Fees and waiver forms vary by court and case type. Get the current fee schedule and waiver application from your court clerk.
Filing usually costs money
Most courts charge a filing fee to open a case. Fees vary by court and case type, and additional fees may apply for motions, copies, or jury requests.
You can ask for a waiver
If you can't afford the fee, you can ask the court to waive it. This is sometimes called in forma pauperis or a fee waiver application. You'll fill out a form describing your income, expenses, and assets.
What a waiver covers
A waiver may cover the filing fee and sometimes other costs — but not always everything, and not always costs the other side incurs.
How to apply
- Get the waiver form from your court clerk or website.
- Fill it out honestly and completely.
- Submit it with (or before) your filing.
- The judge reviews it and decides.
E-filing fees
If your court uses electronic filing, the filing-fee system is usually built into the e-filing portal — waivers apply there too.