Poverty Affidavit

Welcome to the Poverty Affidavit Form Assistant



This interview will help you complete a poverty affidavit form that can be used in any common pleas, municipal or county court in Ohio. The court will use the information on your form to decide if you qualify to file in court without paying fees upfront. 

In Ohio, the law says that anyone whose income before taxes is at or below 187.5% of the federal poverty level and whose monthly expenses equal or exceed their liquid assets qualifies to file in court without paying fees upfront. It also says that the court has discretion to grant a waiver to others depending on the circumstances.

If you believe that you are unable to pay your court costs upfront, you can file the Poverty Affidavit. If the court rejects your application, you will be asked to pay the fees within 30 days or your case will be dismissed.

 

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