A complete legal–practical guide to official charges, typical out-of-pocket costs, exemptions, and smart ways to keep expenses down

Snapshot (the part most people want to know)

Filing a criminal complaint is free. Reporting to the PNP or NBI and filing a Complaint-Affidavit with the Office of the City Prosecutor (OCP)–Manila carry no government filing fees.
The State pays to prosecute. When an Information is filed, the People of the Philippines (through the public prosecutor) bears court prosecution costs; no court docket fee is charged to the private complainant for the criminal case.
Expect incidental expenses, not filing fees. Real-world costs usually come from notarization/administration of oaths, photocopying/printing, medical or medico-legal certificates, certified true copies (CTCs), translations, and digital media for evidence.
If you keep the civil action within the criminal case, you pay no civil docket fees up-front. If you file a separate civil action, normal civil docket fees apply based on the amount of damages claimed.
Indigents can access fee waivers and free legal aid (PAO), and many victim-focused proceedings are fee-exempt.

Where you might spend (and where you won’t)

A. ₱0 by law or standard practice

Police blotter & incident report (PNP station/WCPD) – ₱0
NBI complaint intake – ₱0
Filing of Complaint-Affidavit with the OCP–Manila (inquest or regular) – ₱0
Administering your oath before a prosecutor (instead of a private notary) – ₱0
Subpoena/service during preliminary investigation – ₱0 to the complainant
Filing of Information in court by the prosecutor – ₱0 from you
Applications for protection orders in qualifying cases (e.g., VAWC TPO/PPO) – ₱0 filing fee

B. Typical out-of-pocket items (ballpark ranges)

Ranges are indicative; actual amounts vary by office/vendor. Bring small bills.

Notarization (if you don’t swear before the prosecutor): ₱100–₱500 per document (more for lengthy annexes)
Photocopying/printing: ₱1–₱5/page (B/W); ₱10–₱30/page (color photos)
Certified True Copies (CTCs) you request:
- Police blotter extract/spot report: ~₱50–₱150/page
- OCP/court CTCs: ~₱10–₱20/page + ~₱100–₱200 certification fee
Medical or medico-legal:
- Gov’t hospital/PNP Crime Lab: free to nominal (often ₱0–₱200)
- Private clinic/hospital: ₱500–₱2,500+ (tests increase cost)
Translations/sworn translations (if evidence is foreign-language): ₱500–₱1,500 per page
Evidence media (USB/DVD for CCTV, chats, videos): ₱100–₱400 if you don’t bring your own
Transportation & meals for appearances: personal expense unless reimbursed

C. If/when the case is in court

Criminal docket fees: None from the complainant
Witness fees: Courts may grant nominal per diems/transportation for subpoenaed witnesses (coordinate with the prosecutor)
Private prosecutor (optional): Professional fees by agreement if you retain private counsel to assist the public prosecutor

D. Civil claims and fees (how to avoid paying more than you must)

Default rule: The civil action is deemed instituted with the criminal case → no civil docket fee up front
If you file a separate civil action: civil docket fees apply (assessed on the amount of damages you claim)

Barangay conciliation (when required) and cost impact

Certain minor offenses between parties residing in the same city/municipality must first go through Katarungang Pambarangay before the prosecutor acts.
Filing and conciliation at the Barangay are free. You may pay nominal amounts for CTCs of minutes or a Certification to File Action (~₱50–₱150).
Not applicable to more serious crimes, cases with different cities/municipalities, offenses with a public officer on duty, and other statutory exceptions.

Special fee rules, waivers, and support

Indigent litigants: Qualifying complainants can access PAO for free legal services and may obtain fee exemptions where court fees would otherwise apply (e.g., later civil filings).
Women/children cases (e.g., VAWC, child abuse): Medico-legal and protection order applications are typically fee-free; Women and Children Protection Desks assist with documentation.
Cybercrime: Digital forensics by PNP ACG/NBI is free for criminal cases; private labs (optional) charge professional fees.
Victim compensation (separate from filing costs): Eligible victims of violent crimes may apply for financial assistance under government programs; this doesn’t affect filing fees but can offset out-of-pocket spending.

Stage-by-stage: what to expect to pay (and not pay)

Initial report (PNP/NBI) → ₱0
- Consider requesting CTC of blotter (₱) only if needed for HR/insurance/administrative filings.
Complaint-Affidavit preparation → ₱0 if you swear before the prosecutor; ₱ if you use a private notary
- Printing/photocopying your annexes (₱)
- Bring USB to store electronic evidence (₱ if you need to buy one)
Filing at OCP–Manila (inquest or regular) → ₱0
- No filing fee, no payment for subpoenas
Preliminary investigation → ₱0
- Possible CTCs of supplementary police reports or certifications (₱)
Information filed; trial → ₱0 from you
- Optional CTCs of orders/judgment if you want your own certified copy (₱)
- Nominal witness fees may be available when subpoenaed
Civil damages
- ₱0 if civil aspect is joined with the criminal case
- ₱ civil docket fees if you file separately

Realistic sample budgets (illustrative only)

Lean, government-only path
- Oath before prosecutor: ₱0
- Photocopies (100 pp): ₱200
- Blotter CTC: ₱100
- USB: ₱150
- Total: ~₱450
Moderate (private clinic + multiple witnesses)
- Notarizations (3 docs): ₱900
- Photocopying (250 pp): ₱500
- Private medical certificate/tests: ₱1,500
- CTCs (OCP + police, 6 pp): ₱300
- Total: ~₱3,200
With private digital forensics
- Private extraction/report: ₱15,000–₱40,000+
- Add to either budget above

Cost-savvy tips that don’t hurt your case

Swear before the prosecutor (notarization ₱0).
Use government medico-legal facilities whenever available (often ₱0–₱200).
Paginate and index annexes; ask the OCP how many sets they really need.
Export chats to PDF with timestamps; print key pages and submit the full e-file on USB.
Keep receipts for all expenses; courts can award actual damages and costs upon conviction.
If indigent, assert status early and coordinate with PAO/WCPD/DSWD for assistance.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to pay to “open a case” at the police station? No. Police blotter entries and criminal reports are free. You only pay if you request certified copies.

Must my complaint be notarized? No. You can swear it before the prosecutor for free. Use a private notary only if necessary for logistics.

Who pays for service of subpoenas and court processes? The State. The private complainant does not pay service fees in the criminal case.

Will I pay court fees for my moral/exemplary damages? Not if the civil aspect is deemed instituted with the criminal case (default). You pay civil docket fees only if you file a separate civil action.

Can I recover what I spent? Yes, courts may award actual damages and costs (retain receipts) and, where justified, moral/exemplary damages.

Bottom line

Government filing fees: ₱0 to report and file a criminal complaint in Manila; the State prosecutes.
Your spend is mostly paperwork and proof (notarization if you choose, CTCs, medicals, copies, storage media).
Keep the civil claim inside the criminal case to avoid civil docket fees; use government services and prosecutor-administered oaths to minimize costs; invoke indigent status when applicable.

This guide is for general information only and not legal advice. For a specific case, an attorney or the OCP front desk can walk you through current local practices and any special fee exemptions that apply.