Most first-paper filings at the Riverside County Superior Court cost $450, whether you’re opening an unlimited civil case, a divorce, or a probate matter. Riverside County court filing fees run higher than California’s statewide base amounts because the county adds a courthouse construction surcharge on top of the state fee. Limited civil cases range from $255 to $395 depending on the amount at stake, small claims run $30 to $75, and qualifying low-income filers can have any of these fees waived entirely.
Why Riverside Charges More Than the State Base
California sets uniform base filing fees through the Government Code, but Riverside collects an additional surcharge under Government Code section 70602.5 to fund local courthouse construction.1California Legislative Information. California Code Government Code 70602.5 – Courthouse Construction Surcharge Only San Bernardino and San Francisco charge a similar add-on. The statewide base for an unlimited civil filing is $355, but the amount you actually pay at the Riverside clerk’s window is $450.2Superior Court of California, County of Riverside. Superior Court of California, County of Riverside Fee Schedule
Civil Case Fees
Unlimited Civil (Claims Over $35,000)
Filing the complaint or any other first paper in an unlimited civil case costs $450. Defendants pay the same $450 for their initial response.2Superior Court of California, County of Riverside. Superior Court of California, County of Riverside Fee Schedule
Limited Civil (Claims Up to $35,000)
Limited civil fees split into two tiers based on the amount you’re seeking:
- Claims over $10,000 up to $35,000: $395 for the complaint; $395 for the defendant’s first response.2Superior Court of California, County of Riverside. Superior Court of California, County of Riverside Fee Schedule
- Claims of $10,000 or less: $255 for the complaint; $255 for the defendant’s first response.
Unlawful detainer (eviction) filings at each tier cost roughly $15 more than the standard limited civil amount.
Family Law Fees
A petition for dissolution of marriage, legal separation, domestic partnership termination, or nullity costs $450 in Riverside.2Superior Court of California, County of Riverside. Superior Court of California, County of Riverside Fee Schedule The responding spouse or partner also pays $450 to file a response. Getting both sides on the record in a Riverside divorce therefore costs $900 in court fees alone, before attorney fees, mediation, or any later modifications.
Probate Fees
Probate first papers follow the same $450 pattern. The most common filings and their fees:
- First petition for letters of administration or letters testamentary: $4502Superior Court of California, County of Riverside. Superior Court of California, County of Riverside Fee Schedule
- First objection to probate of a will or petition to revoke probate: $450
- Later-filed competing petition by someone other than the original petitioner: $450
- Petition for special letters of administration without general powers: $200
Conservatorship and guardianship petitions carry their own fee codes but land at similar amounts. Mental health filings may differ depending on the specific statutory authority.
Small Claims Fees
Small claims is the least expensive way to bring a dispute in Riverside. Individuals can seek up to $12,500 and businesses up to $6,250. Filing fees scale with the amount you’re claiming:
- $1 to $1,500: $30
- $1,501 to $5,000: $50
- $5,001 to $12,500: $75
These amounts come from the court’s small claims filing page.3Superior Court of California, County of Riverside. How to File Small Claims Attorneys aren’t allowed in the courtroom during a small claims hearing, so the filing fee is usually your only hard cost. You’ll still need to pay separately for service of process on the other party.
Traffic and Criminal Processing Fees
The most common criminal-side charge is the $52 traffic school processing fee, paid on top of your citation fine if you’re eligible to attend traffic school and keep the violation off your record.4Superior Court of California, County of Riverside. Pay Traffic Ticket A traffic or criminal conviction will also include the base fine and state and county penalty assessments, which together can push a modest base fine into the hundreds of dollars.
Copies, Records, and Court Reporter Fees
Smaller fees apply once a case is moving. They add up if you’re managing an active file:
- Document copies prepared by the clerk: $0.50 per page.5California Legislative Information. California Code Government Code 70627 – Fees for Copies and Search of Records
- Certified copies: $40 per document for certification, in addition to the per-page copy charge. You can submit local form RI-MC011 by mail, drop box, or through the court’s eSubmit system.6California Legislative Information. California Code Government Code 70626 – Certification and Other Fees7Superior Court of California, County of Riverside. RI-MC011 – Request for Certified Copies
- Records searches by court staff: $15 flat fee per search. The court’s online Public Portal offers free searches.8Superior Court of California, County of Riverside. Request Records Search
- Court reporter per diem in civil proceedings lasting more than one hour: $440 for a half day, $880 for a full day.2Superior Court of California, County of Riverside. Superior Court of California, County of Riverside Fee Schedule
The court reporter charge is the one that catches most people off guard. Budget for it if your hearing may run long or you’re likely to need a transcript. Bringing your own document for the clerk to compare and certify costs $1 per page, separate from the clerk-prepared copy charge.
How to Get Court Fees Waived
If you can’t afford filing fees, California lets you request a full waiver using Form FW-001. You qualify automatically if you receive Supplemental Security Income, CalFresh, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, or county general assistance.9Judicial Council of California. Request to Waive Court Fees (FW-001)
Without benefits, you can still qualify on income. The monthly household income limits track roughly 125% of the federal poverty guidelines:
- 1 person: $2,660
- 2 people: $3,606.67
- 3 people: $4,553.33
- 4 people: $5,500
- 5 people: $6,446.67
- 6 people: $7,393.33
Add $946.67 per month for each additional household member beyond six.9Judicial Council of California. Request to Waive Court Fees (FW-001) If your income exceeds those limits, you can still qualify by showing that paying fees would leave you unable to cover basic necessities like rent, utilities, food, and medical care. That path requires a detailed breakdown of monthly income, expenses, assets, and debts.
Submit the completed FW-001 to the Riverside clerk’s office in place of your filing fee payment. The court reviews the application and notifies you of the result. One caution: if you later settle your civil case for $10,000 or more, the court can require you to reimburse the waived fees from the settlement.
How to Pay
Traffic citations and criminal fines go through the court’s ePayIt online portal, which handles credit card and checking account payments and supports installment plans and miscellaneous invoices such as jury trial fees and sanctions.10ePayIt. ePayIt – Online Court Payments
For civil, family law, and probate filings, you can pay by check or money order made payable to “Riverside Superior Court” and submit it by mail or through a courthouse drop box. Keep the receipt or digital confirmation. If a payment processing issue arises later, it’s your only proof the fee was paid on time.
What Happens If You Underpay
A first-paper filing submitted with an insufficient check or partial payment becomes void if the balance isn’t paid within 20 days of the court’s notification. Your complaint, petition, or response is then treated as though it was never filed. For a plaintiff, that can blow a statute of limitations deadline. For a defendant, it can mean a default judgment because the response window closed. If money is tight, apply for a fee waiver at the time of filing rather than submitting an underpayment.