How to Fill Out California Form CR-200 (w/Examples) + FAQs

If you’ve been convicted of a criminal offense in California and the court has imposed fines, fees, or restitution that you genuinely cannot afford to pay, Form CR-200, Petition to Forgive Court Fees, Fines, and/or Costs in a Criminal or Traffic Case, is the official Judicial Council form you use to ask the court for relief. This step-by-step guide walks you through every line of the form, gives you realistic examples, and answers the most common questions defendants ask about filing it.

Quick note on form versions: Some California counties also use “CR-200” as a local Petition for Dismissal number. This guide focuses on the statewide Judicial Council version dealing with forgiving court-imposed financial obligations. Always confirm with your local Superior Court self-help center that you’re using the correct form for your matter.

What Is California Form CR-200?

Form CR-200 is the petition a defendant (or their attorney) files in a California Superior Court to ask a judge to reduce, waive, or forgive outstanding court-ordered debts in a criminal or traffic case. These debts can include:

Court operations and facilities assessments under Penal Code §§ 1465.8 and Government Code § 70373
Base fines, penalty assessments, and surcharges
Probation supervision fees, public defender fees, and booking fees previously imposed
Victim restitution fines under Penal Code § 1202.4 (in limited circumstances)
Civil assessments under Penal Code § 1214.1 added for failure to appear or pay

The legal authority for forgiving many of these debts comes from California’s AB 1869 (2020) and AB 177 (2021), which eliminated many criminal administrative fees, and the court’s general discretion to consider a defendant’s ability to pay under cases like People v. Dueñas (2019) 30 Cal.App.5th 1157.

You can download the official fillable PDF from the Judicial Council Forms page.

Who Should File Form CR-200?

You should consider filing CR-200 if all of the following apply:

You have a criminal or traffic case in a California Superior Court.
The court ordered you to pay fines, fees, assessments, or costs.
You cannot pay the full amount because of financial hardship — for example, you receive public benefits, are unhoused, are incarcerated, or your income is at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines.
The debt has not already been discharged, vacated, or sent to a third-party collector who lacks authority to reduce it.

Defendants who are still on probation, recently released, or whose cases are years old can all file. There is no statute of limitations on petitioning for ability-to-pay relief while a debt remains owed.

Before You Start: What You’ll Need

Gather these documents before opening the form:

Your case number (printed on any court paperwork, citation, or minute order)
The name and address of the courthouse that handled your case
Your most recent pay stubs, benefit letters (CalFresh, SSI, GA, CalWORKs), or tax return
A list of monthly expenses (rent, utilities, child support, medical)
Any prior fee waiver orders (Form FW-003) you’ve received
Proof of any hardship circumstances (eviction notice, medical bills, incarceration records)

A blank companion Form MC-025 (Attachment) is useful if you need extra space for explanations.

Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form CR-200

Caption Box (Top of Page 1)

The caption identifies the court and the parties.

Attorney or Party Without Attorney: Print your full legal name, mailing address, telephone number, and email. If you’re representing yourself, write “In Pro Per” under “Attorney For.”
Superior Court of California, County of: Enter the county (e.g., Los Angeles).
Street and Mailing Address / City and Zip / Branch Name: Copy directly from your citation or minute order. Find branch addresses on the California Courts find-my-court tool.
People v. __: Write the defendant’s name exactly as it appears on the charging document.
Case Number: Enter the full case number, including any letter prefix.

Example:

People v. Maria Sanchez — Case No. 6BR04521 Filed in the Beverly Hills Courthouse, Los Angeles County.

Item 1 — Petitioner’s Information

Check the box that describes you (defendant, parent/guardian of a minor, or attorney filing on behalf of defendant) and fill in the date of birth and last four digits of your driver’s license if requested. Accuracy here helps the clerk locate your case in the Odyssey court management system.

Item 2 — Description of the Debt

List each fee, fine, or assessment you want forgiven. If you don’t know the exact breakdown, request a financial breakdown from the court collections unit or pull it from MyCitations, California’s online ability-to-pay tool.

Example: | Item | Amount Owed | |——|————-| | Base fine (VC 22350) | $238 | | Court operations assessment (PC 1465.8) | $40 | | Conviction assessment (GC 70373) | $35 | | Civil assessment (PC 1214.1) | $100 | | Total | $413 |

Item 3 — Grounds for Relief

Check every box that applies. Common grounds include:

Receiving public benefits (SSI, SSP, CalWORKs, CalFresh, Medi-Cal, GA/GR, IHSS, CAPI, Tribal TANF)
Household income at or below 125% of federal poverty guidelines (verify current numbers on HHS.gov)
Currently or recently incarcerated within the last 12 months
Homeless or housing-insecure — see LSC homelessness resources
Other financial hardship (medical disability, supporting dependents, recent job loss)

Item 4 — Statement of Financial Condition

This mirrors Form FW-001 (the civil fee waiver). Disclose:

Gross monthly income (employment, benefits, support)
Household size and dependents
Cash, bank accounts, vehicles, real estate
Monthly expenses

Example:

Maria reports $1,250/month in part-time wages, two dependents, $1,400 rent, $220 utilities, $310 groceries, and a 2009 Honda Civic worth $3,200. Net deficit: −$680/month.

This easily qualifies under 125% of poverty for a household of three (approximately $2,694/month in 2026).

Item 5 — Specific Relief Requested

Tell the judge exactly what you want. You can request:

Full forgiveness of the balance,
Partial reduction to a specific dollar amount you can pay,
Conversion to community service at the rate set by your county (often $15–$20/hour),
Extended payment plan of $25/month or less, or
Recall of any warrant or hold related to non-payment.

Item 6 — Supporting Declaration

Sign under penalty of perjury per Code of Civil Procedure § 2015.5. Write a short narrative (2–4 paragraphs) describing your circumstances. Attach additional pages on Form MC-025 if needed.

Example narrative:

“I am a single parent of two children. I was laid off in February 2026 and now work 20 hours/week at $15.50/hour. I receive CalFresh benefits. After rent and utilities, I have no funds left to pay this fine. Paying $413 would force me to choose between food and the court debt.”

Item 7 — Proof of Service

If your county requires service on the prosecuting agency, complete the Proof of Service by Mail (POS-030) and mail a copy to the District Attorney or City Attorney listed on your case. Most traffic and infraction cases do not require service — confirm with the clerk.

A Complete Filled-Out Example

Scenario: Daniel Park, a 27-year-old delivery driver in Sacramento County, was convicted of an infraction (driving without a valid license, VC 12500(a)) in 2024 and owes $712. He now earns $2,100/month, supports his mother, and just received a $250 civil assessment after missing a payment.

Form Section	Daniel’s Entry
Court	Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento, Carol Miller Justice Center, 301 Bicentennial Cir, Sacramento, CA 95826
Case No.	T24-0098765
Item 1	Defendant; DOB 03/14/1998; DL ending 4421
Item 2	$300 base fine + $40 PC 1465.8 + $35 GC 70373 + $87 penalty assessments + $250 civil assessment = $712
Item 3	☒ Household income ≤125% poverty; ☒ Supports dependent parent
Item 4	$2,100 gross/mo; rent $1,150; utilities $190; groceries $400; insurance $140
Item 5	Requests vacating the $250 civil assessment and reducing remaining $462 to 40 hours community service
Item 6	Signed declaration explaining job instability and caregiving
Filing	E-filed via Sacramento County e-Filing at no cost

Outcome: Under AB 199 (2022) and the MyCitations program, the judge vacates the civil assessment and converts the remaining balance to community service.

Filing and Service Checklist

Make 3 copies — one for the court, one for you, one for the prosecutor (if served).
File at the clerk’s office of the courthouse that handled your case, or e-file through your county’s portal (find yours via the eFile California directory).
No filing fee. Petitions to forgive criminal fines and fees are filed without charge under Government Code § 68645.
Watch for a hearing notice within 30–60 days, or a ruling on the papers.
Attend the hearing (in person, by Zoom, or telephonically per California Rule of Court 3.672).

Tips From California Self-Help Centers

Always request your financial history printout from the collections clerk before filing — many counties have already auto-vacated pre-2022 administrative fees.
Use MyCitations first for traffic infractions; it’s faster than CR-200 for many users.
If you’re incarcerated, file via the Incarcerated Persons mail rule under Houston v. Lack (1988) 487 U.S. 266 (federal mailbox rule, applied by California courts).
Contact your county’s legal aid organization through LawHelpCA.org for free help completing the form.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is there a filing fee for Form CR-200?

No. Petitions to forgive criminal or traffic court debt are filed free of charge, per Government Code § 68645.5.

2. How long does the court take to decide?

Most courts rule within 30 to 90 days. Counties using the MyCitations tool often respond within 2–3 weeks.

3. Can I file CR-200 if my case was sent to collections (e.g., GC Services or Linebarger)?

Yes. The court retains jurisdiction over the underlying debt even after referral to a collector — see Penal Code § 1463.010.

4. Will filing CR-200 affect my driver’s license hold?

Filing alone does not lift a hold, but a granted petition that reduces or vacates the debt usually triggers automatic release of the DMV hold under Vehicle Code § 40509.5.

5. Can I include restitution to a victim in my petition?

Generally, no — victim restitution under Penal Code § 1202.4(f) cannot be reduced for inability to pay. You can ask the court to adjust the payment schedule.

6. What if my petition is denied?

You may (a) refile if your circumstances change, (b) request reconsideration under Code of Civil Procedure § 1008, or (c) appeal under the California Rules of Court appellate division rules.

7. Can someone else file CR-200 for me?

Yes — your attorney, a parent/guardian (if you’re a minor), or a court-appointed conservator may file on your behalf.

8. Do I need to appear in court?

Often no. Many judges rule on the written submission. If a hearing is set, you can usually appear remotely under Rule of Court 3.672.

9. Does CR-200 erase my criminal record?

No. CR-200 only forgives money owed. To clear a record, file Form CR-180 (Petition for Dismissal/Expungement) under Penal Code § 1203.4.

10. Where can I get free help filling out CR-200?

Free assistance is available through your county’s Superior Court Self-Help Center, legal aid organizations listed on LawHelpCA.org, and the Debt Free Justice California coalition.

Final Reminders

File early — waiting until after a warrant issues or your license is suspended makes the process slower.
Keep copies of everything, including the date-stamped petition and any orders.
If the court grants relief, request a written order to send to the DMV, collectors, or your employer to stop wage garnishment.
Update your address with the court (Form MC-040) so you don’t miss a ruling.

For the most current version of the form, instructions, and county-specific procedures, always start at the official California Courts CR-200 page.

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