At its September 2012 session, the Judicial Conference of the United States approved a new $50 general administrative fee for filing a civil action, suit, or proceeding in a district court.  As a result, the fee for filing a civil case will increase from $350 to $400 effective May 1, 2013.

The administrative fee does not apply to miscellaneous civil cases, habeas corpus cases or to cases filed by pro se prisoner plaintiffs two have been provisionally granted permission to proceed in forma pauperis.