Why small claims filing fees differ from county to county
In 37 states one official schedule applies everywhere. In 13 others the fee depends on the county or court where you file, so two people with the same claim can pay different amounts.
Two ways states set the fee
One statewide schedule (37 states). The state's courts or legislature publish a single fee, usually by claim amount, and every court charges it. 2 of these states list a county with its own schedule. Kentucky is an example: the Supreme Court's order sets $58 for claims up to $2,500, and a county may add a court facility fee of up to $10 and a library fee of $1 ($3 in some counties).
Fees set below state level (13 states). The state sets the claim limit but lets each county, or each individual court, set its own fee. These are Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington. In some of them, such as Ohio, one county can contain many courts with separate schedules.
For the 13 second-group states, plus Kentucky's local add-ons, we publish a page for every county or parish (1,102 in the states below, including Kentucky), and we are open about what we have and have not confirmed.
What we have verified, state by state
378 counties in these states have a fee we read on an official court or clerk page. Everywhere else the county page says "not verified", shows the verified range for its state, and gives the questions to ask the clerk. We never estimate a county's fee.
| State | Verified | Verified fee range | Read more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 43 of 67 counties | $37 to $283 | Why Alabama differs |
| Arizona | 5 of 15 counties | $30 to $60 | Why Arizona differs |
| Georgia | 71 of 159 counties | $46 to $120 | Why Georgia differs |
| Illinois | 15 of 102 counties | $89 to $379 | Why Illinois differs |
| Louisiana | 19 of 64 parishes | $54 to $425 | Why Louisiana differs |
| Minnesota | 54 of 87 counties | $65 to $80 | Why Minnesota differs |
| Mississippi | 9 of 82 counties | $75 to $85 | Why Mississippi differs |
| Missouri | 37 of 115 counties | $20.50 to $100 | Why Missouri differs |
| Montana | 21 of 56 counties | $20 to $50 | Why Montana differs |
| Ohio | 65 of 88 counties | $35 to $151 | Why Ohio differs |
| Tennessee | 26 of 95 counties | $93.75 to $250 | Why Tennessee differs |
| Virginia | 3 of 133 counties | $46 to $52 | Why Virginia differs |
| Washington | 10 of 39 counties | $35 to $50 | Why Washington differs |
Generated from our verified data when this page is built. Browse every county.
What the law actually says, in two examples
Ohio leaves the fee to each court: its small claims statute has the plaintiff pay "a filing fee as determined by the court", and its municipal courts each "establish a schedule of fees and costs" by rule. Virginia's court system says general district court fees depend on the locality and points to its own calculator for the exact amount. Both explainers quote the statutes and name the sources we read.
What this means for you
Look up your own county first. If it is verified, the page shows the fee table, the source and the date we read it. If it is not, ask the clerk for the total for your claim amount, including service, and check whether you qualify for a fee waiver. Whatever the fee, if you win you can ask the judge to add it to the judgment.
Find your county · Compare all states · How we verify our data
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