§ 8-2. Waiver of Court Fees and Costs

(a)Prior to the commencement of an action, or at any time during its pendency, a party may file with the clerk of the court in which the action is pending, or in which the party intends to return a writ, summons and complaint, an application for waiver of fees payable to the court and for payment by the state of the costs of service of process. The application shall set forth the facts which are the basis of the claim for waiver and for payment by the state of any costs of service of process; a statement of the applicant's current income, expenses, assets and liabilities; pertinent records of employment, gross earnings, gross wages and all other income; and the specific fees and costs of service of process sought to be waived or paid by the state and the amount of each. The application and any representations shall be supported by an affidavit of the applicant to the truth of the facts recited.

(b)The clerk with whom such an application is filed shall refer it to the court of which he or she is clerk. If the court finds that a party is indigent and unable to pay a fee or fees payable to the court or to pay the cost of service of process, the court shall waive such fee or fees and the cost of service of process shall be paid by the state.

(c)There shall be a rebuttable presumption that a person is indigent and unable to pay a fee or fees or the cost of service of process if (1) such person receives public assistance or (2) such person's income after taxes, mandatory wage deductions and child care expenses is one hundred twenty-five per cent or less of the federal poverty level. For purposes of this subsection, “public assistance” includes, but is not limited to, state-administered general assistance, temporary family assistance, aid to the aged, blind and disabled, food stamps and supplemental security income.

(d)Nothing in this section shall preclude the court from finding that a person whose income does not meet the criteria of subsection (c) of this section is indigent and unable to pay a fee or fees or the cost of service of process. If an application for the waiver of the payment of a fee or fees or the cost of service of process is denied, the court clerk shall, upon the request of the applicant, schedule a hearing on the application.