2026 state court fee data · California

Civil Lawsuit in California

Recorded at $435–$1,435 - the costliest civil filing we track in California, and one of 10 states where we price this filing.

Filing steps ↓ About this data

Fee rank is not wait rank

Signature reading for Civil Lawsuit in California: $435–$1,435 on max-fee among states for this filing. On this filing's state cohort, California sits in the upper third of recorded max fees ($435–$1,435). The published step list is thicker than the 5-step median for this filing (8 steps). Civil Lawsuit is largest of 2 at $1,435 among 12 civil filings in California; that is not the longest wait: Divorce records 180 days on a $435 ceiling.

Civil Lawsuit figures for California are compiled schedule reference, not legal advice - verify with the clerk where you intend to file.

In-state wait inventory

Waiting periods among California civil filings

Exclusive split of all 12 tracked filings in California - orthogonal to in-state fee placement below.

Compare a state record

Compare civil lawsuit with another state

Start with California, then inspect another published court-schedule record without leaving this page.

Focus the comparison by published maximum fee

This only narrows the same court-schedule records; it does not estimate a total filing cost.

In-state placement

Where civil lawsuit sits among California filings

Of the 12 civil filings we track in California, civil lawsuit ranks 1 by recorded maximum fee: the costliest civil filing we track in California.

Same-state corpus only, not a national ranking. How we place filings

0 of 10 states publishing a waiting-period field for this filing impose one; California publishes a field and records none.

The California row lists 8 procedural steps against a 5-step median for this filing: a reading of published detail, not difficulty.

Filing Fee Details

Limited civil (under $35,000) ~$435. Unlimited civil varies.

California's high-band fee among states

California sits in the upper third of this filing's state cohort at $435–$1,435 (rank #1 of 10 by max fee).

Source: state court filing-fee schedules (upper-bound fee per state). Verify current amounts with the relevant court. How we calculate this ranking →

Key requirements (8-step published list)

  • Complaint stating facts and legal theory
  • Service within statute of limitations
  • Discovery
  • Pretrial conference
  • Trial or settlement

Step-by-Step Process

  1. 1

    File Complaint

  2. 2

    Serve defendant

  3. 3

    Defendant files Answer

  4. 4

    Discovery phase

  5. 5

    Dispositive motions

  6. 6

    Pretrial conference

  7. 7

    Trial

  8. 8

    Judgment and collection

Grounds / Eligibility

Contract breach, personal injury, property damage, fraud, negligence

Quick Reference

Fee stamp
CEILING schedule band
Wait stamp
OPEN clock band
Filing Fee
$435–$1,435
Residency
File where cause of action occurred or where defendant resides
Waiting Period
None required
Typical Timeline
12-36 months

Official Resources

California Court Website

Nearest fee-schedule peers in California

Ordered by ABS(filing_fee_max) to this row's CEILING stamp - not an A-Z process catalog.

Property Dispute
CEILING
$435–$1,435
6-24 months
Probate
CEILING
$465–$1,000
9-18 months typical
Court Mediation
HEAVY
$0–$500
1-3 sessions, each 3-8 hours
Guardianship
HEAVY
$465
3-6 months
Eviction
STANDARD
$240–$450
Uncontested: 3-5 weeks. Contested: 2-3 months.
Divorce
STANDARD
$435
6 months minimum, 12-18+ months if contested

Take this with you

What to do with civil lawsuit in California's numbers, next.

Filing fees and requirements change; verify current figures with your local court before filing.

According to published California court materials compiled in the PlainCivil state-process database. See our methodology for source categories and vintage. Schedule row for Civil Lawsuit in California: max fee $435–$1,435, wait None, vintage 2026-09-01.