Filing fees for courts.
Ohio courts collect a civil filing-fee surcharge that flows into the Legal Aid Fund — a core, statutory source of civil legal-aid funding. The rules on amount, remittance, and waiver are precise.
The surcharge
Courts collect an additional filing fee on civil actions, ranging from $11 to $26 depending on the court and case type. These funds are dedicated to the Legal Aid Fund, which supports civil legal aid for low-income Ohioans.
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Amount | $11 to $26 per civil filing, depending on court and case type. |
| Remit to | The Ohio Treasurer of State. |
| Deadline | By the 20th of each month for the prior month's collections. |
| Administrative retention | Courts may retain no more than 1% of collections for administration. |
| Waiver | The court shall not waive the surcharge unless all filing fees in the case are waived (e.g., for indigency). |
| Payment method | Use the Ohio Treasurer's electronic-payment system. |
Remittance
Clerks of court remit the collected surcharge to the Ohio Treasurer of State by the 20th of each month using the Treasurer's e-payment system. The Treasurer then directs the funds to the Legal Aid Fund administered in support of the Foundation's grantees.
The waiver rule
A court shall not waive the legal-aid surcharge on its own — it may only be waived when all filing fees in the matter are waived, such as when a party is found indigent. This preserves the funding base while still protecting Ohioans who genuinely cannot pay.
For the authoritative statutory text and current amounts, see the Foundation's live Filing Fees page ↗.
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