Essex County, Massachusetts Court Filing
Fee Lookup

Court filing fees in Essex County, Massachusetts are collected by the Essex County Probate and Family Court in Salem according to Massachusetts's statutory fee schedule, plus any local surcharges authorized by county ordinance. Massachusetts's court structure — Superior Court (complex civil) / Probate & Family Court (probate/family) / District Court (small claims) — determines which courthouse accepts which case types and what fees apply.

The Essex County Probate and Family 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 Massachusetts court filing fee schedule, see our Massachusetts Court Filing Fees.

• Filing fees in Essex County are based on Massachusetts'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 — $150–$225 (Probate & Family Court)
• civil complaints and appearances — $240–$315 (Superior Court) / $60–$110 (District Court)
• family law matters (divorce, custody, support) — $200–$240 (Probate & Family Court)
• small claims filings — $40–$150 (District Court / Boston Municipal Court small claims). These figures represent the state-level base
• the total amount due at the Essex County Probate and Family Court in Salem may include additional local charges.

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

• Beyond the initial filing fee, Essex 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 Massachusetts), 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 Essex County, request the full fee schedule from the Essex County Probate and Family Court clerk in Salem before initiating the proceeding.

Massachusetts is expanding e-filing across its court system. The Essex County Probate and Family Court in Salem 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 Massachusetts Court Filing Fees.

• Essex County residents who cannot afford court filing fees may apply for a fee waiver under Mass.
• Gen.
• Laws ch. 261, § 27A.
• To apply, file a declaration of financial condition with the Essex County Probate and Family Court clerk's office in Salem 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 Essex 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 Mass.
• Gen.
• Laws ch. 261, § 27A and may have been updated by recent legislation.
• Ask the Essex County Probate and Family Court clerk in Salem for the current income guidelines before completing your declaration.

• A granted fee waiver covers filing fees charged by the Essex County Probate and Family Court — including initial filing fees and subsequent filings in the same case — but does not cover costs owed to third parties.
• In Essex 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.