2026 Guide All 50 States
Small Claims Fee Waiver by State (2026)
Can't afford the small claims filing fee? Select your state to learn how to apply for an IFP fee waiver and file your case for free.
How Does a Small Claims Fee Waiver Work?
Every US state allows low-income plaintiffs to apply for an In Forma Pauperis (IFP) fee waiver to cover the small claims filing fee. If approved, you file your case at no cost. Most states set the income threshold at 125%–200% of the federal poverty line. People receiving public benefits (SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, TANF) typically qualify automatically.
Select Your State
Alabama
Fee: $45–$85 · Max: $6,000
How to waive this fee →
Alaska
Fee: $30–$100 · Max: $10,000
How to waive this fee →
Arizona
Fee: $29–$78 · Max: $3,500
How to waive this fee →
Arkansas
Fee: $35–$65 · Max: $5,000
How to waive this fee →
California
Fee: $30–$100 · Max: $12,500
How to waive this fee →
Colorado
Fee: $31–$55 · Max: $7,500
How to waive this fee →
Connecticut
Fee: $35–$75 · Max: $5,000
How to waive this fee →
Delaware
Fee: $35–$100 · Max: $25,000
How to waive this fee →
Florida
Fee: $55–$300 · Max: $8,000
How to waive this fee →
Georgia
Fee: $45–$75 · Max: $15,000
How to waive this fee →
Hawaii
Fee: $35–$60 · Max: $5,000
How to waive this fee →
Idaho
Fee: $33–$66 · Max: $5,000
How to waive this fee →
Illinois
Fee: $56–$254 · Max: $10,000
How to waive this fee →
Indiana
Fee: $35–$85 · Max: $10,000
How to waive this fee →
Iowa
Fee: $35–$65 · Max: $6,500
How to waive this fee →
Kansas
Fee: $35–$50 · Max: $4,000
How to waive this fee →
Kentucky
Fee: $28–$58 · Max: $2,500
How to waive this fee →
Louisiana
Fee: $75–$150 · Max: $5,000
How to waive this fee →
Maine
Fee: $50–$80 · Max: $6,000
How to waive this fee →
Maryland
Fee: $34–$58 · Max: $5,000
How to waive this fee →
Massachusetts
Fee: $40–$150 · Max: $7,000
How to waive this fee →
Michigan
Fee: $30–$70 · Max: $6,500
How to waive this fee →
Minnesota
Fee: $75–$110 · Max: $15,000
How to waive this fee →
Mississippi
Fee: $35–$60 · Max: $3,500
How to waive this fee →
Missouri
Fee: $35–$60 · Max: $5,000
How to waive this fee →
Montana
Fee: $30–$70 · Max: $7,000
How to waive this fee →
Nebraska
Fee: $29–$45 · Max: $3,600
How to waive this fee →
Nevada
Fee: $46–$92 · Max: $10,000
How to waive this fee →
New Hampshire
Fee: $45–$95 · Max: $10,000
How to waive this fee →
New Jersey
Fee: $35–$75 · Max: $5,000
How to waive this fee →
New Mexico
Fee: $35–$65 · Max: $10,000
How to waive this fee →
New York
Fee: $15–$20 · Max: $10,000
How to waive this fee →
North Carolina
Fee: $96–$156 · Max: $10,000
How to waive this fee →
North Dakota
Fee: $35–$65 · Max: $15,000
How to waive this fee →
Ohio
Fee: $35–$80 · Max: $6,000
How to waive this fee →
Oklahoma
Fee: $45–$95 · Max: $10,000
How to waive this fee →
Oregon
Fee: $52–$95 · Max: $10,000
How to waive this fee →
Pennsylvania
Fee: $45–$100 · Max: $12,000
How to waive this fee →
Rhode Island
Fee: $75–$85 · Max: $2,500
How to waive this fee →
South Carolina
Fee: $80–$140 · Max: $7,500
How to waive this fee →
South Dakota
Fee: $40–$75 · Max: $12,000
How to waive this fee →
Tennessee
Fee: $75–$170 · Max: $25,000
How to waive this fee →
Texas
Fee: $54–$121 · Max: $20,000
How to waive this fee →
Utah
Fee: $60–$100 · Max: $11,000
How to waive this fee →
Vermont
Fee: $55–$90 · Max: $5,000
How to waive this fee →
Virginia
Fee: $30–$75 · Max: $5,000
How to waive this fee →
Washington
Fee: $31–$50 · Max: $10,000
How to waive this fee →
West Virginia
Fee: $30–$100 · Max: $10,000
How to waive this fee →
Wisconsin
Fee: $50–$95 · Max: $10,000
How to waive this fee →
Wyoming
Fee: $25–$55 · Max: $6,000
How to waive this fee →
Small Claims Filing Fees — All States
| State | Filing Fee | Max Claim | Fee Waiver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $45–$85 | $6,000 | How to waive → |
| Alaska | $30–$100 | $10,000 | How to waive → |
| Arizona | $29–$78 | $3,500 | How to waive → |
| Arkansas | $35–$65 | $5,000 | How to waive → |
| California | $30–$100 | $12,500 | How to waive → |
| Colorado | $31–$55 | $7,500 | How to waive → |
| Connecticut | $35–$75 | $5,000 | How to waive → |
| Delaware | $35–$100 | $25,000 | How to waive → |
| Florida | $55–$300 | $8,000 | How to waive → |
| Georgia | $45–$75 | $15,000 | How to waive → |
| Hawaii | $35–$60 | $5,000 | How to waive → |
| Idaho | $33–$66 | $5,000 | How to waive → |
| Illinois | $56–$254 | $10,000 | How to waive → |
| Indiana | $35–$85 | $10,000 | How to waive → |
| Iowa | $35–$65 | $6,500 | How to waive → |
| Kansas | $35–$50 | $4,000 | How to waive → |
| Kentucky | $28–$58 | $2,500 | How to waive → |
| Louisiana | $75–$150 | $5,000 | How to waive → |
| Maine | $50–$80 | $6,000 | How to waive → |
| Maryland | $34–$58 | $5,000 | How to waive → |
| Massachusetts | $40–$150 | $7,000 | How to waive → |
| Michigan | $30–$70 | $6,500 | How to waive → |
| Minnesota | $75–$110 | $15,000 | How to waive → |
| Mississippi | $35–$60 | $3,500 | How to waive → |
| Missouri | $35–$60 | $5,000 | How to waive → |
| Montana | $30–$70 | $7,000 | How to waive → |
| Nebraska | $29–$45 | $3,600 | How to waive → |
| Nevada | $46–$92 | $10,000 | How to waive → |
| New Hampshire | $45–$95 | $10,000 | How to waive → |
| New Jersey | $35–$75 | $5,000 | How to waive → |
| New Mexico | $35–$65 | $10,000 | How to waive → |
| New York | $15–$20 | $10,000 | How to waive → |
| North Carolina | $96–$156 | $10,000 | How to waive → |
| North Dakota | $35–$65 | $15,000 | How to waive → |
| Ohio | $35–$80 | $6,000 | How to waive → |
| Oklahoma | $45–$95 | $10,000 | How to waive → |
| Oregon | $52–$95 | $10,000 | How to waive → |
| Pennsylvania | $45–$100 | $12,000 | How to waive → |
| Rhode Island | $75–$85 | $2,500 | How to waive → |
| South Carolina | $80–$140 | $7,500 | How to waive → |
| South Dakota | $40–$75 | $12,000 | How to waive → |
| Tennessee | $75–$170 | $25,000 | How to waive → |
| Texas | $54–$121 | $20,000 | How to waive → |
| Utah | $60–$100 | $11,000 | How to waive → |
| Vermont | $55–$90 | $5,000 | How to waive → |
| Virginia | $30–$75 | $5,000 | How to waive → |
| Washington | $31–$50 | $10,000 | How to waive → |
| West Virginia | $30–$100 | $10,000 | How to waive → |
| Wisconsin | $50–$95 | $10,000 | How to waive → |
| Wyoming | $25–$55 | $6,000 | How to waive → |