Can you get your Pennsylvania court filing fee waived?
Pennsylvania decides fee waivers using 200% 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, 200% of the federal poverty guidelines is $31,920 a year ($2,660 a month). The guideline itself is $15,960.
Ways to qualify in Pennsylvania
- Public benefits. Receiving SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, TANF, Public housing assistance, VA pension, LIHEAP, or WIC counts toward qualifying, often without any income showing at all.
- Income. At or below 200% 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The older 125% presumption under Pa.R.C.P. 240(f) was SUPERSEDED. The current statewide presumption is gross income at or below 200% of the guidelines plus an asset cap, or receipt of a listed needs-based benefit. The paperwork itself is filed county by county.
What to file
Pennsylvania uses the Petition to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (Form 205.3). File it at the same time as your petition or response, not after.
This page explains how Pennsylvania 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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