Ask the court to waive your filing fees.
Self-help guided fill for California's FW-001, the Request to Waive Court Fees. We help you complete the form. You file it yourself.
What's included
Eligibility, in plain language
Two paths qualify most people: receiving public benefits, or having household income below the court's threshold. We help you pick the right one based on what you tell us.
Story-driven fill
Tell us your situation in your own words: name, address, job, household, benefits. AI extracts the facts and pre-fills every field on the FW-001.
AI procedural review
Before you print, an AI review reads your filled FW-001 against the form's instructions and flags missing case caption pieces, empty signature blocks, or incomplete eligibility checkboxes.
Court-ready PDF
Download the finished FW-001 PDF, print it, sign in pen, and file the paper copy with the clerk along with your first court paper.
Do you qualify?
You qualify if you receive any of these public benefits:
- CalFresh / SNAP / food stamps
- Medi-Cal
- SSI (Supplemental Security Income) or SSP (State Supplementary Payment)
- CalWORKs or Tribal TANF
- County Relief / General Assistance / General Relief
- IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services)
- CAPI (Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants)
- Your household's gross monthly income is below the court's threshold for your family size (the form lists the limits)
The third path on FW-001 (basic-need-vs-court-fees) requires detailed financial information on page 2 and is not yet supported by Ezel's guided fill. Use the other two paths if either applies, or fill page 2 by hand after downloading.
How it works
Tell your story
Your name, address, job, household income, which public benefits you receive.
Confirm fields
Review the case caption and eligibility checkboxes. Edit anything the AI got wrong.
Sign & review
Confirm your printed name and date. AI procedural review flags any issues.
File at court
Print, sign in pen, and file with the clerk along with your first court paper.
Start filing
Fee Waiver Kit (FW-001)
Frequently asked questions
Is Ezel a law firm?
No. Ezel is a self-help tool. We don't represent you, file on your behalf, or give legal advice. We help you fill the form correctly. You file it yourself.
What does FW-001 actually waive?
FW-001 waives the court's filing fees and certain other court costs (sheriff service fees, jury fees, transcripts, in some cases). It does not waive attorney's fees, costs you owe to the other side, or non-court fees. Each Superior Court branch posts its current fee schedule.
How long does the court take to decide?
The court is required to rule on FW-001 within 5 days of receiving it. If approved you'll get an FW-003 order. If denied or partially denied, the order will explain why and what you can do next.
Do I file FW-001 alone?
No. File FW-001 along with your first court paper (your divorce petition, small claims claim, eviction answer, etc.). The clerk won't process the underlying filing until the fee waiver is decided. If you've already paid a fee, you can also use FW-001 to ask for a refund within 10 days of payment.
Which path should I pick on FW-001?
If you receive a listed public benefit, pick the benefits path (item 5a). It's the simplest. If you don't but your income is below the limit, pick the income path (item 5b). The third path (item 5c, basic needs) is for people whose income exceeds the limit but who genuinely can't afford court fees on top of basic needs; it requires detailed financials on page 2.
What does the 30-day workspace cover?
You can come back, edit your answers, re-render the PDF, and download it again for 30 days from purchase. After that, your responses remain saved but you'll need to extend (another $49) to re-render.
Where can I get free legal help?
California legal aid: visit lawhelpca.org or your local court's self-help center. Many counties also offer free fee-waiver clinics.