Filing Fee
The court's charge for accepting and processing legal filings — required to initiate a lawsuit, file motions, or record legal documents.
Filing fees are the costs charged by courts to accept and process legal documents. Civil filing fees vary widely by court and claim amount: federal district court civil case filing fees are $405 (2024); state court fees range from $75 in small claims to $400–$500+ for superior/circuit court civil complaints; some courts assess filing fees on each motion, not just the initial complaint.
Fee waivers (in forma pauperis) are available for litigants who cannot afford court costs — typically those at or below 150% of the federal poverty line. The application requires a financial affidavit. If approved, the court waives filing fees and may also waive service of process costs.
Beyond the initial filing fee, litigation generates many other court-related costs: transcript fees, jury fees (some states charge per-day jury fees that can reach $150/day × trial length), subpoena issuance fees, and certification fees for copies of court records. Budget for these costs when evaluating whether to pursue litigation, not just the initial filing fee.
Real-World Example
The plaintiff paid a $402 federal court filing fee to initiate a $95,000 breach of contract case; the defendant then removed the case to federal court (where the same fee applies), and the plaintiff later paid an additional $40 for a certified copy of the judgment.