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⚖️ Kerala Court Fee Calculator

2025 Finance Act (eff. 1 Apr 2025) — fixed fees increased 500–6,500%; no stay (Kerala HC WP(PIL) 14/2025). S.4A: only 1/10th ad valorem at institution (UNIQUE). Maintenance = 1× annual. NO cap. ⚠️ Ad valorem rate UNVERIFIED — 2% placeholder.

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Calculate Court Fee — Kerala

All Property & Recovery Declaratory & Injunction Family & Estate
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⚠️ Always verify before filing. Court fees change via Government Orders (G.O.s). Rates above are not yet gazette-verified. Cross-check with the court registry or the official state gazette before paying.   Report incorrect rate →

Matrimonial Suit Court Fee in Kerala — Divorce, Restitution & Separation

Matrimonial petitions in Kerala courts carry fixed court fees under Schedule II, Article 1 of the Kerala Court Fees and Suits Valuation Act, 1959 (as amended by Finance Act, 2025). The applicable fee depends on the personal law governing the parties — different amounts apply under the Hindu Marriage Act, Muslim law, Christian law, Parsi law, and the Special Marriage Act.

How is the court fee calculated?

  1. Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (divorce, restitution, judicial separation, annulment): ₹10 fixed — Article 1(vii).
  2. Special Marriage Act, 1954: ₹30 fixed — Article 1(vi).
  3. Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939: ₹10 fixed — Article 1(ii).
  4. Indian Divorce Act (Christians): ₹30 fixed, excluding petitions under Section 44 — Article 1(iii).
  5. Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936: ₹30 fixed — Article 1(iv).

Key points advocates must know

  • No suit value input is required — the court fee is a flat fixed amount regardless of assets, income, or claimed amounts.
  • Restitution of conjugal rights under Section 9 HMA: ₹10 (same as divorce). Judicial separation under Section 10 HMA: ₹10.
  • Child custody applications, maintenance petitions, and domestic violence applications have separate fee structures under their respective Acts — most are free or nominal.
  • Memorandum of appeal against a matrimonial decree: same fee as the original petition.

Frequently asked questions

Is the court fee the same for mutual consent divorce and contested divorce? ▼

Yes — under the Hindu Marriage Act, both contested divorce (Section 13) and mutual consent divorce (Section 13B) attract the same ₹10 court fee. The nature of the proceedings does not affect the court fee amount.

What is the court fee for a maintenance petition? ▼

Maintenance petitions under Section 125 CrPC/BNSS are filed in Magistrate courts and are generally free of court fee. Maintenance under the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act filed in civil courts may attract a nominal fee — verify with the court registry.

⚖️ Source: Kerala Court Fees and Suits Valuation Act, 1959 (as amended by Finance Act, 2025) · Verified from official gazette · Report incorrect rate

Frequently Asked Questions

How is court fee calculated in India? ▼

Court fees in India are calculated based on the nature and value of the suit. Money and property recovery suits attract ad valorem (percentage-based) fees on the suit value. Declaratory suits, matrimonial suits, and some other categories attract fixed fees. Each state has its own Court Fees Act with its own schedule — there is no single uniform national schedule.

What happens if I pay less court fee than required? ▼

The court will return the plaint for payment of deficit fees. You must pay the deficit and re-present the plaint. The date of re-presentation (not the original date) is treated as the date of institution — this can critically affect limitation if you are close to the deadline. Always calculate accurately and, when in doubt, pay slightly more (the court will not object).

Are court fees the same across all courts in a state? ▼

Generally yes — the state's Court Fees Act applies uniformly across all civil courts within the state. However, High Court original jurisdiction suits may have a separate fee schedule. Tribunals (NCLT, DRT, DRAT) and consumer forums have their own separate fee structures under their respective statutes.

Can court fees be waived for indigent litigants? ▼

Yes. Order XXXIII of the Code of Civil Procedure allows indigent persons to file suits without court fees. The court examines the plaintiff's financial position. If declared indigent, the fee is recoverable from the defendant if the suit succeeds. Some states also have exemptions for women litigants, SC/ST parties, government bodies, and legal aid cases.

Are court fees refundable? ▼

Generally no — court fees are non-refundable once paid. Some state Acts provide a partial refund if a suit is settled by compromise before the first hearing. Check the specific provision in your state's Court Fees Act. Consumer forum fees may also be partially refundable in certain circumstances — verify with the specific forum.
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