Cowlitz County, Washington Court Filing
Fee Lookup

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

The Cowlitz 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 Washington court filing fee schedule, see our Washington Court Filing Fees.

The Cowlitz County Superior Court is located at 312 SW 1st Ave, Kelso WA 98626. The court clerk can be reached at (360) 577-3016.

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

Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM.

• Filing fees in Cowlitz County are based on Washington'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 — $200–$260 (Superior Court — Probate)
• civil complaints and appearances — $200–$260 (Superior Court) / $50–$100 (District Court)
• family law matters (divorce, custody, support) — $200–$260 (Superior Court — Family Law)
• small claims filings — $35–$100 (District Court / Municipal Court small claims). These figures represent the state-level base
• the total amount due at the Cowlitz County Superior Court in Kelso may include additional local charges.

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

• Beyond the initial filing fee, Cowlitz 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 Washington), 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 Cowlitz County, request the full fee schedule from the Cowlitz County Superior Court clerk in Kelso before initiating the proceeding.

Washington is expanding e-filing across its court system. The Cowlitz County Superior Court in Kelso 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 Washington Court Filing Fees.

• Cowlitz County residents who cannot afford court filing fees may apply for a fee waiver under RCW § 2.04.190 / GR 34.
• To apply, file a declaration of financial condition with the Cowlitz County Superior Court clerk's office in Kelso 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 Cowlitz 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 RCW § 2.04.190 / GR 34 and may have been updated by recent legislation.
• Ask the Cowlitz County Superior Court clerk in Kelso for the current income guidelines before completing your declaration.

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