Civil Process Rankings

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