Fee Waiver & Indigency Screener Guide for Colorado

Colorado fee-waiver and indigency rules

This source-backed guide covers US-CO fee waiver indigency authority (C.R.S. § 13-16-103; Colo. R. Civ. P. 121, § 1-25). It does not certify criminal appointed-counsel standards, criminal-cost relief, general service rules, or non-civil fee waivers unless a quoted source below says so.

Costs of poor person — filing without payment

C.R.S. § 13-16-103 authorizes any Colorado court to permit an indigent person unable to pay costs to commence and prosecute or defend any civil action or special proceeding without payment of costs.

13-16-103. 13-16-103. Costs of poor person. (1) If the judge or justice of any court, including the supreme court, is at any time satisfied that any person is unable to prosecute or defend any civil action or special proceeding because he is a poor person and unable to pay the costs and expenses thereof, the judge or justice, in his discretion, may permit such person to commence and prosecute or defend an action or proceeding without the payment of costs

Procedure — JDF 205 Motion to File Without Payment

Colo. R. Civ. P. 121, § 1-25 sets the procedure; applicants file JDF 205 (Motion to File Without Payment and Supporting Financial Affidavit). Automatic qualification for SNAP, TANF, SSI, LEAP, Medicaid, or Aid to Needy Disabled recipients. Income at or below 125% FPL otherwise supports a finding of indigency.

13-16-103. 13-16-103. Costs of poor person. (1) If the judge or justice of any court, including the supreme court, is at any time satisfied that any person is unable to prosecute or defend any civil action or special proceeding because he is a poor person and unable to pay the costs and expenses thereof, the judge or justice, in his discretion, may permit such person to commence and prosecute or defend an action or proceeding without the payment of costs

Use the calculator

DocketMath's fee-waiver tool can organize filing-fee and indigency facts once you identify the controlling jurisdiction, case type, and court rule. Use the source panel for the verified source-backed rule.

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Sources

• 13-16-103 — C.R.S. § 13-16-103 — Costs of poor person

All sources are official primary law published by leg.colorado.gov.

Corroboration method: live_primary_pdf_fetch_pdftotext_extract.