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.

Pennsylvania — Fee Waiver & Indigency

Pennsylvania 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 Petition to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (Rule 240(h)) from Pennsylvania

Open the full Fee Waiver & Indigency guide

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Pennsylvania Fee Waiver for Indigency Under 231 Pa. Code Rule 240

Pennsylvania’s fee waiver for indigency is governed by 231 Pa. Code Rule 240, which permits a court to waive filing fees and costs for a litigant who demonstrates an inability to pay. Under Rule 240, the litigant must submit a verified statement or petition establishing indigency, and the court then determines eligibility based on the rule’s prescribed standard. The rule sets out the specific financial factors and verification requirements the court considers, along with exceptions for certain types of cases. The worked example below illustrates how the calculation applies under this rule. To estimate a specific result, use the calculator linked to the official source at the Pennsylvania Code.

Governing authority

In Pennsylvania, the fee waiver indigency rule is set by 231 Pa. Code Rule 240. The verified packet cites 231 Pa. Code Rule 240 (https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?file=/secure/pacode/data/231/chapter200/s240.html&d=reduce).

Pennsylvania fee waiver indigency: governed by 231 Pa. Code Rule 240. The verified packet cites 231 Pa. Code Rule 240 (https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?file=/secure/pacode/data/231/chapter200/s240.html&d=reduce).

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.