Alaska Small Claims Fee Waiver: How to File Form TF-920

What Form TF-920 Does

Form TF-920 (Request and Order for Exemption from Payment of Fees) lets you ask the court to waive your small claims filing fee — either the $50 fee for claims of $2,500 or less, or the $100 fee for larger claims.

Submit it at the same time you file your complaint (Form SC-1). The clerk accepts and timestamps your complaint, but puts the summons on hold until a judge reviews and approves the fee waiver. Once the waiver is granted, the clerk signs the summons and your case moves forward.

What You'll Need to Disclose

TF-920 requires a detailed financial declaration covering:

• Monthly household income from all sources
• Assets (bank accounts, vehicles, real property)
• Monthly expenses (rent, utilities, food, transportation, medical)
• Whether you receive public assistance (Medicaid, food stamps, SSI)
• Court fee exemptions granted within the past 12 months

The judge reviews this information and decides whether to grant the fee exemption.

What the Waiver Covers and Doesn't Cover

Covered: Court filing fees under Administrative Rule 9 — the $50 or $100 complaint fee, and potentially other court administrative fees.

Not covered: Third-party costs you'll still need to pay out of pocket:

• Certified mail postage for serving the defendant
• Licensed private process server fees ($60–$150)
• State Trooper service charges (~$30)
• Post-judgment execution fees (garnishment filings, etc.)

The cheapest service option if you're on a tight budget is court-arranged certified mail — the $5 administrative fee plus actual postage.

How to Apply

1. Download Form TF-920 from the Alaska Court System forms portal
2. Complete every section of the financial declaration — leaving fields blank gives the judge no basis to grant the waiver
3. Submit TF-920 together with your completed SC-1 complaint at the District Court clerk's office
4. Wait for judicial review — the clerk will notify you when the waiver is approved or denied
5. If approved, the clerk issues the summons and you proceed with service

If the judge denies the waiver, you'll need to pay the filing fee before the case can proceed. The clerk will let you know the amount and the deadline.

Special Rules for Incarcerated Filers

If you're incarcerated and filing a civil suit against the State of Alaska, you don't use TF-920. Instead, submit Form CIV-670 (Prisoner Request for Filing Fee Exemption) alongside Form CR-206. The process is different because the court can order fees paid from your prison account in installments.

For the full fee waiver process in context of the complete filing sequence, the Alaska Small Claims Filing Guide covers each step from demand letter through hearing.

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