Legal Question in Civil Litigation in California

Re: Filing fee and defendant in dispute

1. If you are poor enough you can fill out an Application for, and an Order Granting, a fee waiver. See www.courtinfo.ca.gov/forms.

2. If the defendant is served and does not appear, the court will rule based on the case put on by the plaintiff.

3. If the plaintiff does not appear, judgment will be entered for the defendant.

Re: Filing fee and defendant in dispute

The winning side is entitled to recover reasonable costs, such as the filing fee. The side who does not appear can ask the court for a hearing on the decision taken and often with a half way decent explanation for the non-appearance can have it set aside and either try the case right then or try to get a new date. Once you have a judgment, it can be difficult to collect on it.

Re: Filing fee and defendant in dispute

Filing fee always required to be paid otherwise you have get exemption/or waiver order sbmiting that you are poor and unable to pay filing fee. It advisable to consult some lawyer

If the defendant does not appear than the court will hear the plaintiff ex-parte.

If the plaintiff does not appear than the court may dismiss the case or decide the same in th absense of the plaintiff