Form FW-001 at a glance
What it is: FW-001 is the Request to Waive Court Fees.
Who signs: You are signing your request under penalty of perjury.[2]
Where and when to file: Take the original and copy to the court clerk.[3]
If you are getting public benefits, are a low-income person, or do not have enough income to pay for your household's basic needs and your court fees, you may use this form to ask the court to waive your court fees. The court may order you to answer questions about your finances.
A filled-in Form FW-001 example: a Medi-Cal recipient asks the Superior Court to waive her fees
How to fill out Form FW-001, box by box
Fill in court name and street address
Fill in court name and street address under Superior Court of California, County of.
Fill in case number and name
Fill in case number and name: enter the Case Number and the Case Name.
Your Information (person asking the court to waive the fees)
Under 1, Your Information (person asking the court to waive the fees), enter your Name, Street or mailing address, City, State, Zip and Phone.
Your Job, if you have one (job title)
In 2, enter your job title if you have a job, the name of your employer and your employer's address.
Your Lawyer, if you have one
In 3, if you have a lawyer, enter your lawyer's name, firm or affiliation, address, phone number, and State Bar number.
In 3a, the lawyer has agreed to advance all or a portion of your fees or costs (check one): Yes or No. If yes, your lawyer must sign here, on the Lawyer's signature line.
If your lawyer is not providing legal-aid type services based on your low income, you may have to go to a hearing to explain why you are asking the court to waive the fees.
What court's fees or costs are you asking to be waived?
In 4, What court's fees or costs are you asking to be waived? Check Superior Court (See Information Sheet on Waiver of Superior Court Fees and Costs (form FW-001-INFO).) or Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, or Appellate Division of Superior Court (See Information Sheet on Waiver of Appellate Court Fees (form APP-015/FW-015-INFO).)
I receive (check all that apply; see form FW-001-INFO for definitions)
In 5, Why are you asking the court to waive your court fees? In 5a, I receive (check all that apply; see form FW-001-INFO for definitions): Food Stamps, Supp. Sec. Inc., SSP, Medi-Cal, County Relief/Gen. Assist., IHSS, CalWORKS or Tribal TANF, CAPI, WIC, Unemployment.
If you checked 5a on page 1, do not fill out below on page 2.
My gross monthly household income (before deductions for taxes) is less than the amount listed below
In 5b, check the box if your gross monthly household income (before deductions for taxes) is less than the amount listed for your Family Size under Family Income. If you check 5b, you must fill out 7, 8, and 9 on page 2 of this form, and only those.
Family Size 1: Family Income $2,660.00; Family Size 2: $3,606.67; Family Size 3: $4,553.33; Family Size 4: $5,500.00; Family Size 5: $6,446.67; Family Size 6: $7,393.33 (checked October 22, 2026).
If more than 6 people at home, add $946.67 for each extra person (checked October 22, 2026).
I do not have enough income to pay for my household's basic needs and the court fees
In 5c, I do not have enough income to pay for my household's basic needs and the court fees. I ask the court to (check one and you must fill out page 2): waive all court fees and costs, waive some of the court fees, or let me make payments over time.
If you checked 5c, you must fill out the entire page 2.
Check here if you asked the court to waive your court fees for this case in the last six months
In 6, check here if you asked the court to waive your court fees for this case in the last six months. If your previous request is reasonably available, please attach it to this form and check the box for it.
I declare under penalty of perjury
"I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the information I have provided on this form and all attachments is true and correct." Enter the Date, Print your name here, and sign on the Sign here line.
Your name and Case Number on page 2
On page 2, enter Your name and the Case Number.
Check here if your income changes a lot from month to month
In 7, check here if your income changes a lot from month to month. If it does, complete the form based on your average income for the past 12 months.
Your Gross Monthly Income
In 8, list the source and amount of any income you get each month, including: wages or other income from work before deductions, spousal/child support, retirement, social security, disability, unemployment, military basic allowance for quarters (BAQ), veterans payments, dividends, interest, trust income, annuities, net business or rental income, reimbursement for job-related expenses, gambling or lottery winnings, etc. In 8b, enter Your total monthly income.
Household Income
In 9, list the income of all other persons living in your home who depend in whole or in part on you for support, or on whom you depend in whole or in part for support, with Name, Age, Relationship and Gross Monthly Income.
In 9b, enter the Total monthly income of persons in 9. Then enter the Total monthly income and household income (8b plus 9b).
Your Money and Property
In 10, Your Money and Property, enter Cash in 10a and list the bank name and amount of all financial accounts in 10b. In 10c, for cars, boats, and other vehicles, enter Make / Year, Fair Market Value and How Much You Still Owe. In 10d, for real estate, enter the Address, Fair Market Value and How Much You Still Owe. In 10e, for other personal property (jewelry, furniture, furs, stocks, bonds, etc.), enter Describe, Fair Market Value and How Much You Still Owe.
Your Monthly Deductions and Expenses
In 11, Your Monthly Deductions and Expenses, list any payroll deductions and the monthly amount in 11a, lines (1), (2), (3) and (4).
Enter Rent or house payment & maintenance, Food and household supplies, Utilities and telephone, Clothing, Laundry and cleaning, and Medical and dental expenses.
Enter Insurance (life, health, accident, etc.), School, child care, Child, spousal support (another marriage), Transportation, gas, auto repair and insurance, and Installment payments (list each).
Enter Wages/earnings withheld by court order and Any other monthly expenses (list each). Enter the Total monthly expenses (add 11a -11n).
Check here if you attach another page
If you need more space, attach form MC-025 or attach a sheet of paper and write Financial Information and your name and case number at the top. Check here if you attach another page.
More rules for Form FW-001
If the court waives the fees, you may still have to pay later if: you cannot give the court proof of your eligibility, your financial situation improves during this case, or you settle your civil case for $10,000 or more. The trial court that waives your fees will have a lien on any such settlement in the amount of the waived fees and costs. The court may also charge you any collection costs (checked October 22, 2026).
Important! If your financial situation or ability to pay court fees improves, you must notify the court within five days on form FW-010.
Common questions about Form FW-001
Where do I file it?
Take the original and copy to the court clerk.[3]
Sources
[1] Form FW-001 (Rev. March 1, 2026), Request to Waive Court Fees, Judicial Council of California (the Official source link on this page).
[2] courts.ca.gov, line_4_doc_waivable_fees. Accessed October 21, 2026.
[3] selfhelp.courts.ca.gov, submission_method (selfhelp.courts.ca.gov). Accessed October 21, 2026.
