Fill out California fee waiver form FW-001 yourself (free)

Court and case

The boxes at the top right of page 1. Use the same court as the papers you are filing (for example, your SC-100).

Help with this step

Each county has its own Superior Court. Find my court · How to ask for a fee waiver · FW-001-INFO, Information Sheet.

Superior Court of California, County of … (type the county name, then the court’s street address) (required)

The words “Superior Court of California, County of” are already printed above this box.

Case Number (if you have one)

A new case gets its number from the clerk when you file. If you file this form with your first papers, leave it blank.

Case Name (if you have one)

Often written as: plaintiff’s name v. defendant’s name. You may leave it blank.

About you and your job

Items 1 and 2 on page 1. You are the person asking the court to waive the fees.

Help with this step

The court will use this address to send you its decision. Your job and employer go in item 2 only if you have a job. The court keeps this form confidential: your information is confidential.

Your full name (required)

Street or mailing address (required)

City (required)

State (required)

Zip (required)

Phone

2. Your job, if you have one

Job title

Name of employer

Employer’s address

Your lawyer, if you have one

Item 3 on page 1. Skip this step if you do not have a lawyer.

Help with this step

Item 3 is only about a lawyer who represents you in this case. FW-001-INFO explains the fee waiver rules.

I have a lawyer for this case

Which court’s fees

Items 4 and 6 on page 1.

Help with this step

Small claims cases are heard in the Superior Court. The Superior Court box is explained in FW-001-INFO; the appellate box in APP-015/FW-015-INFO.

4. What court’s fees or costs are you asking to be waived? (required)

Superior Court (See Information Sheet on Waiver of Superior Court Fees and Costs (form FW-001-INFO).)

Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, or Appellate Division of Superior Court (See Information Sheet on Waiver of Appellate Court Fees (form APP-015/FW-015-INFO).)

6. An earlier request

Check here if you asked the court to waive your court fees for this case in the last six months.

Why you are asking

Item 5 on page 1. Read a, b and c on the form and check the one that is true for you.

Help with this step

The court’s guide explains the three ways to ask: Who qualifies for a fee waiver. What each choice means for page 2 is printed on the form: after 5a you do not fill out page 2; after 5b you fill out items 7, 8 and 9; after 5c you fill out all of page 2. Program names are defined in FW-001-INFO.

5. Why are you asking the court to waive your court fees? (required)

a. I receive (check all that apply; see form FW-001-INFO for definitions): public benefits listed on the form.b. My gross monthly household income (before deductions for taxes) is less than the amount listed below. (If you check 5b, you must fill out 7, 8, and 9 on page 2 of this form.)c. I do not have enough income to pay for my household’s basic needs and the court fees. (You must fill out page 2.)

The amounts printed on the form for item 5b (gross monthly household income):

Family size	Family income
1	$2,660.00
2	$3,606.67
3	$4,553.33
4	$5,500.00
5	$6,446.67
6	$7,393.33

If more than 6 people at home, add $946.67 for each extra person.

You will fill out items 7, 8 and 9 on page 2 in the next steps.

Your monthly income

Items 7 and 8 on page 2. List the income you get each month, before deductions.

Help with this step

Pay stubs and benefit letters can help you fill this in. You don’t have to turn them in. If you need more space, the form says to attach form MC-025 or a sheet of paper. How to ask for a fee waiver.

Amounts: numbers only, like 1,250.00. The $ sign is already on the form. Leave a box empty if it does not apply.

7. Check here if your income changes a lot from month to month. (If it does, the form says to complete it based on your average income for the past 12 months.)

8. Your gross monthly income

a. List the source and amount of any income you get each month, including: wages or other income from work before deductions, spousal/child support, retirement, social security, disability, unemployment, military basic allowance for quarters (BAQ), veterans payments, dividends, interest, trust income, annuities, net business or rental income, reimbursement for job-related expenses, gambling or lottery winnings, etc.

8a (1)

Source

Amount each month $

8a (2)

Source

Amount each month $

8a (3)

Source

Amount each month $

8a (4)

Source

Amount each month $

b. Your total monthly income: $ (required)

You type the total. The form needs item 8 when you check 5b or 5c. Type 0 if you have no income.

Household income

Item 9 on page 2 and the total under it.

Help with this step

List only the people the form describes. Leave a line empty if you don’t need it. FW-001-INFO.

Amounts: numbers only, like 1,250.00. The $ sign is already on the form. Leave a box empty if it does not apply.

9a. List the income of all other persons living in your home who depend in whole or in part on you for support, or on whom you depend in whole or in part for support.

9a (1)

Name

Age

Relationship

Gross monthly income $

9a (2)

Name

Age

Relationship

Gross monthly income $

9a (3)

Name

Age

Relationship

Gross monthly income $

9a (4)

Name

Age

Relationship

Gross monthly income $

b. Total monthly income of persons above: $

Total monthly income and household income (8b plus 9b): $ (required)

Check here if you attach another page. (The form says: to list any other facts you want the court to know, such as unusual medical expenses, attach form MC-025 or a sheet of paper and write Financial Information and your name and case number at the top.)

This tool does not make the extra page. Use form MC-025 or a plain sheet.

Your money and property

Item 10 on page 2. Fill in what you have. Leave a line empty if you don’t need it.

Help with this step

Bank statements can help. You don’t have to turn them in. “Fair Market Value” and “How Much You Still Owe” are the form’s own column headings. How to ask for a fee waiver.

Amounts: numbers only, like 1,250.00. The $ sign is already on the form. Leave a box empty if it does not apply.

a. Cash $

b. All financial accounts (list bank name and amount)

10b (1)

Bank name

Amount $

10b (2)

Bank name

Amount $

10b (3)

Bank name

Amount $

c. Cars, boats, and other vehicles

10c (1)

Make / Year

Fair market value $

How much you still owe $

10c (2)

Make / Year

Fair market value $

How much you still owe $

10c (3)

Make / Year

Fair market value $

How much you still owe $

d. Real estate

10d (1)

Address

Fair market value $

How much you still owe $

10d (2)

Address

Fair market value $

How much you still owe $

e. Other personal property (jewelry, furniture, furs, stocks, bonds, etc.)

10e (1)

Describe

Fair market value $

How much you still owe $

10e (2)

Describe

Fair market value $

How much you still owe $

Monthly deductions and expenses

Item 11 on page 2. Type the monthly amount for each line that applies to you.

Help with this step

Bills and pay stubs can help. You don’t have to turn them in. How to ask for a fee waiver.

Amounts: numbers only, like 1,250.00. The $ sign is already on the form. Leave a box empty if it does not apply.

a. List any payroll deductions and the monthly amount

11a (1)

Deduction

Amount each month $

11a (2)

Deduction

Amount each month $

11a (3)

Deduction

Amount each month $

11a (4)

Deduction

Amount each month $

b–k. Monthly expenses

b. Rent or house payment & maintenance $

c. Food and household supplies $

d. Utilities and telephone $

e. Clothing $

f. Laundry and cleaning $

g. Medical and dental expenses $

h. Insurance (life, health, accident, etc.) $

i. School, child care $

j. Child, spousal support (another marriage) $

k. Transportation, gas, auto repair and insurance $

l. Installment payments (list each)

11l (1)

Paid to

Amount each month $

11l (2)

Paid to

Amount each month $

11l (3)

Paid to

Amount each month $

m. Wages/earnings withheld by court order $

n. Any other monthly expenses (list each)

11n (1)

Paid to

Amount each month $

11n (2)

Paid to

Amount each month $

11n (3)

Paid to

Amount each month $

Total monthly expenses (add 11a–11n above): $ (required)

You type the total. The form needs all of page 2 when you check 5c.

Your name and the date

The bottom of page 1 and the top of page 2. You will sign by hand after you print.

Help with this step

You sign under penalty of perjury. FW-001-INFO says: answer truthfully, accurately, and completely. The court may ask you for proof or to come to court to answer questions about your finances.

The form says: “I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the information I have provided on this form and all attachments is true and correct.” Check that everything is true before you sign.

Your name, as it goes next to your signature (required)

Date (optional: or write it by hand when you sign)

Form FW-003: your part

The court’s guide says to also fill out item 1 on Order on Court Fee Waiver (form FW-003). The judge or clerk fills in the rest and writes the decision on it.

Help with this step

Source: How to ask for a fee waiver (“Also fill out item 1 on Order on Court Fee Waiver (Form FW-003)”). The boxes at the top right say “Fill in court name and street address” and “Fill in case number and name”, so they are here too. Items 3 and 4, the hearing and the clerk’s certificate are for the court: this tool leaves them blank.

1. Person who asked the court to waive court fees

Name (required)

Street or mailing address (required)

City (required)

State (required)

Zip (required)

2. Lawyer, if person in 1 has one (name, firm name, address, phone number, e-mail, and State Bar number)

Superior Court of California, County of … (court name and street address)

Case Number (if you have one)

Case Name (if you have one)

Your name — top of pages 2 and 3

Case Number — top of pages 2 and 3 (if you have one)

Check and download

Check every line. This is exactly what will be printed on the forms. To change something, go back to that step.

The PDFs are made in your browser. Your income, expenses, benefits and property stay on your device. Nothing is sent to the court.

After the clerk gives notice of an FW-003 order that does not grant your request	10 days to act (FW-003, pages 2–3)
Your finances improve during the case	Tell the court within 5 days (FW-010)
When the fee waiver ends	60 days after the judgment, dismissal, or other final decision
If you settle your civil case for $10,000 or more	The court has a lien on the settlement for the waived fees (FW-001, page 1)

Fill out fee waiver form FW‑001 yourself

Court and case

About you and your job

2. Your job, if you have one

Your lawyer, if you have one

Which court’s fees

6. An earlier request

Why you are asking

Your monthly income

8. Your gross monthly income

Household income

Your money and property

b. All financial accounts (list bank name and amount)

c. Cars, boats, and other vehicles

d. Real estate

e. Other personal property (jewelry, furniture, furs, stocks, bonds, etc.)

Monthly deductions and expenses

a. List any payroll deductions and the monthly amount

b–k. Monthly expenses

l. Installment payments (list each)

n. Any other monthly expenses (list each)

Your name and the date

Form FW-003: your part

1. Person who asked the court to waive court fees

Check and download

Your FW-001 is ready. What to do next

Deadlines and dates to know