Identification and existing order
- Court and case boxes
Court, case number and name.
- 1–3 · Person, lawyer and order
The person who received the waiver, any lawyer, and the date of the last waiver order.
Home › California Court Forms › FW-010
California Court Forms · Fee Waiver
FW-010: Improved Financial Situation or Settlement
A notice used after a fee waiver when the financial situation or settlement information described on the form needs to be reported to the court.
Revised July 1, 2009 · 1 page · An existing fee-waiver order
Not legal advice. This page explains what the form asks; it does not tell you what to put in your case.
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What it is
Report a change after a waiver
FW-010 concerns an improved ability to pay court fees or a settlement. The form and California Courts’ fee-waiver guide say that an improvement in ability to pay during the case must be reported within five days.
When it is used
A notice with financial consequences
The form offers requests to end a waiver or review updated financial information, and asks about settlement proceeds. This page does not decide whether a change ends eligibility or how much must be repaid.
Section by section
What each part asks
Use the current official form and its instructions. The descriptions below identify the questions without choosing answers for your situation.
The reported change and declaration
- 4 · Financial improvement
A request to end the waiver or review updated FW-001 financial information.
- 5 · Settlement
The amount category, whether proceeds were received, and the paying party when the form calls for it.
- Declaration
Date, printed name and signature under penalty of perjury.
Before you file
Common filing problems to check
These checks come from the official form and instructions. They are not a ranking of rejection reasons; the court decides whether a filing meets its requirements.
- The declaration is unsigned or undated.
- The date of the earlier fee-waiver order is missing.
- Updated FW-001 information referred to in item 4b is not attached.
- The additional settlement information required by the selected box is incomplete.
E-file it
How to e-file FW-010 with Legal Hub Group
Legal Hub Group is a certified e-filing service provider for California courts. Availability depends on the live court, case type, document type and whether the case is new or existing.
1
Confirm the court
Check the current court and case-type list. A court must support the particular filing; this guide does not make every form available in every county.
2
Upload and check
Upload the finished papers and their attachments. Lexary checks them for common filing problems. Review the documents and the results before continuing.
3
Review the filing and fees
Confirm the case, document types and payment choice. Review every fee shown before submitting. A fee-waiver request is subject to the court’s decision.
4
Submit and track the answer
The court reviews the filing. Keep the court’s acceptance and returned copy, or read its rejection notice before deciding what to do next.
Fee-waiver filings carry a $0 Legal Hub Group fee. The court decides whether to grant the waiver; fees owed by another party can still apply.
E-service is included free where available. No subscription. E-filing and service of opening papers are separate requirements.
Live counties with a relevant case type: Butte · Calaveras · Colusa · Contra Costa · Glenn · Los Angeles · Madera · Mariposa · Mendocino · Merced · Napa · Orange · San Bernardino · San Diego · San Luis Obispo · San Mateo · Santa Barbara · Santa Clara · Santa Cruz · Sonoma · Stanislaus · Sutter · Tehama · Yolo · Yuba. Check each listing’s new-case or existing-case status and document restrictions.
Questions
FW-010 questions
Is FW-010 a new fee-waiver request?
No. It reports information after an earlier fee-waiver order. One option asks the court to review updated financial information on an attached FW-001.
Does this page decide whether my waiver ends?
No. The court decides eligibility and any repayment. Ask a lawyer or the court’s self-help center about the effect of a financial change or settlement.
Related forms
Not legal advice. This page explains public filing information. It does not tell you what to put in your own case. Legal Hub Group is a certified e-filing service provider for California courts, not a law firm.
Information checked as of October 2026. Rules, form revisions and provider prices can change. The court decides whether to accept a filing.
FW-010 form revision: July 1, 2009.