If you can't afford the filing fee, you can ask the court for permission to proceed without paying it. To do so, you have to complete and file an affidavit-of-indigency form. You can get the form from the Clerk's Office or by clicking here: Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Costs-Long Form AO 239. Note that filing the form does not guarantee that you can proceed without paying the filing fee. The court makes that decision. Even if the court waives the filing fee, you will still be held responsible for other costs of litigation, including costs for service of process, photocopies, deposition transcripts, and costs and fees for witnesses. If your request to proceed without prepaying filing fees is denied, you have to pay the filing fees or the court will dismiss your case.