pettylawsuit
50th District Court - City of Pontiac

50th District Court Filing Fees

Complete fee schedule for filing cases at the 50th District Court in Pontiac, Michigan. Understand all costs before filing your case.

Quick Fee Reference

Small Claims

  • Up to $600: $45
  • $601-$1,750: $55
  • $1,751-$6,500: $70

General Civil

  • $6,501-$10,000: $175
  • $10,001-$25,000: $280
  • Over $25,000: Circuit Court

Service Fees

  • Certified Mail: $29
  • Personal Service: $35-50
  • PettyLawsuit: $29 + court fees
Pricing Clarity: PettyLawsuit charges a $29 service fee for document preparation and filing assistance. This is in addition to court filing fees shown below. For example, a $1,000 small claim would cost: $29 (PettyLawsuit) + $55 (court fee) + service fees = approximately $113 total.

Complete 50th District Court Fee Schedule

Popular
Small Claims Court
Cases up to $6,500 - No attorneys allowed
  • Claims up to $600$45
  • Claims $601 - $1,750
    Common
    $55
  • Claims $1,751 - $6,500
    Common
    $70
  • Motion to set aside default$20
  • Appeal to circuit court$150
General Civil Division
Cases $6,501 - $25,000 - Attorneys allowed
  • Claims $6,501 - $10,000$175
  • Claims $10,001 - $25,000$280
  • Motion filing$20
  • Jury demand (6 jurors)$125
  • Discovery motions$20
Service of Process
Getting papers to the defendant
  • Certified mail (in-state)
    Common
    $29
  • Personal service (local)$35-50
  • Personal service (out-of-county)$50-75
  • Publication service$150+
  • Out-of-state service$50-100
Post-Judgment Collections
Collecting your judgment
  • Writ of garnishment$35
  • Writ of execution$15
  • Discovery subpoena$25
  • Installment payment order$20
  • Abstract of judgment$15
Miscellaneous Fees
Other court services
  • Certified copies$10 + $1/page
  • Court reporter (per day)$100-150
  • Subpoena issuance$5
  • Witness fees (per day)$12 + mileage
  • Fee waiver applicationFree
Popular
PettyLawsuit Service
Our filing assistance service
  • Document preparation
    Common
    $29
  • Form completionIncluded
  • Court filing assistanceIncluded
  • Service coordinationIncluded
  • Status updatesIncluded

Calculate Your Total Filing Cost

Common Filing Scenarios
See total costs for typical cases including all fees

Security Deposit Dispute ($500)

Most Common
  • Court filing fee$45
  • Certified mail service$29
  • PettyLawsuit service$29
Total Cost$103

Unpaid Invoice ($2,500)

Most Common
  • Court filing fee$70
  • Certified mail service$29
  • PettyLawsuit service$29
Total Cost$128

Property Damage ($8,000)

  • Court filing fee$175
  • Personal service$50
  • PettyLawsuit service$29
Total Cost$254

Breach of Contract ($15,000)

  • Court filing fee$280
  • Personal service$50
  • Motion fees (estimated)$40
  • PettyLawsuit service$29
Total Cost$399

Fee Waivers for Low-Income Filers

Can't Afford Court Fees?
You may qualify for a fee waiver if you meet certain income requirements

Who Qualifies for Fee Waivers?

  • Receiving public assistance (food stamps, Medicaid, SSI, FIP, etc.)
  • Household income below 125% of federal poverty guidelines
  • Unable to pay fees without using money for household necessities

How to Apply for a Fee Waiver

  1. Complete Form MC 20 (Fee Waiver Request)
  2. Attach proof of income or public assistance
  3. File with your court documents at 50th District Court
  4. Judge reviews and decides on your request
  5. If approved, court fees are waived (PettyLawsuit fee still applies)
Note: Fee waivers only apply to court fees, not third-party services like PettyLawsuit's $29 filing assistance fee or process server costs.

Payment Methods Accepted

At the Courthouse
70 North Saginaw Street, Pontiac
  • Cash
  • Check or Money Order
  • Credit/Debit Card (Visa, MasterCard)
  • 3% fee for card payments
Through PettyLawsuit
Online filing service
  • All major credit cards
  • Debit cards
  • Secure online payment
  • Payment plans available

Ready to File at 50th District Court?

Skip the courthouse visit. File online with PettyLawsuit and save time. We handle all the paperwork for just $29 plus court fees.

Your Total Cost Estimate:

PettyLawsuit Service$29
Court Filing Fee$45-280
Service of Process$29+
Total Range$103-358

Related 50th District Court Resources

Small Claims Guide
Complete guide to small claims court
Court Forms
Michigan court forms directory
How to File
Step-by-step filing instructions

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to file small claims at 50th District Court?

Small claims filing fees at the 50th District Court in Pontiac are: $45 for claims up to $600, $55 for claims $601-$1,750, and $70 for claims $1,751-$6,500. Additional service fees of $29 for certified mail or $35-50 for personal service apply. PettyLawsuit charges $29 to handle all paperwork (court fees are additional).

What are general civil filing fees at 50th District Court?

General civil filing fees at the 50th District Court are: $175 for claims $6,501-$10,000 and $280 for claims $10,001-$25,000. Cases over $25,000 must be filed in Oakland County Circuit Court. These fees don't include service costs or motion fees.

Can I get a fee waiver at 50th District Court?

Yes, the 50th District Court offers fee waivers for qualified low-income individuals. You must complete Form MC 20 (Fee Waiver Request) and provide proof of income, public assistance, or financial hardship. The court will review and decide on your waiver request.

What additional fees might I pay at 50th District Court?

Additional fees at 50th District Court include: service by mail ($29), personal service ($35-50), motion filing ($20), garnishment ($35), writ of execution ($15), jury demand ($125 for 6 jurors), certified copies ($10 plus $1/page), and various post-judgment collection fees.

Does PettyLawsuit's $29 fee include court costs?

No, PettyLawsuit's $29 service fee is separate from court filing fees. The $29 covers document preparation, form completion, and filing assistance. You'll still need to pay the court's filing fees ($45-280) and any service fees. Think of it as $29 for our help plus the actual court costs.