To ask a Minnesota court to waive your civil filing fees, you complete the Minnesota court fee waiver form FEE102, the Affidavit to Request Fee Waiver, and file it together with your initial court papers. A judge reviews your financial information and either grants the waiver, orders a partial payment, or denies the request. The form is free, you don’t need a notary, and you can get it from any court administration window, the Minnesota Judicial Branch website, or the state’s online Guide & File tool.1Minnesota Judicial Branch. Fee Waiver – Forms
Who Qualifies Before You File
Minnesota law presumes you qualify in three situations.2Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 563.01 – In Forma Pauperis Proceedings; Authorization You receive need-based government assistance. You’re represented by an attorney through a civil legal services or volunteer attorney program that screens for low income. Or your household income is at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty level.
Qualifying public assistance includes MFIP, SSI, Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare, SNAP, general assistance, emergency assistance, energy or fuel assistance, and several low-income tax credits such as the earned income tax credit and the Minnesota working family credit.3Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Statutes 550.37 – Exempt Property Bring proof when you file — a benefit card, benefit letter, or recent canceled check from the issuing agency.4Minnesota Judicial Branch. Fee Waiver (IFP) If a legal aid or volunteer attorney represents you, that attorney can file an affidavit or state the representation orally in court, and no further financial findings are needed.2Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 563.01 – In Forma Pauperis Proceedings; Authorization
For 2026, the annual gross income limits at 125 percent of the federal poverty level are:5U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines
- 1 person: $19,950
- 2 people: $27,050
- 3 people: $34,150
- 4 people: $41,250
- 5 people: $48,350
- 6 people: $55,450
- 7 people: $62,550
- 8 people: $69,650
Add $7,100 per additional person for larger households. If your income is slightly above the line, apply anyway — a partial waiver is possible.
Completing Form FEE102
Form FEE101 is a companion instruction sheet; pick it up with the FEE102 if this is your first time.1Minnesota Judicial Branch. Fee Waiver – Forms The form has four main areas: household makeup, income, expenses and debts, and assets.
Household Size
Count yourself, your spouse or significant other, children under 18 (or over 18 if still in high school), and any other dependents who rely on you for most of their financial support. Dependents can include parents, adult children, or extended family living with you.
Monthly and Yearly Income
Report your total monthly income before taxes and deductions. For hourly work, multiply your hours per week by your hourly rate, then by 4.33 for a monthly figure. If income varies, average the last six months by adding each month and dividing by six. List your spouse’s monthly income separately, then the net take-home income of other household members or dependents who earn money. The form also asks for total yearly household income before taxes.6Volunteer Lawyers Network. Affidavit to Request Fee Waiver (FEE102)
Monthly Expenses
Break out your expenses into the categories the form lists: rent or mortgage, utilities, food, car payments, car insurance, child support, childcare, medical insurance, cell phone, spousal maintenance, and an “other” line for anything else. Be thorough. The judge is looking at what, if anything, is left over after your basic living costs.
Debts and Assets
Report total debt, excluding car loans, real estate loans, and mortgages. List available cash and the balances of all checking, savings, and credit union accounts. Estimate the equity in vehicles, your home, other real estate, and significant personal property. Equity is current market value minus what you still owe.
Signing Under Penalty of Perjury
No notary is required. You sign under penalty of perjury under Minnesota Statute § 358.116, which carries the same legal weight as a sworn oath. Intentional misstatements can expose you to perjury consequences, and the court can revoke the waiver. Accuracy matters more than optimism.
Filing It With Your Case
File the completed FEE102 at the same time you file your initial pleading — complaint, petition, motion, or answer. Bundle the affidavit, your pleading, and any proof of public assistance together. Court administration holds the main filing until a judge rules on the waiver, so your case won’t be rejected for non-payment while the request is pending.
Attorneys, government agencies, and guardians ad litem must file through Minnesota’s electronic File and Serve (eFS) system in all 87 counties.7Minnesota Judicial Branch. File in a District (Trial) Court If you represent yourself, eFS is optional; you can file on paper at the courthouse or by mail. Once you use eFS for any document in a case, you must use it for the rest of that case.
The fee you’re asking to waive is typically $310 for a first paper in a civil action, $410 if you request a jury trial with it, $100 for motions, or $65 in conciliation court.8Minnesota Judicial Branch. District Court Fees
What the Judge Can Do With Your Request
A judge or judicial officer confirms two things: that your finances meet the standard, and that your underlying case is not frivolous.2Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 563.01 – In Forma Pauperis Proceedings; Authorization Three outcomes are possible.
A full waiver means you pay nothing for the fees and costs listed in the court’s order, and the state covers service of process whether by sheriff, private process server, or publication. The court can also order payment of witness fees, subpoena costs, and deposition expenses if it finds them necessary. Read the order carefully — the waiver only covers what the order specifies, not every expense that may arise later.4Minnesota Judicial Branch. Fee Waiver (IFP)
A partial waiver reduces the fee to $75 or another amount the court sets, payable on a schedule.2Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 563.01 – In Forma Pauperis Proceedings; Authorization This is the middle ground for applicants just above the income line.
A denial means you pay the full fee to move the case forward.4Minnesota Judicial Branch. Fee Waiver (IFP) Courts set a short deadline for that payment; miss it and your case can be dismissed (if you’re the plaintiff) or a default judgment entered against you (if you’re the defendant). If you’re denied, ask court administration about the exact payment deadline and whether you can request reconsideration with additional financial documentation.
If Your Finances Change Later
Form FEE103, the Supplemental Affidavit to Request Fee Waiver, is for changes after the original ruling — losing a job mid-case, for example, or responding to a court request for updated information.1Minnesota Judicial Branch. Fee Waiver – Forms It follows the same format as FEE102 and is filed the same way.