⚖️ Tamil Nadu 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.

Fees under T.N. Court-fees and Suits Valuation Act, 1955 — gazette-verified through Act 20 of 2021

State Tamil Nadu ✓ Verified Feb 2026 ⇄ Change state

Calculate Court Fee — Tamil Nadu

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

💰 Money / Property Recovery Suit Property & Recovery 🏠 Partition Suit Property & Recovery 🔑 Eviction / Recovery from Tenant Property & Recovery 📜 Declaratory Suit Declaratory & Injunction 🚫 Injunction Suit (Standalone) Declaratory & Injunction 📝 Specific Performance of Contract Declaratory & Injunction 💍 Matrimonial Suit (Hindu Marriage Act) Family & Estate ⚰️ Probate / Letters of Administration Family & Estate 📋 Succession Certificate Family & Estate ⚖️ Writ Petition (Madras High Court) High Court 📂 Other Civil Suits (Sec 50) 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 Feb 2026. Cross-check with the court registry or the official state gazette before paying. Report incorrect rate →

Court Fees in Tamil Nadu: A Guide for Advocates

Tamil Nadu court fees are governed by the Tamil Nadu Court-fees and Suits Valuation Act, 1955 (T.N. Act XIV of 1955), which applies to all civil courts in the state including the Madras High Court and district courts in Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem, Tiruchirappalli, Vellore, Tirunelveli and all other districts. Unlike Andhra Pradesh and Telangana which use stepped slab rates with ceiling-rounding, Tamil Nadu uses a two-tier ad valorem structure under Schedule I Article 1: ₹0.40 for every ₹5 (or part) up to ₹100, and ₹0.75 for every ₹10 (or part) above ₹100 — effectively 7.5% on suit value. This makes Tamil Nadu one of the highest court-fee states in India for large-value suits. The Act was last amended by Act 43 of 2024 (IPD fees at Madras HC only, effective 5 April 2023) and Act 20 of 2021 (reduced writ petition fee to ₹750) and Act 18 of 2021 (succession certificate capped at ₹25,000).

How is court fee calculated?

Money suits (Section 22): fee on amount claimed at Schedule I Art.1 rates — ₹0.75 per ₹10 (or part thereof) above ₹100 = effectively 7.5% of suit value; no maximum cap
Declaratory suits (Section 25, Act 17/2003): same rate on valued relief, minimum ₹1,500 for declaration + possession; ₹1,000 for declaration + injunction or other declarations
Injunction (Section 27, Act 17/2003): ½ market value (immovable, title denied) — minimum ₹750; plaintiff's valuation (other) — minimum ₹1,000
Partition (Section 37(1)): Schedule I Art.1 rates on market value of plaintiff's share; Section 37(2) joint-possession has fixed stepped fees
Eviction/tenant recovery (Section 43(2)): Schedule I Art.1 rates on annual rent for year preceding filing, plus any premium paid
Specific performance (Section 29, Act 17/2003): Schedule I Art.1 rates on valued relief, minimum ₹800
Matrimonial suit (Section 45, Act 17/2003): ₹1,000 fixed for HMA; Schedule II Art.1 personal-law acts: ₹50 each
Probate/Letters of Administration (Schedule I Art.6): 2% on estate ₹1,001–₹5,000; 3% above ₹5,000 — bracket system on TOTAL estate value
Succession certificate (Sch.I Art.7, Act 18/2021): 3% on aggregate debt/security value, capped at ₹25,000
Writ petition to Madras HC (Sch.II Art.11(r), Act 20/2021): ₹750 fixed; Habeas Corpus — no fee

Key points advocates must know

TN has NO maximum cap on money suit fees — 7.5% applies on the full suit value; a ₹10 lakh suit costs approximately ₹75,000 in court fees
Minimum fees are significant: declaratory suit ₹1,500; injunction ₹750–₹1,000; specific performance ₹800
Succession certificate fee capped at ₹25,000 regardless of total debt value (Act 18 of 2021)
Writ petition fee at Madras HC is ₹750 (reduced by Act 20 of 2021); Habeas Corpus is free
Probate fees are modest: 2%/3% bracket — for a ₹50 lakh estate the fee is only 3% × ₹50,00,000 = ₹1,50,000
Section 69-A (Act 44/2007): full refund of court fee if dispute referred under S.89 CPC is settled through mediation/conciliation
Act 43/2024 adds IPD fees at Madras HC for IP cases (Trade Marks, Copyright, Patents, GI); does NOT change civil suit fee schedule

Specific questions

Why is Tamil Nadu court fee 7.5% when other states are 1–3%? ▼

Tamil Nadu's Schedule I Article 1 has not been revised since 1955 (unlike AP/Telangana which were updated). The rate of ₹0.75 per ₹10 has remained unchanged for 70 years, making it one of the highest in India. There is no maximum cap on money suit fees, so a ₹1 crore suit attracts approximately ₹7.5 lakh in court fees.

What is the writ petition fee at Madras High Court? ▼

₹750 fixed (Act 20 of 2021, effective 28 September 2021). This covers Article 226 writs (Mandamus, Certiorari, Prohibition, Quo Warranto) and Article 227 supervisory petitions. Habeas Corpus petitions have no court fee. Act 43 of 2024 introduced separate higher fees for IP Division writs but does not affect ordinary Art.226 writs.

What is the court fee for a succession certificate in Tamil Nadu? ▼

3% of the aggregate value of all debts and securities specified in the certificate, subject to a maximum of ₹25,000 (Act 18 of 2021, effective 22 September 2021). For example: bank FD of ₹10 lakh → 3% = ₹30,000, but capped at ₹25,000. The fee is on the TOTAL value, not on the excess.

Can I get a court fee refund if the case is settled through mediation in TN? ▼

Yes. Section 69-A (inserted by Act 44 of 2007) provides that when the court refers parties to any mode of settlement under Section 89 CPC (mediation, arbitration, Lok Adalat, conciliation) and the dispute is settled, the plaintiff is entitled to a full refund certificate of the court fee paid on the plaint. Apply for the refund certificate before the court that referred the matter.

What is the court fee for a matrimonial suit under HMA in Tamil Nadu? ▼

For petitions under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (divorce, restitution of conjugal rights, judicial separation, etc.) filed before the Family Court or District Court, the fee is ₹1,000 (Section 45, as amended by Act 17 of 2003). For suits under the Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act 1939, Indian Divorce Act 1869, or Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act 1936: ₹50 each (Schedule II Article 1, Act 17/2003).

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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