(a) Confidential records No person may have access to an application for an initial fee waiver except the court and authorized court personnel, any persons authorized by the applicant, and any persons authorized by order of the court. No person may reveal any information contained in the application except as authorized by law or order of the court. (Subd (a) amended and lettered effective July 1, 2009; adopted as unlettered subd effective January 1, 2007.)
Rule 3.54.Confidentiality
Division 2. Waiver of Fees and Costs · Last amended 2009 · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceRule 3.54 keeps fee-waiver applications and the financial information in them confidential, limiting access to the court, authorized court personnel, people the applicant allows, and anyone else who obtains a court order after showing good cause.
Full Text of Rule 3.54
(b) Request for access to confidential records Any person seeking access to an application or financial information provided to the court by an applicant must make the request by noticed motion, supported by a declaration showing good cause regarding why the confidential information should be released. (Subd (b) adopted July 1, 2009.)
(c) Order An order granting access to an application or financial information may include limitations on who may access the information and on the use of the information after it has been released. (Subd (c) adopted July 1, 2009.)
Plain-English Summary
A fee-waiver application asks the applicant to lay out their finances in detail, so Rule 3.54 locks that information down. Only the court and authorized court staff, people the applicant chooses to let in, and people a court order specifically authorizes can see the application. Nobody who does see it may pass along what it contains except as the law or a court order allows.
Someone outside those categories who wants access has to ask for it formally: a noticed motion backed by a declaration that shows good cause for releasing otherwise confidential financial information. Even then, the court granting access can limit who receives the information and restrict what they may do with it afterward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a California court fee-waiver application confidential?
Yes. Rule 3.54(a) limits access to the court and authorized personnel, people the applicant authorizes, and people a court order authorizes.
How does someone else get access to a fee-waiver application?
By filing a noticed motion supported by a declaration showing good cause for releasing the confidential financial information, under Rule 3.54(b).
Can a California court limit how released financial information is used?
Yes. Rule 3.54(c) lets a court’s order granting access include limits on who may see the information and how it may be used afterward.
Amendment History
Rule 3.54 amended and renumbered effective July 1, 2009; adopted as rule 3.60 effective January 1, 2007; previously amended effective January 1, 2008.
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
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