District of Columbia Filing Fees and Fee Waivers

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Filing a family case in District of Columbia normally carries a fee. Divorce filing fee: ~$120. Fees are set locally and change, so treat any figure as a starting point and confirm the current amount with your clerk.

Not being able to pay does not close the courthouse door. Every state has a way to ask a judge to waive or defer the fee, usually by filing a short sworn statement about your income and expenses. The official District of Columbia documents for that request are below.

Official District of Columbia fee resources

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District of Columbia family law forms (official index) (District of Columbia judicial branch): The official statewide collection of District of Columbia family law forms. When a direct document link stops working, this index is where the current version lives. https://www.dccourts.gov/services/forms

District of Columbia court self-help resources (District of Columbia courts self-help): Official self-help information for people handling their own District of Columbia family case, including instructions and plain-language guides. https://www.dccourts.gov/services/family-matters/self-help-center

DC Family Court Central Intake Center (District of Columbia judicial branch): Find the courthouse or clerk that serves your area, with locations and contact details. https://www.dccourts.gov/superior-court/superior-court-divisions/family-court-operations-division/family-court-central-intake-center

District of Columbia official filing information (District of Columbia judicial branch): The court's own page explaining how documents are filed in District of Columbia and what a parent without a lawyer is allowed to do. https://www.dccourts.gov/

Verified official District of Columbia fee waiver documents

These official documents are how you ask a District of Columbia court to waive or defer a filing fee.

Application to Waive Court Costs and Fees (Fee Waiver), official document: https://www.dccourts.gov/sites/default/files/2024-01/DCSC_Courtwide_Fee_Waiver%20Application.pdf

Official link data for District of Columbia was last verified June 2026. Report anything outdated through our contact page and we will re-check the official source.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to file a family case in District of Columbia?

Divorce filing fee: ~$120. If you cannot afford the fee, ask the clerk about a fee waiver or indigency application; every state has a process for requesting one.

Will asking for a fee waiver hurt my case?

No. The fee waiver request goes to the question of what you can afford, not to the merits of your case. Courts handle these routinely.

What if my waiver is denied?

Ask the clerk about paying in installments or deferring the fee. Practice varies by court, so ask before you assume the case cannot be filed.