| Filing For A Fee Waiver |
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by: Children's Law Center
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| Q. |
What is a fee waiver?
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| A. |
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The court sometimes charges a filing fee when you file court papers. A fee waiver means that you do not have to pay filing fees.
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The request for a fee waiver is called an application to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP).
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| Q. |
Am I eligible for a fee waiver?
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| A. |
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A judge will decide whether to give you a fee waiver. The judge will decide whether you cannot afford to pay the filing fees.
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If you have no income or if you receive public benefits (e.g., TANF, SSI, or Medicaid), it is almost certain that you will get a fee waiver. Otherwise, it is up to the judge.
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| Q. |
How do I file for a fee waiver?
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You file a fee waiver request called an application to proceed in forma pauperis.
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The fee waiver request forms give the judge information about your financial situation.
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Click here for a fee waiver request that you can fill out on the computer. You will still need to print it out and file it with the court.
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You must request your fee waiver before you pay the filing fee. You will not get a refund if you file your fee waiver after you pay the filing fee.
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| Q. |
What if I haven't filed my case or court papers yet?
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| A. |
If you want to request a fee waiver, you should file your fee waiver request before you file your court papers. But you must submit the request together with the court papers that you want to file.
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| Q. | Where do I file my fee waiver request? |
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| A. | Take your fee waiver request and the court papers you want to file to the office of Judge-in-Chambers, Room 4220 in the main courthouse at 500 Indiana Ave., NW. The papers will be submitted to a judge for a decision. The clerk will tell you whether to wait or whether to check back later. |
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| Q. |
Then what do I do?
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| A. |
You must file your court papers after the judge makes a decision about the fee waiver. The court papers are not filed automatically. File your court papers at the Family Court Central Intake Center, Room JM-520 of the main courthouse at 500 Indiana Ave., NW. If your fee waiver was granted, you will not have to pay any filing fees.
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| Q. |
What do I do the next time I want to file something? |
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Whenever you go to the Family Court Central Intake Center to file papers, tell the clerk that you have been granted a fee waiver. They will check the court records to confirm that you have a fee waiver.
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| Q. | I didn't ask for a fee waiver in the beginning of the case. Can I ask for one now?
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| A. | Yes. You can ask for a fee waiver at any time. |
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| Q. | If I am the defendant, can I get a fee waiver? |
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| A. | Yes. Either party can request a fee waiver. |
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