Philippines
Court Filing
Fee Calculator
One tool for all Philippine courts — Small Claims, MTC, RTC, and NLRC. Know your exact fees before you walk into the Clerk of Court window.
Philippine Court Fee Comparison at a Glance
Not sure which court handles your case? This table maps claim size to court type and gives you a ballpark fee before you even open the calculator.
| Court | Claim Range | Lawyers Allowed | Typical Docket Fee | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Claims | Up to ₱1,000,000 | No | ₱1,000 – ₱2,500 | 1–3 months |
| MTC / MTCC | ₱1,000,001 – ₱2,000,000 | Yes | ₱2,750 – ₱17,500 | 6–18 months |
| RTC | Above ₱2,000,000 | Yes | ₱4,000 – ₱50,000 (capped) | 1–3 years |
| NLRC | Labor cases (any amount) | Optional | ₱200 – ₱2,000+ | 6–24 months |
What Makes Up a Philippine Court Filing Fee?
When most people hear "filing fee," they think of one number. But Philippine court filing fees are actually a bundle of four or five separate charges, each going to a different fund. Understanding the breakdown helps you budget accurately and avoid surprises at the cashier window.
The largest component is the docket fee, which is calculated as a percentage of your claim amount. This is the court's main revenue for processing your case. For Small Claims, the docket fee runs from ₱1,000 to ₱2,500. For MTC cases, it starts at ₱2,750. RTC cases start at ₱4,000 and are capped at ₱50,000 no matter how large the claim.
On top of the docket fee, you always pay a Legal Research Fund (LRF) surcharge equal to 1% of the docket fee. This goes to the Philippine Judicial Academy for legal research. There is also a fixed ₱5 Victim Compensation Fund contribution, which is the same across all courts and case types.
Optional add-ons include the sheriff's trust fund deposit (typically ₱1,000–₱2,000, needed if you plan to enforce the judgment through the sheriff) and the mediation fee of ₱1,000, required in cases covered by the Court-Annexed Mediation program. If you pay through GCash, PayMaya, or LandBank's e-payment portal, there is an additional ₱15 convenience fee.
Can You File for Free? The Indigent Fee Waiver Explained
Philippine courts recognize that not everyone can afford filing fees. Under Rule 3, Section 21 of the Rules of Court, a person may be allowed to litigate as an indigent — meaning all docket fees are waived entirely.
To qualify, you must meet two conditions simultaneously: your gross income must not exceed double the applicable monthly minimum wage in your region — a figure that varies by region and changes with each wage order, so confirm the current amount with your Clerk of Court — and you must not own real property with a fair market value exceeding ₱300,000.
If you qualify, bring the following to the Clerk of Court: a notarized Affidavit of Indigency, a Barangay Certification of Indigency, and a Certified True Copy of the Assessor's Certificate showing your property holdings (or lack thereof). The court will evaluate your documents and decide whether to grant the exemption. Even if granted, the court may require you to repay the waived fees if you win your case and are awarded damages.
The indigent waiver applies to civil cases and labor cases. It is especially common in small claims and NLRC proceedings, where many self-represented claimants are low-income workers pursuing unpaid wages.
3 Filing Fee Mistakes That Can Sink Your Case
Philippine courts treat filing fees as jurisdictional in civil money cases. That means getting them wrong — even slightly — can have serious consequences for your case. Here are the three mistakes filers make most often.
Understating your claim amount. Some litigants try to shave fees by declaring a lower claim than what they are actually seeking. Philippine Supreme Court jurisprudence is clear: if you fail to pay the correct docket fee at the time of filing, the court may not acquire jurisdiction over your case. Worse, you may be required to pay the deficit with interest. Always declare the full amount, including claimed interest and damages.
Forgetting the sheriff's deposit. You pay your docket fee, win your case, and then the sheriff won't execute the judgment because there is no sheriff's trust fund deposit. This deposit must typically be paid upfront. Without it, your winning judgment sits on paper with no enforcement mechanism.
Paying at the wrong cashier. RTC and MTC branches have their own cashiers, and payments must be made at the correct branch. Some courts also have separate windows for the LRF and VCF components. Confirm with the Clerk of Court before lining up to pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are Philippine court filing fees calculated?
What is the difference between small claims and MTC fees?
Is the docket fee refundable if I lose my case?
Do I need to pay filing fees upfront?
Are NLRC filing fees the same as regular court fees?
Can I pay court fees online or via GCash?
Fee estimates are based on Rule 141 of the Rules of Court and NLRC Rules of Procedure as periodically amended by Supreme Court en banc resolutions and OCA circulars (most recently OCA Circular No. 267-2025) — rates last verified July 2026. Courts update schedules periodically — always verify with the Clerk of Court before filing. This tool does not constitute legal advice.