Rule 5.41. Waiver of fees and costs
Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.41
Current text effective January 1, 2013.
If unable to afford the costs to file an action in family court, a party may request that the court waive fees and costs. The procedure and forms needed to request an initial fee waiver in a family law action are the same as for all other civil actions, unless otherwise provided by a statute or the California Rules of Court.
#(a) Forms
The forms required to request a fee waiver may be obtained from the clerk of the court, the public law library, or online at the California Courts website.
#(b) Rules
Rules 3.50-3.56 of the California Rules of Court (title 3, division 2) govern fee waivers in family law cases. Parties may refer to the civil rules for information about:
#(1) Applying for a fee waiver (rule 3.51);
#(2) Forms for requesting a fee waiver (rule 3.51);
#(3) How the court makes an order on a fee waiver application (rule 3.52);
#(4) The time required for the court to grant a fee waiver (rule 3.53);
#(5) The confidentiality of fee waiver applications and hearings (rule 3.54);
#(6) Court fees and costs included in an initial fee waiver (rule 3.55); and
#(7) Additional court fees and costs that may be included in the fee waiver (rule 3.56).
#History
Rule 5.41 adopted effective January 1, 2013.
#History
Title 5, Family and Juvenile Rules-Division 1, Family Rules-Chapter 3, Filing Fees and Fee Waivers-Article 2, Special Procedures; adopted January 1, 2013.
What this rule requires
Filing Fees and Waivers
If unable to afford the costs to file an action in family court, a party may request that the court waive fees and costs.
The procedure and forms needed to request an initial fee waiver in a family law action are the same as for all other civil actions, unless otherwise provided by a statute or the California Rules of Court.
The forms required to request a fee waiver may be obtained from the clerk of the court, the public law library, or online at the California Courts website.
Rules 3.50-3.56 of the California Rules of Court (title 3, division 2) govern fee waivers in family law cases.
(1) Applying for a fee waiver (rule 3.51);
(2) Forms for requesting a fee waiver (rule 3.51);
(3) How the court makes an order on a fee waiver application (rule 3.52);
(4) The time required for the court to grant a fee waiver (rule 3.53);
(5) The confidentiality of fee waiver applications and hearings (rule 3.54);
(6) Court fees and costs included in an initial fee waiver (rule 3.55); and
(7) Additional court fees and costs that may be included in the fee waiver (rule 3.56).
Official text: courts.ca.gov , checked October 19, 2026.