A party may pay a filing fee by credit or debit card provided the court is authorized to accept payment by this method under Government Code section 6159, rule 10.820, and other applicable law.
Rule 3.100.Payment of filing fees by credit or debit card
Division 3. Filing and Service · Chapter 1. Filing · Adopted 2007 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceRule 3.100 lets a party pay a court filing fee by credit or debit card whenever the particular court is authorized to accept that payment method under the Government Code and related rules.
Full Text of Rule 3.100
Plain-English Summary
Rule 3.100 opens Division 3 of the Civil Rules, which covers filing and service, with a payment mechanics rule. It permits a party to pay a filing fee by credit or debit card rather than by cash or check, but only where the specific court has the legal authorization to accept that kind of payment in the first place.
That authorization is not automatic or universal. It depends on separate statutory and administrative provisions governing electronic payments, so the availability of credit or debit card payment can vary from court to court. Where a court does not accept card payment, a litigant has to use whatever payment method that court does accept.
For a litigant who cannot pay filing fees by any method, the fee-waiver rules earlier in this title offer the alternative: asking the court to waive the fees rather than finding a way to pay them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you pay a California court filing fee with a credit card?
Only if the specific court is authorized to accept credit or debit card payments under the Government Code and applicable rules, per Rule 3.100.
Does every California superior court accept credit or debit cards for filing fees?
Not necessarily. Authorization to accept card payments depends on separate statutory and administrative rules, so availability can differ from court to court.
What if a litigant cannot afford the filing fee at all?
Rule 3.50 and the rules that follow it let a litigant apply for a fee waiver instead of paying, based on financial condition.
Amendment History
Rule 3.100 adopted effective January 1, 2007.
Source & verification. Rule text is reproduced verbatim from
the Judicial Council of California. Adopted by the Judicial Council of California.
Last verified July 29, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: pay California court filing fee credit carddebit card court fees CaliforniaCRC rule 3.100