States covered
10 states
civil lawsuit
2026 data 10 states ~$231 avg
Civil Lawsuit - State Comparison
Legal action between private parties seeking monetary damages or specific performance.
Data updated September 2026
Average minimum fee
$231
Across all surveyed states
Free filings
0 states
All states charge a fee
Longest waiting period
0 days
No mandatory cooling-off
How Civil Lawsuit Filing Costs Vary Nationally
PlainCivil tracks civil lawsuit filing requirements across 10 states out of 10 covered in the national dataset. Across those states, the average minimum filing fee is $231 and the average maximum is $579 - a spread that reflects both county-level surcharges and how each state funds its court system. The lowest entry cost is in Michigan, starting at $150. The highest ceiling is in California, where complex cases can reach $1,435.
Waiting periods and procedural timelines differ just as sharply. No state on this list imposes a notably long mandatory waiting period for civil lawsuit. 10 states have no mandatory waiting period, meaning the court can finalize the matter as soon as the case is ready. Actual time from filing to resolution usually exceeds the statutory minimum because of court calendars, response deadlines, service of process, and any contested issues. Venue rules, residency minimums, and grounds requirements add further state-specific complexity you should check before filing.
This page is a procedural reference, not legal advice. Civil Lawsuit outcomes depend heavily on case facts, local court rules, opposing parties, and the judge assigned. If your situation involves minor children, contested property, domestic violence, housing loss, criminal collateral consequences, or immigration status, contact a licensed attorney or your state legal-aid organization before filing. Every state listed here also offers fee-waiver programs for filers whose household income falls below roughly 125–200% of the federal poverty level.
State-by-State Comparison
10 states| State | Filing Fee | Details |
|---|---|---|
| California | $435–$1,435 | California fee schedule → |
| Florida | $300–$900 | Florida fee schedule → |
| Georgia | $200–$400 | Georgia fee schedule → |
| Illinois | $210–$500 | Illinois fee schedule → |
| Michigan | $150–$400 | Michigan fee schedule → |
| New York | $210–$500 | New York fee schedule → |
| North Carolina | $150–$300 | North Carolina fee schedule → |
| Ohio | $150–$400 | Ohio fee schedule → |
| Pennsylvania | $200–$450 | Pennsylvania fee schedule → |
| Texas | $300–$500 | Texas fee schedule → |
Details by State
California
$435–$1,435Limited civil (under $35,000) ~$435. Unlimited civil varies.
Timeline: 12-36 months
Full California details →Florida
$300–$900Circuit Court (over $30,000) or County Court (under $30,000).
Timeline: 12-24 months
Full Florida details →Georgia
$200–$400Superior Court or State Court depending on amount.
Timeline: 12-24 months
Full Georgia details →Michigan
$150–$400Circuit Court for most civil claims.
Timeline: 12-24 months
Full Michigan details →New York
$210–$500Supreme Court. Index number $210 + RJI $95.
Timeline: 18-48 months
Full New York details →North Carolina
$150–$300Superior Court (over $25,000) or District Court.
Timeline: 12-24 months
Full North Carolina details →Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Source: Published state court fee schedules (compiled) PlainCivil state-process filing-fee database · 2026
Take this with you
Where civil lawsuit fits into the rest of your filing decision.
- Michigan starts as low as $150, while California's ceiling can reach $1,435 for the same process Compare all state fees
- Check whether your state and household income qualify for a fee-waiver program before paying any filing fee Read methodology and coverage notes
This page is a procedural fee reference only, not legal advice. Civil Lawsuit outcomes and eligibility depend on your state's specific rules and your case facts.
Fee and timeline figures on PlainCivil are rendered from the portal's state-process database compiled from published court schedules, no fee is invented for a ranking. Process-type hub aggregates filing-fee and wait fields for Civil Lawsuit across surveyed states from the portal database. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-09-01. PlainCivil does not rate, rank-recommend, or advise on legal strategy, it reports what published schedules and court materials contain.
| Publisher | PlainCivil |
| Sources | Public state court datasets and federal civil-justice records |