California Tenant Question Library
Can I Get a Fee Waiver for a California Eviction Case?
Short answer
Possibly. California courts have a fee-waiver process for people who can’t afford the court fees, requested with a Judicial Council form.
California has a fee-waiver process (Government Code §68631) so that court fees aren’t a barrier for people who can’t afford them.
The process is for those who can’t afford the court fees; the court reviews the request to decide whether the fees are waived. You request it with a Judicial Council form (Request to Waive Court Fees, form FW-001), filed with your response. If granted, it waives fees like the filing fee for your Answer. It’s a common step for self-represented tenants, and asking for it doesn’t affect the merits of your case.
A Few Things Worth Knowing
- California has a fee-waiver process for tenants who can’t afford the court fees (Government Code §68631).
- You request it with a Judicial Council form (FW-001), filed with your response.
- Asking for a fee waiver doesn’t affect the merits of your case.
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