Civil Process Rankings

Data updated July 2026

States and processes ranked by filing costs, waiting periods, and accessibility. Data from state court filing schedules and legal aid resources.

Most Expensive States

States with the highest average civil filing fees.

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  1. 1 California 539
  2. 2 Florida 418
  3. 3 New York 357
  4. 4 Illinois 321
  5. 5 Texas 276

Cheapest States

States with the lowest average civil filing fees.

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  1. 1 Michigan 86
  2. 2 Ohio 87
  3. 3 North Carolina 99
  4. 4 Georgia 105
  5. 5 Pennsylvania 110

Most Expensive Processes

Civil process types with the highest national average fees.

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  1. 1 Guardianship 350
  2. 2 Civil Lawsuit 350
  3. 3 Divorce 300
  4. 4 Property Dispute 300
  5. 5 Name Change 225

Cheapest Processes

Civil process types with the lowest national average fees.

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  1. 1 Restraining Order 0
  2. 2 Domestic Violence Protection 0
  3. 3 Small Claims 75
  4. 4 Tenant Rights 100
  5. 5 Eviction 150

Longest Waiting Periods

Civil processes with the longest mandatory waiting periods.

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  1. 1 Divorce (North Carolina) 365 days
  2. 2 Divorce (California) 180 days
  3. 3 Divorce (Pennsylvania) 90 days
  4. 4 Name Change (California) 60 days
  5. 5 Guardianship (Florida) 60 days

Highest Filing Fees

Individual civil processes with the highest maximum filing fees.

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  1. 1 Civil Lawsuit (California) 1,435
  2. 2 Property Dispute (California) 1,435
  3. 3 Probate (New York) 1,250
  4. 4 Probate (California) 1,000
  5. 5 Civil Lawsuit (Florida) 900