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: $37–$283 · Max: $6,000
How to waive this fee
Alaska
Fee: $50–$100 · Max: $10,000
How to waive this fee
Arizona
Fee: $30–$60 · Max: $5,000
How to waive this fee
Arkansas
Fee: $65 · Max: $5,000
How to waive this fee
California
Fee: $30–$75 · Max: $12,500
How to waive this fee
Colorado
Fee: $31–$55 · Max: $7,500
How to waive this fee
Connecticut
Fee: $95 · Max: $5,000
How to waive this fee
Delaware
Fee: $35–$45 · Max: $25,000
How to waive this fee
Florida
Fee: $55–$300 · Max: $8,000
How to waive this fee
Georgia
Fee: $46–$120 · Max: $15,000
How to waive this fee
Hawaii
Fee: $35 · Max: $5,000
How to waive this fee
Idaho
Fee: $69 · Max: $15,000
How to waive this fee
Illinois
Fee: $89–$379 · Max: $10,000
How to waive this fee
Indiana
Fee: $97–$130 · Max: $10,000
How to waive this fee
Iowa
Fee: $115 · Max: $6,500
How to waive this fee
Kansas
Fee: $35–$55 · Max: $10,000
How to waive this fee
Kentucky
Fee: $58 · Max: $2,500
How to waive this fee
Louisiana
Fee: $54–$425 · Max: $5,000
How to waive this fee
Maine
Fee: $70 · Max: $10,000
How to waive this fee
Maryland
Fee: $44 · 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: $7,000
How to waive this fee
Minnesota
Fee: $65–$80 · Max: $20,000
How to waive this fee
Mississippi
Fee: $75–$85 · Max: $3,500
How to waive this fee
Missouri
Fee: $20.50–$100 · Max: $5,000
How to waive this fee
Montana
Fee: $20–$50 · Max: $7,000
How to waive this fee
Nebraska
Fee: $58 · Max: $7,500
How to waive this fee
Nevada
Fee: $66–$196 · Max: $10,000
How to waive this fee
New Hampshire
Fee: $125–$180 · Max: $10,000
How to waive this fee
New Jersey
Fee: $35 · Max: $5,000
How to waive this fee
New Mexico
Fee: $77 · 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 · Max: $10,000
How to waive this fee
North Dakota
Fee: $20 · Max: $15,000
How to waive this fee
Ohio
Fee: $35–$151 · Max: $6,000
How to waive this fee
Oklahoma
Fee: $45–$150 · Max: $10,000
How to waive this fee
Oregon
Fee: $57–$102 · Max: $10,000
How to waive this fee
Pennsylvania
Fee: $68.50–$171 · Max: $12,000
How to waive this fee
Rhode Island
Fee: $55 · Max: $5,000
How to waive this fee
South Carolina
Fee: $80 · Max: $7,500
How to waive this fee
South Dakota
Fee: $24.84–$42.84 · Max: $12,000
How to waive this fee
Tennessee
Fee: $93.75–$250 · Max: $25,000
How to waive this fee
Texas
Fee: $54 · Max: $20,000
How to waive this fee
Utah
Fee: $60–$185 · Max: $20,000
How to waive this fee
Vermont
Fee: $65–$90 · Max: $10,000
How to waive this fee
Virginia
Fee: $46–$52 · Max: $5,000
How to waive this fee
Washington
Fee: $35–$50 · Max: $10,000
How to waive this fee
West Virginia
Fee: $50–$70 · Max: $20,000
How to waive this fee
Wisconsin
Fee: $94.50–$98 · Max: $10,000
How to waive this fee
Wyoming
Fee: $10 · Max: $6,000
How to waive this fee
Small Claims Filing Fees — All States
| State | Filing Fee | Max Claim | Fee Waiver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $37–$283 | $6,000 | How to waive |
| Alaska | $50–$100 | $10,000 | How to waive |
| Arizona | $30–$60 | $5,000 | How to waive |
| Arkansas | $65 | $5,000 | How to waive |
| California | $30–$75 | $12,500 | How to waive |
| Colorado | $31–$55 | $7,500 | How to waive |
| Connecticut | $95 | $5,000 | How to waive |
| Delaware | $35–$45 | $25,000 | How to waive |
| Florida | $55–$300 | $8,000 | How to waive |
| Georgia | $46–$120 | $15,000 | How to waive |
| Hawaii | $35 | $5,000 | How to waive |
| Idaho | $69 | $15,000 | How to waive |
| Illinois | $89–$379 | $10,000 | How to waive |
| Indiana | $97–$130 | $10,000 | How to waive |
| Iowa | $115 | $6,500 | How to waive |
| Kansas | $35–$55 | $10,000 | How to waive |
| Kentucky | $58 | $2,500 | How to waive |
| Louisiana | $54–$425 | $5,000 | How to waive |
| Maine | $70 | $10,000 | How to waive |
| Maryland | $44 | $5,000 | How to waive |
| Massachusetts | $40–$150 | $7,000 | How to waive |
| Michigan | $30–$70 | $7,000 | How to waive |
| Minnesota | $65–$80 | $20,000 | How to waive |
| Mississippi | $75–$85 | $3,500 | How to waive |
| Missouri | $20.50–$100 | $5,000 | How to waive |
| Montana | $20–$50 | $7,000 | How to waive |
| Nebraska | $58 | $7,500 | How to waive |
| Nevada | $66–$196 | $10,000 | How to waive |
| New Hampshire | $125–$180 | $10,000 | How to waive |
| New Jersey | $35 | $5,000 | How to waive |
| New Mexico | $77 | $10,000 | How to waive |
| New York | $15–$20 | $10,000 | How to waive |
| North Carolina | $96 | $10,000 | How to waive |
| North Dakota | $20 | $15,000 | How to waive |
| Ohio | $35–$151 | $6,000 | How to waive |
| Oklahoma | $45–$150 | $10,000 | How to waive |
| Oregon | $57–$102 | $10,000 | How to waive |
| Pennsylvania | $68.50–$171 | $12,000 | How to waive |
| Rhode Island | $55 | $5,000 | How to waive |
| South Carolina | $80 | $7,500 | How to waive |
| South Dakota | $24.84–$42.84 | $12,000 | How to waive |
| Tennessee | $93.75–$250 | $25,000 | How to waive |
| Texas | $54 | $20,000 | How to waive |
| Utah | $60–$185 | $20,000 | How to waive |
| Vermont | $65–$90 | $10,000 | How to waive |
| Virginia | $46–$52 | $5,000 | How to waive |
| Washington | $35–$50 | $10,000 | How to waive |
| West Virginia | $50–$70 | $20,000 | How to waive |
| Wisconsin | $94.50–$98 | $10,000 | How to waive |
| Wyoming | $10 | $6,000 | How to waive |