2026 state court fee data · California

Court Mediation in California

Recorded at $0–$500 - among the costlier civil filings 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 Court Mediation in California: $0–$500 on max-fee among states for this filing. On this filing's state cohort, California sits in the upper third of recorded max fees ($0–$500). The published step list is thicker than the 4-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.

Court Mediation 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 court mediation 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 court mediation sits among California filings

Of the 12 civil filings we track in California, court mediation ranks 4 by recorded maximum fee: among the costlier civil filings in California. Neighbours: Probate at $1,000 and Guardianship at $465.

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 4-step median for this filing: a reading of published detail, not difficulty.

Filing Fee Details

Court-connected mediation free to $100/hr. Private: $200-$500/hr.

California's high-band fee among states

California sits in the upper third of this filing's state cohort at $0–$500 (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)

  • Both parties must participate
  • Mediator is neutral
  • Confidential process
  • Agreement voluntary
  • Settlement agreement legally binding if signed

Step-by-Step Process

  1. 1

    Court orders mediation or parties agree

  2. 2

    Select mediator

  3. 3

    Pre-mediation statement submitted

  4. 4

    Opening session

  5. 5

    Separate caucuses

  6. 6

    Negotiation continues

  7. 7

    Agreement signed if reached

  8. 8

    Proceed to trial if no agreement

Grounds / Eligibility

Civil disputes including divorce, custody, business, neighbor conflicts

Quick Reference

Fee stamp
HEAVY schedule band
Wait stamp
OPEN clock band
Filing Fee
$0–$500
Waiting Period
None required
Typical Timeline
1-3 sessions, each 3-8 hours

Official Resources

California Court Website

Nearest fee-schedule peers in California

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

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
Name Change
STANDARD
$435
2-4 months
Tenant Rights
CLERK
$30–$240
1-3 months depending on action
Small Claims
NOMINAL
$30–$75
30-70 days from filing to hearing

Take this with you

What to do with court mediation 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 Court Mediation in California: max fee $0–$500, wait None, vintage 2026-09-01.