It costs anywhere between $31 and $265 to file a lawsuit in Colorado courts. The exact costs depend on the type of case, the amount of money involved, and where you file (e.g., county vs. district). Other miscellaneous fees include fees for lawsuit drafting, court transcriptions, certification fees, and copy/printing fees for paperwork.
If you are filing a personal injury lawsuit, you generally don’t have to worry about lawsuit fees, as your attorney will likely cover these costs for you. Most Denver personal injury lawyers work on contingency, meaning you only pay the law firm at the end of your case if they recover compensation for you.
Postman Law can walk you through the various fees and expenses involved in filing a personal injury lawsuit and explain how contingency fees work.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Colorado?
When you hire a personal injury attorney, the only fee you need to worry about paying is a contingency fee. Law firms like Postman Law typically take their fee out of any final settlement and don’t require any upfront payment.
The best part is you don’t have to pay any fee if you don’t win your case. The benefit of this arrangement is that you can secure legal counsel without the stress of paying an upfront retainer. Since their fee is based on the final settlement amount, your lawyer will be incentivized to pursue the maximum possible amount.
The typical contingency fee for a personal injury lawyer is between 33% and 40%. So if your settlement is $100,000, between $33,000 and $40,000 would go to your attorney. Some lawyers will charge a higher percentage if the case goes to formal litigation.
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The Costs of Filing a Lawsuit in Colorado
While you don’t need to be concerned about filing costs for a personal injury lawsuit in Colorado when you work with Postman Law, it can be helpful to understand the typical fees so you know what your lawyer is covering on your behalf. If you are filing a different type of lawsuit, you may need to cover the costs yourself.
The two main determinants of filing fees in Colorado are the court you file in and the amount of money involved. Below is a breakdown of the various courts and fees at different monetary thresholds.
Small Claims Court
Colorado offers a streamlined option for small claims worth $7,500 or less. Small claims court uses simplified procedures and can resolve disputes quickly without the time and cost of traditional lawsuits. Small claims court fees are generally as follows:
- $0 to $500: $31
- $500.01 to $7,500: $55
County Court
Most civil claims in Colorado are filed in civil courts at the county level. Generally, you file in the county where the incident happened. Civil filing fees for county courts are:
- $0 to $999: $95
- $1,000 to $14,999: $115
- $15,000 to $25,000: $145
District Court
State district courts are the highest level of state court and have no monetary thresholds. These are where personal injury claims with high monetary values are tried. Filing fees for state district courts are:
- Money cases: $265
Federal Courts
Most personal injury cases in Colorado will be filed in small claims court, county court, or district courts. These are all state courts that follow state laws. However, some cases may be filed in a federal court instead. This includes cases where there was some violation of federal law or where the injury occurred on federal property.
The cost of filing in a federal court is $405, which includes a $350 filing fee and a $55 administrative fee.
Can I Waive Civil Court Fees in Colorado?
If you are worried about the cost of filing a lawsuit in Colorado, you can apply for a fee waiver. To be eligible for a waiver, your household income must be less than 125% of the federal poverty level.
You may also qualify for a fee waiver if you receive public assistance from programs such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
When you work with Postman Law, we will cover all upfront and ongoing costs associated with your lawsuit, so you don’t need to worry about it.
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Other Potential Fees and Lawsuit Expenses
Below are some other miscellaneous fees that are often involved in a lawsuit. Note that these fees may not be applicable to every case:
- Drafting fees. Drafting fees cover the initial drafting of the lawsuit demand, which is the document outlining the complaint and requested damages. Many lawyers will include this as part of their attorney fees.
- Service fees. Part of filing a lawsuit is serving the involved party with the demand. There may be a separate service fee for processing and serving the defendant notice of your intent to sue.
- Witness fee. If you bring any witnesses to testify in court, you may have to pay a separate witness fee. These fees can sometimes be pushed onto the defendant after a judgment.
- Expert testimony. Expert witnesses usually charge an hourly fee for testimony, depositions, and court appearances.
- Mediation fees. If the case goes to mediation, a third party will step in to negotiate a deal between the plaintiff and defendant. Private mediators can charge by the hour.
- Appeal fees. If you receive an adverse judgment you believe to be in error, you can file an appeal with a higher court. Appeals may carry several additional fees, so you should discuss them carefully with your lawyer from Postman Law.
Contact Postman Law Today to Speak to a Lawyer
Do you have any more questions about how much it costs to file a lawsuit in Colorado or how our contingency fees work? If so, feel free to reach out online or by phone to schedule an appointment with a team member from Postman Law.