The court fee waiver in a California divorce
The court's filing fee is $435 as of September 7, 2026 in Los Angeles County. If you cannot afford it, the court can waive it. Here is who qualifies and how it works.
Who qualifies
The Request to Waive Court Fees (form FW-001) asks the court to waive fees on one of three bases: you receive a listed public benefit; your household income is below the amount the Judicial Council publishes for your household size; or your income is not enough to pay for household needs and the court fees. The court decides on the form and may ask for more information.
What it covers
The filing fee for the petition and, if granted, other court fees in the case. It does not cover the attorney's fee, a notary or postage. The office's flat fee is unchanged by a fee waiver.
How the office prepares it
When you say in the screening that you want to ask for a waiver, the FW-001 and the court's order form (FW-003) are attorney-prepared with your petition, from the figures you enter in your intake, and reviewed like every other document. The items the intake does not ask are named for you to complete in ink before you file. The clerk files your petition without payment while the court decides.
Rozsa Gyene, State Bar of California No. 208356, 3500 W. Olive Ave., Suite 300, Burbank, CA 91505.