Kern County, California Court Filing
Fee Lookup

Court filing fees in Kern County, California are collected by the Kern County Superior Court in Bakersfield according to California's statutory fee schedule, plus any local surcharges authorized by county ordinance. California's court structure — Superior Court (unified trial court — all divisions) — determines which courthouse accepts which case types and what fees apply.

The Kern County Superior Court operates as a high-volume court with structured calendars. Confirming the current fee schedule with the clerk's office is recommended, as fees can change when new state legislation takes effect or when the county updates its local surcharge schedule.

For the full California court filing fee schedule, see our California Court Filing Fees.

The Kern County Superior Court is located at 1415 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301. The court clerk can be reached at (661) 868-5000.

Visit the court's website for current forms, fee schedules, and filing instructions. Electronic filing is available.

Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:30 PM.

• Filing fees in Kern County are based on California's statutory schedule, which applies statewide, plus any local surcharges assessed by the county. For reference, the statewide base fees by case type are: probate and estate filings — $435–$515 (Superior Court, Probate Division)
• civil complaints and appearances — $435 (unlimited civil) / $30–$225 (limited civil)
• family law matters (divorce, custody, support) — $435–$450 (Superior Court, Family Division)
• small claims filings — $30–$75 (Superior Court small claims). These figures represent the state-level base
• the total amount due at the Kern County Superior Court in Bakersfield may include additional local charges.

As a high-volume jurisdiction, Kern County may assess higher local surcharges than smaller counties, reflecting the greater administrative cost of operating a busy court in Bakersfield.

• Beyond the initial filing fee, Kern County litigants and estate administrators should budget for recurring court costs throughout the proceeding: fees for filing subsequent motions and responses, charges for certified copies of letters testamentary or court orders (typically $5 to $25 per document in California), jury demand deposits in civil cases, and in probate matters, fees associated with filing the inventory, accountings, and petition for discharge.
• For a complete picture of expected court costs in Kern County, request the full fee schedule from the Kern County Superior Court clerk in Bakersfield before initiating the proceeding.

California is expanding e-filing across its court system. The Kern County Superior Court in Bakersfield likely participates in the state system — represented parties in civil and family matters may be required to file electronically.

Contact the clerk directly to confirm requirements for your case type and whether a convenience fee (typically $2–$8 per transaction) applies. For full statewide e-filing details, see our California Court Filing Fees.

• Kern County residents who cannot afford court filing fees may apply for a fee waiver under Cal.
• Gov.
• Code § 68631.
• To apply, file a declaration of financial condition with the Kern County Superior Court clerk's office in Bakersfield at the time of your initial filing.
• The declaration lists all household income sources, monthly expenses, assets, and liabilities.
• A judge or court commissioner reviews the application and issues an order granting or denying the waiver, typically within a few days of submission.

• Eligibility for a fee waiver in Kern County generally requires that household income fall at or below 125% to 200% of the federal poverty level, or that the applicant is receiving qualifying public benefits — commonly Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, or public housing assistance.
• The specific income thresholds and qualifying programs are defined in Cal.
• Gov.
• Code § 68631 and may have been updated by recent legislation.
• Ask the Kern County Superior Court clerk in Bakersfield for the current income guidelines before completing your declaration.

• A granted fee waiver covers filing fees charged by the Kern County Superior Court — including initial filing fees and subsequent filings in the same case — but does not cover costs owed to third parties.
• In Kern County probate proceedings, a fee waiver does not eliminate the cost of publishing a notice to creditors in a newspaper of general circulation (a statutory requirement in most states), service of process fees paid to process servers or the sheriff's office, or costs for court-ordered appraisals.
• Budget for these additional costs separately even when a fee waiver is in effect.