DC Small Claims Filing Fee: Cost Schedule, Fee Waivers, and Other Court Costs
Filing Fee by Claim Amount
DC Superior Court charges a tiered filing fee based on how much money you're claiming:
| Claim Amount | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| $0.01 – $500.00 | $5 |
| $500.01 – $2,500.00 | $10 |
| $2,500.01 – $10,000.00 | $45 |
These fees are set by the Civil Division's official fee schedule and must be paid when you submit your Statement of Claim — either in person, by mail, or through eFileDC. If you don't pay and don't have an approved waiver, the clerk won't accept your filing.
Other Court Costs Beyond the Filing Fee
The filing fee is just the starting cost. Here's what else you might pay during a case:
Service of process:
- Clerk-sent certified mail: $6.75 per defendant
- Certified mail with restricted delivery: $11.90
- Registered mail: $15.50
- Registered mail with restricted delivery: $20.65
Motions and process server:
- Application for special process server appointment: $5
- General written motion: $10
- Motion to reinstate a dismissed case: $25
Other charges:
- Counterclaim or cross-claim: $10
- Jury trial demand: $75 (trial is held in the assigned Associate Judge's courtroom)
- Writ of attachment or fieri facias (post-judgment enforcement): $10
- Post-judgment oral examination / discovery subpoena: $10
- Certified copy of a document: $5
- Photocopies: $0.50 per page
- Application for allowance of appeal: $10
For a typical small claims case with a $3,000 claim served by certified mail, expect to spend around $51.75 total in court costs — $45 filing fee plus $6.75 for service.
How the Fee Waiver Works
If you can't afford the filing fee, DC law allows you to apply for a waiver under D.C. Code § 15-712. You'll need to complete the Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Costs, Fees, or Security — available at the clerk's office or on the DC Courts website.
The application requires a financial declaration under penalty of perjury. You'll disclose:
- Gross household income from all sources
- Government benefits (TANF, SNAP, SSI, Medicaid, etc.)
- Bank account balances
- Outstanding debts and liabilities
- Essential monthly expenses (rent, utilities, food, transportation)
A judge reviews the application when it is submitted. Do not assume fees are waived until the court grants the application.
What the waiver covers: Filing fees, clerk mail service fees, motion charges, post-judgment writ costs.
What it doesn't cover: Private process server fees and publication expenses. If certified mail fails and you need a private server, that cost is still on you even with an approved waiver.
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Income Thresholds
The court's fee-waiver materials do not list a fixed income cutoff. A judge reviews the financial declaration and decides whether to waive fees, so include the requested financial details fully and accurately.
Can the Winning Party Recover Court Costs?
Yes. If you win your case, the judge can award court costs on top of your monetary judgment. This includes the filing fee and service costs you paid. The losing party would then owe you the judgment amount plus these costs.
However, recovering costs requires that the defendant actually pay. A court judgment is a legal determination of debt — it doesn't force money out of someone's bank account automatically. If the defendant doesn't pay voluntarily, you'll need to pursue post-judgment enforcement.
For a complete walkthrough of the filing process, including a cost calculator and deadline tracker, our DC Small Claims Filing Guide covers everything from fee assessment through judgment collection.
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