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File My Small Claims

Form FW-001: Request to Waive Court Fees

Asks the court to waive your filing fee. Here is what the form does, when you file it, and the mistakes that cost people their hearing date.

Start my case — freeOfficial PDF from the court

What FW-001 is for

If paying the filing fee would mean going without necessities, the court can waive it. Eligibility is based on your income and household size, or on receiving certain public benefits. Filing this costs nothing and does not delay your case.

Things to get right

  • Based on income, household size, or receipt of public benefits.
  • Submit it with your SC-100.
  • There is nothing improper about asking — the waiver exists for exactly this.

This form is free

FW-001 is a public document published by the Judicial Council of California. You can always download it from the court at no charge, and nobody should sell you the form itself. What we sell is the work around it — getting it filled correctly, knowing where it goes, and what happens next.

Who uses it

Either side, depending on the situation.

Where it fits in the process

  1. Before filing

    Ask for payment in writing. California expects it, and SC-100 asks you to confirm you did.

  2. Filing

    SC-100 opens the case and the clerk assigns a hearing date. FW-001 if the fee is unaffordable.

  3. Service

    SC-104 proves the defendant was notified. Without it the hearing does not go ahead.

  4. Hearing and judgment

    The court issues SC-130, the Notice of Entry of Judgment.

  5. Collecting

    SC-133, SC-134 and EJ-130 are how a judgment becomes money.

Start with a demand letter

Most California small claims cases settle before anyone sees a courtroom. The letter is free to write, and you can have us print and certified-mail it for $29.

Build my demand letter — free

No account needed to start. We are not a law firm and cannot give legal advice.

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