Request a Fee Waiver

Filing Fee

$0.00

Fee waivers can be requested when a fee is due

Recommended Forms

Form Form Code Sample
Request to Waive Court Fees FW-001 Sample
Order on Court Fee Waiver (Superior Court) FW-003 Sample

  • Many court filings require the payment of a fee. Use these forms to request a full or partial waiver of these fees.

  • You can qualify for a fee waiver if:

    • You are receiving public benefits, like Medi-Cal, Food Stamps (CalFresh), Cal-Works, General Assistance, SSI, SSP, Tribal TANF, IHHS or CAPI;
    • Your household income, before taxes, is less than the amounts listed in section 5b of the Request to Waive Court Fees; or
    • The court finds that you do not have enough income to pay for your household's basic needs AND the court fees.

  • You can also use the Request to Waive Court Fees to request a payment plan for your required court fees.

Additional Resources

Related FAQs

No, there are no court fees for requesting a Domestic Violence Restraining Order.

Uniform filing fees in family law cases are authorized in Government Code section §70670 et seq. Generally, first paper fees must be paid by the Petitioner and Respondent. The fees that apply to Family Law matters can be found on the Fee Schedule.

Yes, you are required to pay the first paper fee the first time you file a response or other document for which any fee would be due, even if there is already a judgment. But each party needs to pay this fee only once. Fee waivers are available for qualified litigants.

If you cannot afford the court's filing fees or other court costs, you may request that the court waive all or some of your filing fees or costs by applying for fee waiver. you must complete and submit a Request to Waive Court Fees (Form FW-001) and, with the top portion completed, an Order on Court Fee Waiver (Superior Court) (Form FW-003). Each party must complete their own forms when seeking a fee waiver.

Generally, eligibility for the fee waiver is based upon your household income or whether you receive public assistance. If a you file a request for a fee waiver and the court finds that you do not qualify, you must pay the appropriate filing fees.

Additional detailed information on requesting a fee waiver can be found on the California Courts website.