Court Filing Fees in Australia
Updated 22 September 2026 · General information, not legal advice
Court filing fees in Australia range from $179 to file a Small Claims Division claim in the NSW Local Court to $5,255 for a corporation starting a Federal Court proceeding, as at September 2026. An application for divorce costs $1,170, or $390 at the reduced rate. Fees depend on the court, the type of application, the amount claimed and whether the party filing is an individual or a corporation.
To find your fee, first identify the court for your claim, then the claim band, then your rate: standard, corporation or concession. The fee is generally paid at the time of filing. The tables below come from each court's official fee schedule, effective 1 July 2026. If a lawyer is running the matter, filing fees appear on your bill as disbursements. You can compare firms on our list of best law firms in Australia.
| Common filing | Court | Fee (as at September 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Application for divorce | Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia | $1,170 ($390 reduced) |
| Application for consent orders | Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia | $215 |
| Small claim (individual) | NSW Local Court, Small Claims Division | $179 |
| Civil claim (individual) | NSW Local Court, General Division | $370 |
| Statement of claim (individual) | NSW District Court | $1,119 |
| Statement of claim (individual) | Supreme Court of NSW | $1,443 |
| Originating application (individual) | Federal Court of Australia | $1,805 |
How much are family court fees?
Family court fees as at September 2026 run from $215 for consent orders to $1,170 for a divorce. The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia charges a single rate for everyone, with a reduced fee for some applications if you meet its eligibility criteria.
| Family law application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Application for divorce | $1,170 (reduced fee $390) |
| Application for consent orders | $215 |
| Initiating Application: parenting or financial orders, final only | $455 |
| Initiating Application: parenting or financial orders, final and interim | $610 |
| Initiating Application: parenting and financial orders, final only | $740 |
| Initiating Application: parenting and financial orders, final and interim | $895 |
| Response to Initiating Application (final orders) | $455 |
| Interim orders application or application in a proceeding | $155 |
| Conciliation conference | $510 |
| Issuing a subpoena | $70 |
| Setting down for hearing, and each daily hearing fee | $820 (Division 2) or $1,115 (Division 1) |
| Notice of appeal | $1,775 |
Consent orders cost far less than a contested application. Both parties must agree on the terms before filing. The respondent to a contested application pays $455 to file a response seeking final orders.
How much does it cost to file in the Local or Magistrates Court?
A Local or Magistrates Court claim costs between $179 and $981 for an individual, depending on the state and the amount claimed. These courts hear most debt recovery and small civil claims.
NSW Local Court
| NSW Local Court filing | Standard fee | Corporation fee |
|---|---|---|
| Originating process, Small Claims Division | $179 | $358 |
| Originating process, General Division | $370 | $740 |
Magistrates' Court of Victoria
Victoria sets its fees in fee units and adds a concession rate.
| Amount claimed | Concession | Standard | Corporate |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 or less | $88.10 | $176.20 | $352.30 |
| Over $1,000 to $10,000 | $184.80 | $367.90 | $735.70 |
| Over $10,000 to under $40,000 | $279.80 | $559.50 | $1,119.10 |
| $40,000 and over | $279.80 | $839.30 | $1,678.60 |
Queensland Magistrates Court
| Amount claimed | Fee |
|---|---|
| $2,500 or less | $211.10 |
| More than $2,500 but less than $10,000 | $292.10 |
| $10,000 or more but less than $50,000 | $313.60 |
| $50,000 or more but less than $100,000 | $402.00 (individual plaintiff) or $631.40 (otherwise) |
| $100,000 or more | $476.10 (individual plaintiff) or $787.90 (otherwise) |
Western Australia and South Australia
| Magistrates Court claim | Individual | Entity or corporation |
|---|---|---|
| WA minor claim, up to $10,000 | $199.50 | $384.00 |
| WA general claim, over $10,000 to $50,000 | $502.00 | $976.00 |
| WA claim over $50,000 | $797.00 | $1,549.00 |
| SA minor civil action | $186.00 | $186.00 |
| SA general claim, over $12,000 to $25,000 | $406.00 | $689.00 |
| SA general claim, over $25,000 to $50,000 | $522.00 | $981.00 |
| SA general claim, over $50,000 | $981.00 | $1,437.00 |
The WA figures include a $3.00 Suitors' Fund fee. The SA corporation rate applies to a prescribed corporation.
How much does it cost to file in the District or County Court?
A District or County Court claim costs about $850 to $1,120 for an individual, as at September 2026. These courts hear larger civil claims below the Supreme Court's range.
| Court | Filing | Standard or individual | Corporation |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW District Court | Originating process | $1,119 | $2,240 |
| County Court of Victoria | Writ or originating motion | $846.20 (concession $298.80) | $1,692.50 |
| Queensland District Court | Claim | $1,058.00 | $2,083.00 |
The NSW District Court charges a further $1,297 for an individual ($2,594 for a corporation) to allocate a hearing date. The County Court of Victoria charges $778.90 standard ($1,557.80 corporate) to set a case down for trial.
How much are Supreme Court filing fees?
Supreme Court filing fees for an individual range from about $865 in Victoria to $1,443 in NSW, as at September 2026. Corporations pay more.
| Supreme Court | Filing | Standard or individual | Corporation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supreme Court of NSW | Statement of claim, summons or originating process | $1,443 | $3,949 |
| Supreme Court of Victoria | Commencing a proceeding (Common Law) | $865.20 (concession $357.50) | $1,730.50 |
| Supreme Court of Queensland | Claim (general) | $1,176.00 | $2,326.00 |
Other Supreme Court of NSW fees include $2,879 for an individual ($6,580 for a corporation) to allocate a hearing date, and $135 ($270) to issue a subpoena. In the Supreme Court of Victoria, commencing a proceeding in the Commercial Court costs $2,528.30 (standard) in a judge-managed list.
Supreme Court of NSW probate fees
Probate fees in NSW depend on the sworn gross value of the estate.
| Estate value | Probate filing fee |
|---|---|
| Less than $100,000 | Nil |
| $100,000 to less than $250,000 | $960 |
| $250,000 to less than $500,000 | $1,303 |
| $500,000 to less than $1,000,000 | $1,999 |
| $1,000,000 to less than $2,000,000 | $2,663 |
| $2,000,000 to less than $5,000,000 | $4,439 |
| $5,000,000 or more | $7,399 |
The online probate notice costs a further $59.
How much are Federal Court filing fees?
Filing a document to start a Federal Court of Australia proceeding costs $1,805 for an individual and $5,255 for a corporation, as at September 2026. Hearing fees are charged on top.
| Federal Court of Australia | Individual (any other case) | Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Document commencing a proceeding | $1,805 | $5,255 |
| Interlocutory application | $650 | $1,610 |
| Setting down for hearing | $3,610 | $8,795 |
| Daily hearing fee, days 2 to 4 | $1,430 | $3,515 |
| Daily hearing fee, days 5 to 9 | $2,405 | $6,340 |
Bankruptcy proceedings have their own fees. A creditor's petition costs $2,035 for an individual and $4,885 for a corporation, in either the Federal Court or the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. General federal law applications in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia cost $870 for an individual and $2,085 for a corporation. A migration application in that court costs $4,180 ($2,090 reduced).
Can court fees be reduced or waived?
Yes, some court fees can be reduced or waived, but the rules differ by court.
- Federal courts. The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia offers a reduced divorce fee of $390 and a reduced migration application fee of $2,090 to eligible applicants.
- Victoria. The Magistrates' Court, County Court and Supreme Court of Victoria each have a concession rate, shown in the tables above.
- Queensland. The District and Supreme Courts charge a reduced claim filing fee of $154.70 for non-corporate plaintiffs who qualify under the fee regulations.
- Western Australia. The Magistrates Court has lower rates for eligible individuals and eligible entities. For example, an eligible individual pays $59.00 to file a minor claim.
Apply for the reduction when you file, with proof of eligibility, such as a concession card. A lawyer or the court registry can tell you which rate applies.
Who pays the court fees?
The party who files a document pays its filing fee, whether that party is the applicant or the respondent. The applicant pays to start the case. A respondent pays to file a response or a cross-claim.
At the end of a case, the court can order one party to pay the other's legal costs. Those costs usually include court fees already paid. In a contested case, lawyer and barrister fees are usually much larger than the court fees.
Estimating the full cost of going to court
Court fees are only one line in the total cost of a case. Our guide How Much Does a Lawyer Cost in Australia? sets out hourly rates, fixed fees and barrister fees, so you can budget for the whole matter. A lawyer can also advise whether a smaller court or tribunal, or a negotiated settlement, would cost less.
Compare firms by practice area and city, ranked using the method in how we rank law firms:
- Court disputes and debt recovery: Litigation Lawyers in Australia, including Litigation Lawyers in Sydney
- Divorce, parenting and property: Family Lawyers in Australia, including Family Lawyers in Melbourne and Family Lawyers in Brisbane
- Probate and estates: Wills & Estates Lawyers in Australia, including Wills & Estates Lawyers in Sydney
- Business disputes: Commercial & Business Lawyers in Australia
Frequently asked questions
How much is the divorce application fee in Australia?
As at September 2026, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia charges $1,170 to file an application for divorce, or $390 if you are eligible for the reduced fee.
Do filing fees include lawyer fees?
No. Court fees are paid to the court. Lawyer fees, barrister fees and other costs such as process servers and expert reports are separate.
Why do companies pay higher court fees?
Most Australian courts charge corporations a higher rate, often about double the standard fee, for the same filing. Individuals pay the standard rate.
When do court fees change?
The federal courts and the NSW, Victorian, Queensland, Western Australian and South Australian courts listed here all set new fees from 1 July 2026. Fees are generally updated each financial year.
Can I get court fees back if I win?
Often, in part. If the court orders the other side to pay your costs, filing fees are usually included as a disbursement. A lawyer can advise whether a costs order is likely.