⚖️ Maharashtra Court Fee Calculator

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

Generally yes — the state's Court Fees Act schedule applies uniformly across all civil courts within the state. However, High Court original jurisdiction suits may have separate fee schedules. Tribunals and consumer forums also have their own fee structures.

Q: Can court fees be waived?

Yes — indigent persons can file suits without court fees under Order XXXIII of the Code of Civil Procedure. The court examines the financial position of the plaintiff. If declared indigent, the fee is recoverable from the defendant if the suit succeeds. Some states also provide exemptions for women litigants, SC/ST parties, or government bodies.

Q: Are court fees refundable if the case is settled?

Generally no. Court fees are non-refundable once paid. However, some state Acts provide 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 refundable in certain circumstances.

Calculate court fees for Maharashtra civil courts — money suits, partition, eviction, matrimonial, probate and NI Act cheque bounce matters under the Maharashtra Court Fees Act, 1959.

State Maharashtra ✓ Verified Mar 2026 ⇄ Change state

Calculate Court Fee — Maharashtra

All Property & Recovery Declaratory & Injunction Family & Estate High Court Other Suits

💰 Money / Property Recovery Suit Property & Recovery 🏠 Partition Suit Property & Recovery 🔑 Eviction / Rent Recovery Suit Property & Recovery 📜 Declaratory Suit Declaratory & Injunction 🚫 Injunction Suit Declaratory & Injunction 📝 Specific Performance of Contract Declaratory & Injunction 💍 Matrimonial Suit (Divorce / Restitution) Family & Estate ⚰️ Probate / Letters of Administration Family & Estate 📋 Succession Certificate Family & Estate ⚖️ Writ Petition (Bombay High Court) High Court 📂 Dishonoured Cheque (NI Act S.138) Other Suits

Suit Value / Claim Amount (₹) * Enter the amount as specified by the applicable rule above

Court Fee Payable

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⚠️ Always verify before filing. Court fees change via Government Orders (G.O.s). Rates above are last verified Mar 2026. Cross-check with the court registry or the official state gazette before paying. Report incorrect rate →

Court Fees in Maharashtra: A Guide for Advocates

Court fees in Maharashtra are governed by the Maharashtra Court Fees Act, 1959 (Act XXXVI of 1959), which was substantially overhauled by Maharashtra Amendment Act 18 of 2002. This amendment restructured the entire ad valorem schedule, introducing a nine-tier slab system that starts with a flat ₹200 for suits up to ₹1,000 and progresses through increasing per-unit rates up to a global maximum of ₹3,00,000. Advocates practising in the Bombay High Court, the Nagpur Bench, the Aurangabad Bench, or any of Maharashtra's district and sessions courts must compute fees accurately from this Act before filing, as the Act does not permit subsequent deficit payment without court permission.

How is court fee calculated?

Identify the suit type — money/property recovery (ad valorem, Schedule I Article 1), matrimonial (fixed ₹200), probate (bracket rate under Article 10), or dishonoured cheque under NI Act Section 138 (Article 18).
For ad valorem suits, determine the "value of the suit" — the amount claimed for money suits; plaintiff's share value for partition; annual rent for eviction; the contract price for specific performance.
Maharashtra uses a unit-based ceiling rounding system: each slab portion is rounded up to the nearest prescribed unit (₹100, ₹500, ₹1,000, ₹2,000 etc.) before applying the rate. This may slightly increase the calculated fee for non-round amounts.
The global maximum court fee in Maharashtra for any single ad valorem suit is ₹3,00,000. Even if the calculated slab-based fee exceeds this cap, you pay only ₹3,00,000.
Court fee is paid through e-Stamp or impressed stamp paper. E-stamps are available at SHCIL-authorised vendors and through Maharashtra's MahaOnline portal (www.mahaonline.gov.in). Physical stamps must match the exact denomination.

Key points advocates must know

Global cap: ₹3,00,000 — no ad valorem suit in Maharashtra can cost more, regardless of suit value.
The 2002 amendment (Act 18 of 2002) restructured the entire schedule. Rates in force prior to 2002 are no longer applicable.
Probate and Letters of Administration (Article 10) have a separate bracket rate system capped at ₹75,000.
Dishonoured cheque suits under NI Act Section 138 (Article 18) use a special per-₹10,000 structure capped at ₹1,50,000.
Matrimonial suits (divorce, restitution of conjugal rights, judicial separation) carry a flat fee of ₹200.
Process fees and advocate stamp duty are charged separately and are not included in the court fee. Verify current amounts with the filing clerk at the court registry.
Always confirm the current rate with the Bombay High Court website (https://bombayhighcourt.nic.in) or the Maharashtra Government Gazette (https://gazettes.asia/gazettes/maharashtra) before filing high-value suits.

Specific questions

What is the maximum court fee in Maharashtra? ▼

Under the Maharashtra Court Fees Act 1959 as amended in 2002, the maximum court fee for any ad valorem civil suit is ₹3,00,000. For probate/letters of administration the cap is ₹75,000, and for dishonoured cheque suits (NI Act S.138) the cap is ₹1,50,000.

How is Maharashtra court fee calculated for a money recovery suit? ▼

Maharashtra uses a nine-tier slab system. The first ₹1,000 attracts a flat fee of ₹200. Beyond ₹1,000, progressive rates apply — ₹12 per ₹100 for the next ₹4,000, ₹15 per ₹100 for the next ₹5,000, ₹75 per ₹500 for the next ₹10,000, and so on through eight more slabs. The fee is capped at ₹3,00,000.

Where can I verify current Maharashtra court fee rates? ▼

The Maharashtra Government Gazette is the primary source — available at https://gazettes.asia/gazettes/maharashtra or through the Maharashtra Government's official portal. The Bombay High Court website (https://bombayhighcourt.nic.in) also issues practice directions on court fees. The controlling authority is the Maharashtra Court Fees Act 1959 as amended.

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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