Form WA-G 601.3, Fee Waiver Of Criminal Court Assessments, is the Getting Started guide that Rock Island County – Courtroom Forms posts for two Illinois court forms: the Application for Waiver of Criminal Court Assessments and the Order for Waiver of Criminal Court Assessments. It serves people in criminal cases, felony or misdemeanor, who want the court to excuse them from paying all or part of the fee assessments in their case. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the original is published at the county's Document Center.
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What is WA-G 601.3?
Form WA-G 601.3, Fee Waiver Of Criminal Court Assessments, is the Getting Started guide for two Illinois court forms used to ask a court to excuse you from paying all or any part of the fee assessments in your case.
The two forms it introduces are the Application for Waiver of Criminal Court Assessments and the Order for Waiver of Criminal Court Assessments. The guide is a one-page summary: it names the forms, states their purpose, lists the case types they can and cannot be used for, says what information you need, and points to the statutes and court rules behind them. Those are 725 ILCS 5/124A-20, 705 ILCS 135/Article 15 and Illinois Supreme Court Rule 404.
The forms can be used in all criminal cases, including felony and misdemeanor cases. They cannot be used in civil or juvenile cases, or for fee assessments resulting from violations of the Illinois Vehicle Code. For a fee waiver in a civil case, the guide refers you to the Application for Waiver of Court Fees form at illinoiscourts.gov/Forms/approved/Circuit.asp.
The guide states that it and the instructions are not legal advice and that using the forms does not guarantee success in court. The cost to file the forms is none. It is a court document, not a property or tax form.
Who needs to file WA-G 601.3?
People with a criminal case, including felony and misdemeanor cases, who want the court to excuse them from paying all or any part of the fee assessments in that case use the Application for Waiver of Criminal Court Assessments and the Order for Waiver of Criminal Court Assessments described in this guide.
If you are filling out the forms on behalf of a minor, you will need that person's information.
Do not use these forms for:
- civil cases;
- juvenile cases;
- fee assessments resulting from violations of the Illinois Vehicle Code.
If you need a fee waiver in a civil case, the guide points to the Application for Waiver of Court Fees form at illinoiscourts.gov/Forms/approved/Circuit.asp.
People who receive public benefits may want to bring current proof of eligibility and a benefits statement from the agency providing the benefit. The guide does not say that any person is excused from filling out the forms or that any group is approved automatically.
When to file WA-G 601.3
Use these forms when your criminal case includes fee assessments and you want the court to excuse you from paying all or any part of them. The guide prints no deadline of its own, so check the instruction sheet How to Ask the Court to Waive Criminal Court Assessments and the instructions printed on the forms for filing timing. Before you start, collect your income and expense information for the past 12 months and the value of your belongings, including any real estate, because the forms ask for them.
Documents you need
- Income and expense information for the past 12 months: you need to know it to complete the forms.
- The value of your belongings, including any real estate: you need to know it to complete the forms.
- The minor's information, only if you are filling out the forms on behalf of a minor.
- If you get public benefits: current proof of eligibility and a benefits statement from the agency providing the benefit, which you may want to bring when you file.
- If you do not get public benefits: documents showing your income, the value of your belongings (including real estate) and your expenses, which you may want to bring when you file.
How to fill out WA-G 601.3
Confirm your case type
Check that your case is a criminal case, felony or misdemeanor. Do not use these forms for civil or juvenile cases or for Illinois Vehicle Code assessments.
Read the instruction sheet
Read How to Ask the Court to Waive Criminal Court Assessments and the instructions printed on the forms before you start. The guide says they explain how to fill out the forms and file them with the court.
Gather 12 months of income and expenses
Collect your income and expense information for the past 12 months. The forms ask for it.
List the value of your belongings
Work out the value of your belongings, including any real estate, so you can report it accurately.
Add benefits or minor information
If you receive public benefits, have current proof of eligibility and a benefits statement ready. If you are filling out the forms on behalf of a minor, have that person's information.
Complete the Application and the Order
Fill in the Application for Waiver of Criminal Court Assessments and the Order for Waiver of Criminal Court Assessments following the instructions printed on each form.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check every entry against your income, expense and belongings records, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF. File the forms with the court as the instruction sheet directs.
How to submit WA-G 601.3
The guide says you file the Application for Waiver of Criminal Court Assessments and the Order for Waiver of Criminal Court Assessments with the court that is handling your case. It prints no mailing address, portal or appointment rule, and sends you to the instruction sheet How to Ask the Court to Waive Criminal Court Assessments and to the instructions on the forms for how to file.
- Forms and instruction sheet: illinoiscourts.gov/Forms/approved/Circuit.asp.
- More help: illinoislegalaid.org/FeeWaiver also lists the location of your local county self help center.
- Fee: the cost to file the forms is none.
- At filing: if you receive public benefits, you may want to bring current proof of eligibility and a benefits statement; if you do not, bring documents showing your income, the value of your belongings and your expenses.
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the court's channels described above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using the forms in a civil or juvenile case; they cover criminal cases only, and civil fee waivers use the Application for Waiver of Court Fees form.
- Using the forms for fee assessments resulting from violations of the Illinois Vehicle Code, which the guide excludes.
- Starting without income and expense information for the past 12 months or the value of your belongings, including real estate.
- Filling out the forms for a minor without that person's information.
- Skipping the instruction sheet How to Ask the Court to Waive Criminal Court Assessments and the instructions printed on the forms.
- Assuming the guide is legal advice or that using the forms guarantees the court will waive the assessments; it states neither.
- Arriving at filing without benefits proof, or without income and expense documents if you get no benefits, when the guide suggests bringing them.
- Submitting the Getting Started guide instead of the Application for Waiver of Criminal Court Assessments and the Order for Waiver of Criminal Court Assessments.
Frequently asked questions
What is Form WA-G 601.3?
Form WA-G 601.3 is a one-page Getting Started guide for the Application for Waiver of Criminal Court Assessments and the Order for Waiver of Criminal Court Assessments. Those forms ask the court to excuse you from paying all or any part of the fee assessments in your criminal case.
Can I use this fee waiver in a civil or juvenile case?
No. The guide says the forms cannot be used for civil or juvenile cases or for fee assessments resulting from violations of the Illinois Vehicle Code. For a civil case, it points to the Application for Waiver of Court Fees at illinoiscourts.gov/Forms/approved/Circuit.asp.
Is there a cost to file the criminal court assessments waiver?
No. The guide lists the cost to file the forms as none. It does not describe any other charge for them, so ask the court handling your case if you have questions about assessments themselves.
What information do I need to complete the waiver forms?
You need your income and expense information for the past 12 months and the value of your belongings, including any real estate. For a minor, you need that person's information. Public benefits recipients may bring proof of eligibility and a benefits statement.
Does using the forms guarantee the court will waive my assessments?
No. The guide states that it and the instructions are not legal advice and that using the forms does not guarantee you will be successful in court. The court decides whether to excuse all, part or none of the assessments.
Is this the Rock Island County assessor form?
No. This guide covers asking a court to waive fee assessments in a criminal case and is posted by Rock Island County – Courtroom Forms. It has nothing to do with a county assessor's office.
Where do I find the instruction sheet and the other forms?
The guide lists illinoiscourts.gov/Forms/approved/Circuit.asp for the forms and the instruction sheet How to Ask the Court to Waive Criminal Court Assessments. It also names illinoislegalaid.org/FeeWaiver for resources and your local county self help center.
Can I fill out this form online on FillingPDF?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service, not connected to Rock Island County or the court, and it does not file anything; you file the forms with the court yourself.
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