{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-15-712","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 15-712","heading":"Waiving court fees and costs.","body":"(a)\nIn any noncriminal suit, action, proceeding, or appeal, any District of Columbia court:\n(1)\nShall grant a full waiver of payment of fees and costs or security for a litigant if the litigant submits an application with a declaration stating that:\n(A)\nThe litigant, or if the litigant is asserting a claim on behalf of the dependent, the litigant's dependent, receives financial assistance from one or more of the following programs established under District law:\n(i)\nClose Relative Caregiver Pilot Program, established pursuant to § 4-251.22;\n(ii)\nD.C. HealthCare Alliance, established pursuant to § 7-1405(a);\n(iii)\nGeneral Assistance for Children, established by § 4-205.05a;\n(iv)\nGrandparent Caregivers Program, established pursuant to § 4-251.02(a);\n(v)\nThe \"Home First\" Program, established pursuant to § 7-1131.04(8);\n(vi)\nInterim Disability Assistance, established by § 4-204.07;\n(vii)\nPermanent Supportive Housing, established pursuant to § 4-753.01(b)(4)(A);\n(viii)\nProgram on Work, Employment, and Responsibility, established by § 4-205.72(a);\n(ix)\nRapid Re-Housing Program, established pursuant to § 4-753.01(b)(4)(B);\n(x)\nRent Supplement Program, established by to § 6-226(a);\n(xi)\nTargeted Affordable Housing, established pursuant to § 6-226(c)(3); or\n(xii)\nTemporary Assistance for Needy Families, established by § 4-202.01;\n(B)\nThe litigant, or if the litigant is asserting a claim on behalf of the dependent, the litigant's dependent, receives financial assistance from one or more of the following programs established under federal law:\n(i)\nChild Care Subsidy Program, established pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 9857 et seq.;\n(ii)\nDomiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans, established pursuant to Chapter 20 of Title 38 of the United States Code;\n(iii)\nFree and Reduced-priced Meals, established pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 1758(b)(1), 1766(c)(4), 1772 (a)(6), and 1773(e)(1)(A);\n(iv)\nHead Start Program, established pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 9831 et seq.;\n(v)\nHealth Care for Homeless Veterans, established pursuant to Chapter 20 of Title 38 of the United States Code;\n(vi)\nHomeless Veteran Community Employment Services Program, established pursuant to Chapter 20 of Title 38 of the United States Code;\n(vii)\nHousing Choice Voucher Program, established pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1437f;\n(viii)\nLow Income Home Energy Assistance Program, established pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 8621 et seq.;\n(ix)\nMedicaid, established pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1396 et seq.;\n(x)\nProject-Based Section 8 Rental Assistance, established pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1437f;\n(xi)\nPublic Housing, established pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1437 et seq.;\n(xii)\nQualified Medicare Beneficiary Program, established pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1396d;\n(xiii)\nSection 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program, established pursuant to 12 U.S.C. § 1701q;\n(xiv)\nSection 811 Housing for Persons with Disabilities Program, established pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 8013;\n(xv)\nSpecial Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, established pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1786;\n(xvi)\nSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, established pursuant to 7 U.S.C. § 2013;\n(xvii)\nSupplemental Security Income, established pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1381 et seq.;\n(xviii)\nSupportive Services for Veteran Families, established pursuant to Chapter 20 of Title 38 of the United States Code;\n(xix)\nSocial Security Disability Insurance, established by 42 U.S.C. § 423;\n(xx)\nU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Affairs – Veterans' Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program, established pursuant to Chapter 20 of Title 38 of the United States Code;\n(xxi)\nVeterans Affairs Supportive Housing, established by 42 U.S.C. § 1437f(o)(19); or\n(xxii)\nVeterans' Pensions or Pensions to Surviving Spouses and Children under Chapter 15 of Title 38 of the United States Code;\n(C)\nThe litigant's monthly income does not exceed 200% of the federal poverty guidelines issued by the United States Department of Health and Human Services; or\n(D)\nThe litigant is represented free of charge by a legal services or other nonprofit organization whose primary purpose is to provide legal services to low-income clients, or a legal clinic operated by a law school located in the District that provides legal services to low-income clients; and\n(2)\nMay grant a full or partial waiver of payment of fees and costs or security for a litigant not otherwise eligible for a waiver pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection if that litigant submits a declaration or other proof satisfactory to the court that the litigant is unable to proceed without substantial hardship to themselves or their dependent.\n\n(b)\nThe court may:\n(1)\nRequire additional evidence in support of an application for a waiver of payment of fees and costs or security if:\n(A)\nAn application is submitted pursuant to subsection (a)(2) of this section;\n(B)\nThere is good cause to believe that the information submitted by the litigant is inaccurate or misleading; or\n(C)\nThe litigant has undergone a change in circumstances; and\n(2)\nDelegate to the clerk of the court the authority to grant waivers of payment of fees and costs or security under this section; except, that the decision to deny an application, or to grant a partial waiver, shall be made by a judge.\n\n(c)\n(1)\n(A)\nIf a completed application is presented to the court, within 5 calendar days after receiving the application, the court shall decide whether to grant a waiver of payment of fees and costs or security; except, that, when a completed application is presented to a judge in open court, the judge shall rule on the application immediately.\n(B)\nIf, within 5 calendar days after receiving a complete application, the court has not ruled on the application, the litigant shall be granted a full waiver of payment of fees and costs or security.\n(C)\nThe deadlines described in this paragraph shall not apply where the court requires additional information under subsection (b)(1) of this section.\n(2)\nIf the court denies an application or grants only a partial waiver, the court shall state the reasons for the denial or partial grant in writing or in open court only to the litigant.\n(3)\n(A)\n(i)\nAny litigant who is denied a waiver or granted only a partial waiver may request a hearing on the matter, at which time the litigant shall be allowed to present additional evidence.\n(ii)\nThe court shall hold a hearing requested pursuant to this subparagraph no later than 14 calendar days after receiving the request.\n(B)\nIn any hearing requested pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the court shall provide a mechanism to permit a litigant to submit or testify to financial information confidentially.\n(4)\nAn incomplete application made pursuant to this section shall be returned to the litigant with notice from the court as to which information is missing from the application and without prejudice to the litigant to resubmit a complete application.\n(5)\nIn considering an application for waiver of payment of fees and costs or security pursuant to this section, the court shall not consider the merit of the underlying suit, action, proceeding, or appeal.\n\n(d)\n(1)\nThe court shall keep an application and any financial information provided by a litigant confidential except to the court, the litigant, persons authorized by the litigant, or by court order.\n(2)\n(A)\nAny person seeking access to an application or financial information provided to the court by a litigant may file a motion, with notice given to the litigant who filed the application, supported by a declaration showing good cause for why the confidential information should be released to the movant.\n(B)\nAny person who is granted access to an application or financial information under this paragraph shall not reveal any information contained in an application or financial information except as otherwise authorized by law or court order.\n(3)\nThe court's decision on an application for a waiver shall not be confidential.\n\n(e)\nThe court shall not impose a fee for:\n(1)\nSubmitting an application for a waiver of payment of fees and costs or security under this section;\n(2)\nFiling any papers related to filing an application for a waiver of payment of fees and costs or security, unless the court has already considered and denied a previous application for a waiver by the litigant in the same suit, action, proceeding, or appeal; or\n(3)\nFiling any motions, papers, or documents submitted simultaneously with an application for a waiver of payment of fees and costs or security unless and until the court considers and denies the application for a waiver of payment of fees and costs or security.\n\n(f)\n(1)\nFor all persons granted full waivers of payment of fees and costs or security, and where ordered by the court when granting partial waivers of payment of fees and costs or security, the clerk shall attempt service of the complaint in a manner prescribed by the court's rules and record the date and method of service on the docket.\n(2)\nFor the purposes of this subsection, the term \"complaint\" means the summons, a copy of the complaint, the initial order setting the case for an initial scheduling and settlement conference, any addendum to that order, and any other order directed by the court to the parties at the time of filing. The term \"complaint\" does not include a petition filed in the Family, Tax, or Probate Division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.\n\n(g)\nOn motion, the court may, in its discretion, appoint a person to serve witness subpoenas. Witnesses shall be subpoenaed without prepayment of witness fees, and the same remedies shall be available as are provided for by law in other cases.\n\n(h)\n(1)\nA litigant who has received a full waiver of fees and costs or security, or where permitted by the court in a partial waiver of payment of fees and costs or security, may file a motion requesting free transcripts or other documents explaining the basis for the motion.\n(2)\nThe court shall grant a motion filed pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection unless the court determines that the reason for the request is frivolous. In making this determination, the court shall resolve any doubt about the frivolousness of the request in favor of the litigant.\n(3)\nIn granting a motion filed pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection, the court may limit the transcripts or other documents provided to the litigant to those transcripts or other documents that are necessary for resolution of the suit, action, proceeding, or appeal.\n\n(i)\nThe Probate Division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia shall not require the payment of court costs on behalf of a decedent's estate:\n(1)\nAt any time during which a litigant for whom the Court granted a waiver of fees and costs or security is serving as the personal representative of the decedent's estate; or\n(2)\nAfter the closure of an estate.","path":["Title 15. Judgments and Executions; Fees and Costs. [Enacted title]","Chapter 7. Fees and Costs."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/15-712","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"4d35fc818381bea50307313a0c720b3a1dc2385db9c97b8242bc934b073397a6","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-15-711","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-15-713"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}