Statutory In Forma Pauperis Tool

Statutory Court Filing Fee Waiver Eligibility Calculator

Filing fees for civil lawsuits and petitions in state courts typically range from $150 to over $450. Under state statutory In Forma Pauperis (IFP) laws, indigent litigants can request a full or partial waiver of filing fees and clerk surcharges.

Evaluate Fee Waiver Eligibility

Household Size (Number of Persons in Home):

Total Household Monthly Gross Income ($):

Do you currently receive SNAP (Food Stamps), SSI, Medicaid, TANF, or General Assistance?

State Statutory Standards for Fee Waivers

State courts generally evaluate fee waiver requests under three alternative standards:

Automatic Public Assistance Eligibility: In states like California (Gov. Code § 68632(a)), Illinois (735 ILCS 5/5-105), and New York (CPLR 1101), current receipt of means-tested benefits qualifies for an automatic mandatory fee waiver.
125% / 150% Federal Poverty Guideline Test: Litigants whose gross household income is at or below 125% (or in some states 150% or 200%) of the federal poverty guidelines qualify for full waiver relief.
Inability to Pay Necessities of Life: Litigants who do not meet automatic thresholds but can demonstrate that paying court fees would deprive their household of basic food, shelter, or healthcare can qualify under discretionary judicial review.