Court Filing Fee Calculator (US)

The cost of filing a lawsuit depends primarily on which court hears the case and what type of case it is. A small claims dispute in a local court might cost as little as $30 to file, while a standard civil case in a state's circuit or superior court commonly runs $150 to $450, and a federal district court case has its own separate flat fee. The table below breaks down typical ranges by court level in the United States.

Small claims filing fees are one of the most searched court cost questions, and for good reason: small claims court exists to be a cheaper, faster way to resolve lower value disputes without hiring an attorney. Filing fees there are typically a flat, modest amount set by the state or county, often well under 100 dollars. Circuit, superior, or state civil courts handle higher value civil cases and felonies, and their filing fees are correspondingly higher, generally in the 150 to 450 dollar range depending on the state. This calculator estimates the fee for a standard civil case in your state's general or circuit trial court rather than the small claims fee schedule, since small claims fees vary by the dollar amount in dispute and by county in ways a single state level figure cannot capture accurately.

• Small claims courts usually cap the dollar amount you can sue for, often between a few thousand and 15000 dollars depending on the state.
• Filing fees in small claims court are typically lower and simpler, often a single flat rate regardless of case type.
• Circuit or superior court filing fees scale with the complexity and value of the case, and this calculator reflects that tier.

Federal district court filing fees work differently from state court fees. Instead of 50 different state schedules, the federal district court civil filing fee is set once, nationally, by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, and it is currently about 405 dollars regardless of which state or district you file in. This fee is periodically adjusted, so it is worth confirming the current amount directly at uscourts.gov before filing. Because federal fees are separate from state filing fees, this calculator's state based results do not apply to a federal case. If you are filing in federal court, plan around that flat national fee plus any federal motion costs instead.

Every state and the federal court system offer some form of fee waiver for people who cannot afford to pay to file a case. The process usually involves submitting a sworn statement, often called a statement of inability to afford court costs or an application to proceed in forma pauperis, that details your income, expenses, and any public assistance you receive. A judge or clerk reviews the statement and can waive the filing fee entirely, reduce it, or set up a payment plan instead.

• Ask the court clerk for the fee waiver form specific to your state or district, since the exact name and paperwork differ by jurisdiction.
• Be ready to disclose income, household size, and any benefits you receive, such as unemployment or public assistance.
• Waivers are usually decided quickly, often the same day you file, though some courts require a short hearing.

If the standard filing fee is out of reach, a fee waiver is not the only option. Depending on your situation, a few paths can bring the real cost of filing down to something manageable. Filing in small claims court instead of circuit or superior court, when your dispute qualifies by dollar amount, usually means a far lower fee to begin with. Many courts also allow installment payment plans for the filing fee rather than requiring the full amount up front. Legal aid organizations and law school legal clinics in many areas offer free help preparing a fee waiver application, and in some cases can cover filing costs directly for qualifying cases.