Civil fees
Civil fees charged by the Magistrates' Court of Victoria
Some civil processes at the Magistrates’ Court require fees to be paid. These fees are set by the Victorian Government and are updated on 1 July each year.
Fee payer categories
Civil fees are divided into three categories of fee payers:
- standard
- corporate
- concession (Health Care Card).
The checklist at the bottom of this page will help you determine which fee category applies to you.
Who pays the fee
The party, person or other entity who files the document is required to pay the fee. The fee must be paid at the time of filing the document.
If a fee is payable on a document filed on behalf of multiple parties in a proceeding, a single fee is payable and the higher applicable fee must be paid. For example, if there are two plaintiffs in a proceeding and one is a corporate fee payer and one is a standard fee payer, a single fee is payable and that fee is the corporate fee.
How to pay
Online: legal representatives can pay online via the CMS Portal. For access and help, please visit the CMS Portal page.
Please note: self-represented users do not have access to the CMS Portal.
In person: payments can be made at any Magistrates’ Court location. Visit the find a court page to search for court locations.
By phone: call the court where the case is listed. Visit the find a court page to search for court contact numbers.
By post: send a cheque or money order to the court where the case is listed. If you choose this method, please write your name, case number and contact details on the back of the cheque. Visit the find a court page to search for postal addresses of Magistrates’ Court locations.
What if I can’t pay the fees?
An application can be made to the court to waive fees if it will cause financial hardship to pay them.
Download the Application for civil fee waiver and affidavit of financial circumstances form which includes relevant paperwork to be provided.
Civil fees check list
-
Are you
- an individual
- a business with a turnover < $200,000 in the last financial year
- a sole trader business
- a not-for-profit organisation
- an executor or administrator of a deceased estate?
You pay a standard fee.
Refer to the civil fees ready reckoner below. - an individual
-
Are you an individual with a current Health Care Card?
You pay a concession fee.
Refer to the civil fees ready reckoner below. -
Are you a company or business with turnover > $200,000 in the last financial year?
Schools and government organisations are part of this fee category.
You pay a corporate fee.
Refer to the civil fees ready reckoner below.
