Court Filing Fee Calculator

What This Court Filing Fee Calculator Does

This court filing fee calculator helps you estimate how much you might pay to file legal documents by combining four main pieces of information:

• Base filing fee for the document type you are filing
• Number of pages in your filing
• How many pages are included in the base fee before extra per-page charges begin
• Service charges or surcharges that your court or e-filing provider may add

The goal is to give you a quick, approximate total so you can plan your budget before going to the courthouse or submitting documents through an electronic filing system.

This tool is designed for a wide range of situations, including small claims complaints, landlord-tenant cases, civil lawsuits, probate documents, and many family law filings. Because actual fees are set by each court, you will still need to look up your official fee schedule and enter the correct numbers here.

How Court Filing Fees Are Structured

Court systems charge filing fees to cover administrative work such as opening a case file, scanning documents, scheduling hearings, and maintaining records. The structure of those fees varies widely. Some courts use simple flat fees, while others add multiple surcharges and per-page costs.

Base fees

The base fee is usually a flat dollar amount tied to the type of document or case. For example, a court might charge one amount to file a small claims complaint and a higher amount to file a general civil lawsuit. Motions, petitions, and post-judgment filings can all have separate base fees.

Typical examples include:

• Initial complaint or petition to open a case
• Answer or response in an existing case
• Motion to modify child support or custody
• Appeal or application for discretionary review

You should always confirm the base fee for the particular document you are filing by checking your court’s current fee schedule.

Surcharges and service charges

Many courts add extra amounts on top of the base fee, sometimes called surcharges, service charges, or convenience fees. These can fund technology upgrades, law libraries, dispute resolution programs, or online payment systems.

Common patterns include:

• A flat technology surcharge added to each filing
• A percentage-based e-filing convenience fee
• Additional fees for paying by credit card

In this calculator, you can treat any of these extra amounts as a single Service Charge and add them to the total.

Per-page fees

Some courts charge extra when your filing exceeds a certain length. For example, the first 20 pages might be included in the base fee, and every page after that could cost an additional amount.

The calculator uses three pieces of information to handle this:

• Number of Pages: the total page count of your filing
• Included Pages: how many pages are covered before any per-page charges apply
• Cost per Extra Page: the amount charged for each page above the included number

If your court does not charge per-page fees, you can leave the per-page cost at zero and ignore the included pages.

Formulas Used in the Calculator

The calculator combines your inputs using a straightforward set of formulas. Understanding the math can help you double-check results or adapt the approach for a spreadsheet.

Step 1: Extra pages

The calculator first determines how many pages are subject to per-page fees:

If your total pages are less than or equal to the included pages, the number of extra pages is zero.

Step 2: Per-page charges

Next, the calculator multiplies the number of extra pages by the cost per extra page:

Step 3: Overall filing fee estimate

The final estimate adds together the base fee, the total per-page charges, and any service charge:

This gives you a single dollar amount that represents your approximate filing cost for the specific document you are analyzing.

How to Use the Court Filing Fee Calculator

1. Find your court’s fee schedule. Visit your court’s website or clerk’s office page and locate the current schedule of filing fees, local rules, or administrative orders.
2. Identify the correct base fee. Look for the fee that matches the document you plan to file, such as a small claims complaint, eviction case, divorce petition, or motion.
3. Check the page limits. See whether the fee schedule or local rules mention page limits and per-page charges above a certain length.
4. Look for surcharges or service fees. Note any technology fees, law library surcharges, or e-filing convenience fees that apply to your filing.
5. Enter your numbers. Type the base fee, page counts, per-page cost, and service charges into the calculator fields.
6. Review the estimated total. Use the output as a planning tool, and then confirm against the court’s official schedule before you pay.

You can run multiple scenarios by changing the page count or service charges to see how different choices affect your costs. This can be helpful when deciding whether to shorten a lengthy filing or choose a different method of payment.

Worked Example: Estimating a Filing Fee

Imagine you are filing a civil complaint in a court with the following rules:

• Base filing fee: $220
• The first 25 pages are included in the base fee
• Each extra page above 25 costs $1.50
• Technology surcharge: $15 per filing

You plan to file a 40-page complaint.

Step-by-step calculation

1. Extra pages: 40 total pages minus 25 included pages equals 15 extra pages.
2. Per-page charges: 15 extra pages × $1.50 = $22.50 in per-page fees.
3. Total estimate:
   Base fee $220 + per-page total $22.50 + technology surcharge $15 = $257.50.

In the calculator, you would enter:

• Base Fee: 220
• Number of Pages: 40
• Included Pages: 25
• Cost per Extra Page: 1.50
• Service Charge: 15

The result would show an estimated filing fee of $257.50. You could then compare this to shorter or longer versions of your complaint to see how much you might save by reducing the page count.

Comparing Different Filing Scenarios

You may want to compare how costs change across different case types, filing lengths, or payment methods. The table below shows sample scenarios using the same basic calculation structure.

These examples are purely illustrative. Your actual numbers will depend on your court’s published fee schedule and local rules.

Electronic vs. Paper Filing Costs

Many courts now accept or require electronic filing. E-filing can change how fees are applied, but the basic idea of combining base fees, per-page costs, and surcharges is similar.

Typical differences include:

• Convenience or processing fees when using online payment methods
• Reduced per-page charges because the court does not need to handle as much paper
• Mandatory provider fees charged by private e-filing vendors

You can still use this calculator for e-filing by entering the base court fee and then using the Service Charge field to capture any additional provider or payment processing costs that apply to your situation.

Budgeting for Multiple Filings

Many cases involve more than one filing. For example, you may file an initial complaint, later file motions, and then respond to the other side’s motions. Each filing can generate its own fee.

To plan ahead:

• Use the calculator once for each major filing you expect in your case.
• Record the estimated total for each filing in a simple spreadsheet or notebook.
• Add an extra margin for unplanned filings, such as emergency motions or additional exhibits.

This approach can help self-represented litigants and legal professionals budget more accurately and avoid surprises later in the case.

Assumptions and Limitations

This calculator makes several important assumptions, and its results should not be treated as official fee quotes.

• Jurisdiction-neutral: The tool does not know which court or jurisdiction you are using. You must obtain the correct fee amounts from your own court’s official sources.
• Estimates only: The output is an approximate total based on the numbers you enter. Actual amounts you pay can differ because of rule changes, local practices, or additional fees that are not reflected in your inputs.
• Limited fee types: The calculator focuses on base fees, per-page fees, and a single service charge. Some courts may charge separate fees for things like certified copies, sheriff’s service, or jury demands that are not covered here.
• No automatic updates: The calculator does not connect to any government system and does not update itself when court fees change. You should always check the most current schedule.
• Not legal advice: This tool does not provide legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for advice from a qualified lawyer or official court staff.

Before relying on any estimate, verify fees with your court’s clerk, official website, or published fee schedule.

Where to Confirm Official Filing Fees

To get accurate, up-to-date information about filing fees in your jurisdiction, consider the following sources:

• Your state or provincial court system’s website
• The local trial court or small claims court website
• Published fee schedules, usually available as PDF downloads
• Local rules or administrative orders related to costs and fees
• The clerk’s office, either by phone or in person

Many courts update their fees on a regular schedule, such as once per year, or in response to new legislation. Always check the date on any fee schedule you use.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find my court’s current filing fees?

Most courts publish a fee schedule on their official website, often under headings like “Filing Fees,” “Court Costs,” or “Clerk’s Office.” If you cannot find it online, call the clerk’s office and ask where to locate the most recent fee schedule.

Does this calculator work for small claims cases?

Yes. You can use the same approach for small claims filings by entering the small claims base fee, the number of pages in your claim, any included pages, and any service or technology charges listed in your court’s fee schedule.

What if my court does not charge per-page fees?

If your court does not charge per-page fees, leave the included pages as they are and set the cost per extra page to zero. The calculator will then treat your total as the base fee plus any service charge only.

Can this calculator tell me exactly what I will pay?

No. It provides an estimate only. Actual amounts may differ based on local practices, additional required fees, or recent rule changes. Always confirm with your court before submitting payment.

Is this legal advice?

No. This is an educational budgeting tool, not legal advice. For questions about your rights, deadlines, or strategy, you should consult a qualified attorney or appropriate legal aid organization.

Next Steps and Related Costs

Filing fees are only one part of the overall cost of using the court system. You may also encounter expenses such as service of process, postage, copying, transcription, or expert witness fees. Consider tracking these items separately so that you have a fuller picture of your potential case costs.

Once you have an estimated filing fee from this calculator, you can incorporate it into a broader legal budget, compare different case strategies, or discuss costs more concretely with your lawyer or legal advisor.