Getting Started
Application for Waiver of Criminal Court
Assessments
IMPORTANT: This getting started guide and the instructions are not legal advice. They are only
meant to help you learn how to use the Application for Waiver of Criminal Court Assessments and
Order for Waiver of Criminal Court Assessments forms. Your use of the forms does not guarantee
you will be successful in court.
To learn how to fill out the forms and file them with the court, read the How to Ask the Court to
Waive Criminal Court Assessments instruction sheet and the instructions on the forms.
● Application for Waiver of Criminal Court Assessments
● Order for Waiver of Criminal Court Assessments
To ask the court to excuse you from having to pay all or any
part of the fee assessments in your case.
Types of cases the forms
CAN be used for:
All criminal cases, including felony and misdemeanor cases.
All civil and juvenile cases and fee assessments resulting
CANNOT be used for: from violations of the Illinois Vehicle Code. If you need to ask
for a fee waiver in a civil case, you can use the Application for
Waiver of Court Fees form found here:
illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms.
papers needed to complete
the forms:
● You will need to know your income and expense
information for the past 12 months. You also need to know
the value of your belongings, including any real estate.
● If you are filling this form out on behalf of a minor, you will
need that person’s information.
● If you get public benefits, you may want to bring current
proof of eligibility and a benefits statement from the
agency providing the benefit when you file your forms.
● If you don’t get public benefits, you may want to bring
documents showing your income, value of belongings
(including real estate) and expense information when you
covering the forms:
● 725 ILCS 5/124A-20 and 705 ILCS 135/Article 15
● Illinois Supreme Court Rule 404
Where to find the forms and
instruction sheet:
illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms
Read the How to Ask the Court to Waive Criminal Court
Assessments instruction sheet that comes with these forms.
You may also find more information, resources, and the
location of your local county self help center at:
illinoislegalaid.org/FeeWaiver.
Find Illinois Supreme Court approved forms at: iillinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms.
