Can you get your Georgia court filing fee waived?
Georgia decides fee waivers using 125% of the federal poverty guidelines. That gives you a number to compare against, but it is usually a presumption or one route of several, not a hard ceiling.
Compare your income
For a household of 1, 125% of the federal poverty guidelines is $19,950 a year ($1,663 a month). The guideline itself is $15,960.
Ways to qualify in Georgia
- Income. At or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines for your household size.
- Inability to pay. You explain your income, expenses and debts on a sworn form, and the court decides whether paying the fee would leave you unable to cover basic needs. This route has no income cutoff.
The statute itself only requires a sworn affidavit of inability to pay, which the other side can contest by traverse. The 125% figure comes from the AOC-approved order form judges use, not from the statutory text.
What to file
Georgia uses the Affidavit of Eligibility to Proceed In Forma Pauperis. File it at the same time as your petition or response, not after.
This page explains how Georgia decides fee waivers. It is not legal advice, and it cannot tell you how a judge will rule on your case. Virdix is a document preparation service, not a law firm.
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