This page provides general legal information and calculation tools, not legal advice. DocketMath is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation, and using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change and exceptions apply, so deadlines and amounts specific to your situation should be confirmed with a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.

North Carolina — Fee Waiver & Indigency

North Carolina uses a discretionary test — there's no bright-line statutory threshold. A judge or clerk evaluates the factors below and rules based on the full financial and situational picture. The calculator cannot compute a specific answer here, but these are the factors a court will weigh.

What the court will weigh

Gather documentation for the factors that apply to your situation — judges grant waivers more readily when the affidavit is specific.

1. Income from all sources

   Gross household income including wages, self-employment, unemployment, disability, social security, pensions, and regular gifts. The court looks at ongoing income, not one-time amounts.

2. Assets and liquid resources

   Cash on hand, bank balances, vehicles beyond one primary car, and non-retirement investments. Primary residence and a single primary vehicle are usually excluded.

   E.g. a homeowner with $500 in checking and a ten-year-old car generally still qualifies if income is low.

3. Dependents and household size

   Number of people supported by the household income — typically children under 18, adults with disabilities, and elderly parents you financially support.

4. Medical and care expenses

   Out-of-pocket medical bills, ongoing treatment costs, and care expenses for dependents with special needs. Often the single biggest factor tipping a close case toward eligibility.

5. Housing and necessary monthly expenses

   Rent or mortgage, utilities, transportation to work, groceries, and essential childcare. Courts assess whether income after these commitments leaves enough to pay filing fees without hardship.

6. Public assistance status

   Current receipt of SNAP, SSI, TANF, Medicaid, SSP, or similar means-tested benefits. In 24 jurisdictions, this alone qualifies you automatically — check the "receives public assistance" option above.

7. Debts and legal obligations

   Existing court-ordered payments (child support, alimony, restitution) and ongoing debts that constrain disposable income.

8. Employment and earning stability

   Recently laid off, seasonally employed, or temporarily unable to work? Courts consider near-term financial trajectory, not just current income.

Get the AOC-G-106 (Petition to Sue/Appeal/File a Motion as an Indigent) from North Carolina

Open the full Fee Waiver & Indigency guide

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North Carolina Filing Fee Waiver for Indigent Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-110

In North Carolina, a court may waive filing fees for a person who qualifies as indigent under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-110. That statute authorizes a judge to permit a party to proceed without prepayment of costs upon a satisfactory showing of inability to pay. The law sets out the specific factors a court must consider when evaluating an indigency claim, and it provides exceptions to the general waiver rule. Because the exact criteria and any income thresholds are defined only in the statute itself, the official source at the link below contains the full, precise language. A verified example showing how the calculation works is provided below. To estimate your own potential eligibility, use the DocketMath calculator.

Governing authority

In North Carolina, the fee waiver indigency rule is set by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-110. The verified packet cites N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-110 (https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_1/GS_1-110.html).

North Carolina fee waiver indigency: governed by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-110. The verified packet cites N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-110 (https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_1/GS_1-110.html).

Estimate your own result: every situation has exceptions that can change the outcome. Use the fee waiver indigency calculator to estimate your specific figure.

This page provides general legal information and calculation tools, not legal advice. DocketMath is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation, and using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change and exceptions apply, so deadlines and amounts specific to your situation should be confirmed with a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.