Court and tribunal fees
You might have to pay a fee if you go to a court or tribunal in England or Wales.
If you’re on a low income, or if you’re on certain benefits and do not have much in savings, you might be able to get money off your court or tribunal fee.
Court and tribunal fees are different from legal costs, for example paying for a solicitor.
This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).
There’s a different system of court fees in Scotland and court fees in Northern Ireland.
How much you pay
The fees you need to pay at a court or tribunal depend on your claim or case. You may have to pay multiple fees, for example a hearing fee and an application fee.
| Case | Fee |
|---|---|
| Divorce or end a civil partnership | £593 |
| Claim money you’re owed | £35 to £10,000 - depending on the amount you’re claiming |
| Appeal a benefits decision | Free |
| Apply for bankruptcy | £680 |
| Apply for probate | Free or £273 - depending on the value of the estate |
Read the list of fees for:
How to pay your court or tribunal fee
You can usually pay a court or tribunal:
- by phone with a debit or credit card
- in person by cheque, cash, debit or credit card
Ask the court or tribunal if you can pay them by phone or in person. You may need to book an appointment to pay in person.
You can also pay by post with a cheque. Make out the cheque to ‘HM Courts and Tribunals Service’ and send it to the address of the court or tribunal.
When you can pay online
You cannot pay most fees online. You can only pay online when you use: