In most cases, you have to pay a fee to file papers with the court. The fees are uniform in all 58 California counties (except for Riverside, San Bernardino and San Francisco counties, where fees may include a small surcharge related to local court construction needs). This link gives you more information about asking the superior court for a fee waiver.
For State Court forms, visit the California Courts’ Website forms page at: http://www.courts.ca.gov/formsrules.htm
The Judicial Council adopts legal forms in one of two ways. Under Government Code section 68511, the council may “prescribe” certain forms. Use of those forms is mandatory. The council may also “approve” forms. Use of an approved form is not mandatory, but the form must be accepted by all courts in appropriate cases. Forms thus are “adopted” for mandatory use and “approved” for optional use.