How Much Are Court Costs?

Reviewed by Rachel Elle, Master of Accountancy and Finance Manager

While all citizens within a jurisdiction have the right to the legal processes of that area's courts, they don't always have the right to such services for free. Courts charge fees to help cover the cost of running these systems.

Read More Legal Articles

Court costs can range from just a few dollars to hundreds of dollars, depending on the type of case and process you're dealing with.

Court costs are expenses that are incurred by individuals or businesses when they use the services of the courts. For example, if you want to file a lawsuit, that involves filing a petition and other paperwork. That action typically involves filing fees.

Here's a quick look at some of the categories of court fees and costs you might incur if you're involved in a legal action:

• Filing fees: Filing fees are one of the most basic types of court costs you might deal with. Each time you need to file a pleading or other paperwork with the court, you may need to pay a fee to do so. This fee covers the clerk of court staff resources required to process the documents.
• Service fees. Service fees are paid when process servers or sheriff's office staff must serve documents, such as subpoenas, on someone.
• Copy fees. If you want to get paperwork from the court or clerk of court, you may need to pay the expenses related to copying or printing the documents. You might also pay fees when accessing documents electronically.

How Much Are Court Costs?

The amount of court costs depends on what type of fees you're dealing with and which court has jurisdiction. To provide a better idea of the range of court costs, check out some of the types of fees you might pay in various courts below.

Note that these lists aren't all-inclusive. They merely contain a few examples of court costs associated with courts in various jurisdictions across the U.S. to provide an idea of what court fees can be.

More Related Articles:

• When Do You Need a Lawyer? Determine If You Need to Hire an Attorney
• What Is a Class-Action Lawsuit?
• What Is a Misdemeanor?
• What to Do After a Car Accident
• What Is Power of Attorney?

Federal Bankruptcy Court

• Filing a Chapter 7, 12 or 13 petition: $78
• Filing a Chapter 9, 11 or 15 petition: $571
• Certification of a document: $11
• Filing certain types of amendments: $32

Virginia Probate Court

• Recording and indexing wills or other estate documents: $14.50 to $48.50, depending on the length of the document
• Recording an affidavit or list of heirs: $25

Lafayette Parish, Louisiana Clerk of Court

• Divorce filings require an advanced deposit of $400 to cover fees
• Marriage licenses: $27.50
• Death certificates: $26.00
• Motion and order to fix a matter for trial: $200

Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles

• The filing of a civil lawsuit for an amount more than $25,000: $435
• Filing of a lawsuit in a matter dealing with less than $10,000: $225
• Requests for protective orders: no fee to $435, depending on the matter
• Many types of civil motions: $60

Broome County, New York, City Court Fees

• Small claims court filings: $15 to $20
• Commercial claim filing: $25 plus postage and additional fees for extra defendants
• Eviction filing: $45
• Civil case appeal: $30
• Criminal records search: $5

Talk to a Pro

(877) 574-1059

How Do You Know What Court Costs You Might Have to Pay?

As you can see, how much court costs might be in various cases can range widely. The only way to know how much court fees might be in your case is to research your specific case filings and requirements with the court in question. Most courts publish their court costs online.

Or, if you're working with an experienced attorney, your lawyer can help you understand what your legal fees might be. They can also help you understand what part of your legal costs are associated with court costs.