Trial court fee waiver: initial application deemed granted 5 court days after filing unless the court gives notice of action
5 court days after date the initial fee waiver application (form fw-001) was filed in the trial court, under Cal. Gov. Code 68634(f).
Rule text
(f) An application for an initial fee waiver is deemed granted five court days after it is filed, unless before that time, the court gives notice of action on the application as provided in subdivision (e). Any delay by the court in processing an application to initially waive court fees and costs does not count against any time limits affecting the pleadings or other papers that the applicant timely filed.
Calculate this deadline
- Trigger (Date the initial fee waiver application (form FW-001) was filed in the trial court): Friday, November 6, 2026.
- Count 5 court days (Saturdays, Sundays, and court holidays are not counted): Monday, November 16, 2026.
Cal. Gov. Code 68634(f)
(f) An application for an initial fee waiver is deemed granted five court days after it is filed, unless before that time, the court gives notice of action on the application as provided in subdivision (e). Any delay by the court in processing an application to initially waive court fees and costs does not count against any time limits affecting the pleadings or other papers that the applicant timely filed.Official source
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b, 10; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 1.10
CCP 12: "The time in which any act provided by law is to be done is computed by excluding the first day, and including the last, unless the last day is a holiday, and then it is also excluded." CCP 12a(a): "If the last day for the performance of any act provided or required by law to be performed within a specified period of time is a holiday, then that period is hereby extended to and including the next day that is not a holiday. For purposes of this section, “holiday” means all day on Saturdays, all holidays specified in Section 135 and, to the extent provided in Section 12b, all days that by terms of Section 12b are required to be considered as holidays." CCP 12b: "If any city, county, state, or public office, other than a branch office, is closed for the whole of any day, insofar as the business of that office is concerned, that day shall be considered as a holiday for the purposes of computing time under Sections 12 and 12a." CCP 10: "Holidays within the meaning of this code are every Sunday and any other days that are specified or provided for as judicial holidays in Section 135."Official source
- Status date, not a party deadline. roll 'none': the statute fixes the deemed-granted date in court days. Appellate fee waivers are governed by CRC 8.26 (see fee_waiver_denied_pay in CA-APP). Section added by Stats. 2008, ch. 462, operative July 1, 2009.
- If the clerk's office is closed or inaccessible on the last day (weather, emergency or local closure orders), the deadline may be extended. Check local orders.
This calculator applies the cited rules to the dates you enter. It is not legal advice. Court orders, local rules, and case-specific facts can change a deadline; verify before relying on it. Rule set pending attorney review.
Worked example
Date the initial fee waiver application (form FW-001) was filed in the trial court on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Monday, March 22, 2027.
- Trigger (Date the initial fee waiver application (form FW-001) was filed in the trial court): Monday, March 15, 2027.
- Count 5 court days (Saturdays, Sundays, and court holidays are not counted): Monday, March 22, 2027.
Notes
Status date, not a party deadline. roll 'none': the statute fixes the deemed-granted date in court days. Appellate fee waivers are governed by CRC 8.26 (see fee_waiver_denied_pay in CA-APP). Section added by Stats. 2008, ch. 462, operative July 1, 2009.
Related deadlines
- Trial court fee waiver denied (in whole or part): pay fees, submit new application, or request hearing within 10 days after clerk's notice of denial (10 days after)
- Filing fee check returned unpaid: pay filing fee and administrative charge within 20 days of clerk's mailing of notice, or filing is voided (20 days after)
Local rules by county
County local rules and courtroom procedures can add to or change this deadline. Pick a county to calculate with them applied.
- Alameda
- Alpine
- Amador
- Butte
- Calaveras
- Colusa
- Contra Costa
- Del Norte
- El Dorado
- Fresno
- Glenn
- Humboldt
- Imperial
- Inyo
- Kern
- Kings
- Lake
- Lassen
- Los Angeles
- Madera
- Marin
- Mariposa
- Mendocino
- Merced
- Modoc
- Mono
- Monterey
- Napa
- Nevada
- Orange
- Placer
- Plumas
- Riverside
- Sacramento
- San Benito
- San Bernardino
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Joaquin
- San Luis Obispo
- San Mateo
- Santa Barbara
- Santa Clara
- Santa Cruz
- Shasta
- Sierra
- Siskiyou
- Solano
- Sonoma
- Stanislaus
- Sutter
- Tehama
- Trinity
- Tulare
- Tuolumne
- Ventura
- Yolo
- Yuba
Rules current as of 2026-10-25. Confirm against the official source and any local rule or court order before relying on a date. Rules changelog.