By law, courts are required to collect a filing fee surcharge when most civil cases are initiated for the purpose of providing financial assistance to Ohio’s legal aids. These filing fee surcharges include:
$26 on new civil actions
$15 on transfer cases from small claims to municipal
$15 on juvenile court actions involving custody, visitation and parentage
$11 on small claims
The filing fee surcharges are remitted monthly by the clerks of court to the Legal Aid Fund and distributed by the Foundation to the legal aids.
These funds are used by the legal aids to ensure Ohioans are healthy, stable and safe. For instance, the legal aids keep children safe and in school; help older Ohioans access critical healthcare and ensure they are financially stable; and empower veterans to secure the benefits earned by their service to our country.