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Circuit court eFiling - eFiling a Petition for Waiver of Fees

  • Updated

    • Purpose: Individuals may request the court to waive fees and costs by submitting a Petition for Waiver of Fees and Costs - Affidavit of Indigency along with case filing documents when eFiling a new case. Petitions can also be submitted as additional documents on existing cases. This article explains how to file a Petition for Waiver of Fees on the eFiling site.

    Applicable Users: eCourts users

    1. Visit the eFiling website at https://efiling.wicourts.gov/ and log in. For more information, see the article Logging into Wisconsin circuit court eFiling.
    2. When filing a fee waiver with a new case filing, select file new case from the main menu or the [File a new case] button from the bottom menu.
      Wisconsin Circuit court eFiling homepage with attention called to file new case link and button
      Follow the prompts to enter the necessary information for county, class code, and parties, then select [Continue]. 
    3. When filing a fee waiver on an existing case, select my cases from the main navigation or the [My cases] button from the bottom menu. Then, select the File another document link for your case. 
      eFiling homepage with attention drawn to My Cases link and button
      Note: If the case is closed, you may need to use the Can’t find a case? Click here to search link to locate the case.
    4. On the Documents page, review the bulleted specifications list to ensure your documents are properly formatted. Select [Upload documents] to browse for and upload a filing document along with other associated documents, including the Petition for Waiver of Fees. 
      Documents screen with attention drawn to the document requirements list and Upload documents button
      Note: The CV-410A - Petition for Waiver of Fees form can be found on the Wisconsin courts website.
    5. From the Document type dropdown menu, select the correct document type. Choose “Petition and Waiver of Fees/Costs, Affidavit of Indigency and Order” for your fee waiver document. Enter a descriptive title in the Document title text entry field for each upload. Select [Continue].
      Documents screen with uploaded documents and attention drawn to the Document type dropdown menu, Document title field and Continue button
      Note: An accurate and descriptive title is beneficial for identifying documents. The title entered here displays in the View documents list on the My cases screen and is visible to the courts.
    6. On the Review page, review the filing for accuracy. Select a document link to open and view any of your uploaded files. Select [Continue] when you are ready to proceed.
      eFiling Review screen with attention drawn to hyperlinked list of Documents to file and Continue button at bottom of screen
      Note: The Notes to Clerk text entry field functions like a virtual sticky note on your filing. Anything entered in this box displays to the clerk while they process your filing, but is deleted once your filing is accepted. These notes are not permanently saved to the case.
    7. No fee is charged when a Petition for Waiver of Fees is included with a filing. A judge reviews the petition and does one of the following:
      •  
        • grants the waiver
        • grants it only for the waiving of service or filing fees
        • denies it while giving the filer additional time to pay, or
        • denies it outright.
    8. On the Ready to file page, select the checkbox next to the filings(s) you wish to submit, or select the checkbox next to a county name to submit all filings in that county. Then, select [File].
      Ready to file screen with attention drawn to the checkboxes next to the County and the specific case filing as well as the File button at the bottom of the screen
      Note: No filing fees are due at this time. When the filing is received by the circuit court, the judge will make a ruling on your Petition and Waiver of Fees/Costs.
    9. The Filings submitted page confirms that your filings have been successfully eFiled.
      Filings submitted success message
      Note: A granted fee waiver is in effect until the final judgment occurs, and expires once a case is moved to Closed status. Once a case is in Closed status, each additional fee that the filer wishes to have waived requires an additional Petition for Waiver of Fees form be included with the filing. For example, if a filer wishes to have the fee waived for a Notice of Appeal on a closed case, a new Petition for Waiver of Fees must be filed with the Notice of Appeal.

    Support

    Contact the eFile support center if you have further questions. Staff are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except for court holidays.

    Phone: 1-800-462-8843
    Online support form: https://www.wicourts.gov/ecourts/efilesupportform.htm
    Email: efilesupport@wicourts.gov

    Wisconsin Court Systems (Updated: )