Service
Fee waiver
A fee waiver asks the court not to charge you filing fees. Many people in Sacramento qualify and don't know it.
FW-001FW-003
You may qualify if
- You get CalFresh, Medi-Cal, SSI, SSP, CalWORKs or tribal TANF, County Relief/General Assistance, IHSS, CAPI, WIC or Unemployment, or
- Your household's monthly income before taxes is under the court's limit (table below), or
- Paying court fees would leave you short for basic needs like rent and food.
The judge decides. Amounts from form FW-001, revised March 1, 2026, checked November 2026.
Want to do it yourself, free? Our free worksheet walks you through FW-001 item by item. You type your own answers and copy them onto the court's form. Nothing leaves your device. Open the free FW-001 worksheet
Monthly income limits on FW-001
| People in your home | Monthly income under |
|---|---|
| 1 | $2,660.00 |
| 2 | $3,606.67 |
| 3 | $4,553.33 |
| 4 | $5,500.00 |
| 5 | $6,446.67 |
| 6 | $7,393.33 |
More than 6 people: add $946.67 for each extra person.
What happens
- Answer about 10 questions on household size, income and benefits. We never ask for your Social Security number online.
- Our Legal Document Assistant prepares FW-001 and checks it.
- You read and sign it.
- It is filed together with your other court papers. We can do the filing run for you.
- The court answers on FW-003. If it asks for more information, the order says what to send; we can type any follow-up form using your answers.
Questions people ask
Can you tell me if I'll get it?
No. The judge decides, and we can't give legal advice. We check that every item on the form is answered before you sign, but we can't promise the court will accept it or approve it.
What should I have ready?
Your monthly income, the number of people in your home and which benefits you get. Pay stubs or benefit letters help.
Can I do this myself for free?
Yes. The form is free on the court's website, and Sacramento's self-help centers help at no cost.
What if my situation gets better later?
The form says you must tell the court within five days if your finances improve, using form FW-010.