How Much Does It Cost to File for Divorce? (2026 State-by-State)
Filing for divorce costs $70 to $435 in court fees, depending on your state. Wyoming is the cheapest at $70 to $120 (county varies), while California is the highest at $435. If you cannot afford the fee, every state offers a waiver that can bring your cost down to nothing.
The filing fee is the money you pay the court clerk to open your divorce case. It is separate from attorney fees, and it is usually the first and smallest cost of the whole process. The table below shows the 2026 filing fee for every state, and the sections that follow explain what the fee covers, the extra costs around it, and how to file for free if money is tight.
How Much Does It Cost to File for Divorce by State? (2026)
Divorce filing fees in 2026 range from $70 in Wyoming to $435 in California, with most states charging between $150 and $400. Many states set the fee at the county level, so the figures below show the current statewide amount or the common county range. Always confirm the exact number with your local court clerk before you file, since fees change and counties within a state can differ.
| State | Filing fee |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $200 to $350 (county varies) |
| Alaska | $250 |
| Arizona | $320 to $390 (county varies) |
| Arkansas | $165 flat |
| California | $435 |
| Colorado | $260 |
| Connecticut | $360 |
| Delaware | $165 |
| District of Columbia | $80 |
| Florida | $408 (plus $10 summons) |
| Georgia | $200 to $230 (county varies) |
| Hawaii | $215 to $265 |
| Idaho | $207 |
| Illinois | $250 to $388 (Cook County $388) |
| Indiana | $157 to $177 (county varies) |
| Iowa | $265 |
| Kansas | $195 |
| Kentucky | $185 to $285 (county varies) |
| Louisiana | $300 to $600 (parish varies) |
| Maine | $120 |
| Maryland | $165 to $215 (county varies) |
| Massachusetts | $215 (plus $15 summons) |
| Michigan | $175 to $255 (county varies) |
| Minnesota | $390 to $405 |
| Mississippi | $148 to $200 (county varies) |
| Missouri | $103 to $235 (county varies) |
| Montana | $250 |
| Nebraska | $164 flat |
| Nevada | $299 to $364 (county varies) |
| New Hampshire | $250 |
| New Jersey | $300 |
| New Mexico | $137 |
| New York | $335 ($210 index plus $125 note of issue) |
| North Carolina | $225 |
| North Dakota | $80 |
| Ohio | $300 to $420 (county varies) |
| Oklahoma | $242 to $258 (county varies) |
| Oregon | $301 flat |
| Pennsylvania | $300 to $400 (county varies) |
| Rhode Island | $160 to $200 |
| South Carolina | $150 |
| South Dakota | $95 |
| Tennessee | $185 to $430 (county varies, higher with children) |
| Texas | $250 to $350 (county varies) |
| Utah | $350 flat |
| Vermont | $90 to $295 (lower with a full agreement) |
| Virginia | $86 to $110 (county varies) |
| Washington | $280 to $300 |
| West Virginia | $135 |
| Wisconsin | $184.50 to $194.50 |
| Wyoming | $70 to $120 (county varies) |
Figures reflect 2026 state court fee data. Many states vary by county, so verify the exact fee with your local court clerk before filing.
What the Filing Fee Covers
The filing fee covers the court’s cost of opening and processing your divorce case, and nothing more. It pays for the clerk to accept your petition, assign a case number, and put your divorce into the court system. The money funds courthouse operations, including the clerks, the filing systems, and the judicial resources your case will use. It does not pay for a lawyer, a mediator, or the final outcome of your divorce.
It helps to think of the filing fee as a cover charge, not the full price of the night. Paying it gets your case started, but the real cost of your divorce depends on everything that happens next. An uncontested case that you handle yourself may cost little more than this fee. A contested case with lawyers will cost thousands on top of it.
Extra Costs Beyond the Filing Fee
The filing fee is rarely the only court cost you will pay. A few standard extras attach to almost every divorce, and they add up to a few hundred dollars on top of the base fee. These costs are small compared to attorney fees, but you should budget for them from the start. Knowing about them upfront prevents an unwelcome surprise at the clerk’s window.
Here are the common extra costs beyond the filing fee:
- Service of process ($0 to $100): The cost to formally deliver the divorce papers to your spouse, usually through a sheriff or private server. If your spouse cooperates and signs a waiver, this can be free.
- Certified copies ($10 to $50): Official copies of your final decree, which banks, the DMV, and Social Security require for name changes and other updates.
- Parenting class ($25 to $100): Required in many states for divorces involving minor children, completed before the divorce is final.
- Motion fees ($30 to $100 each): Charged if you request temporary orders for support or custody before the final judgment.
Fee Waivers: How to File for Free
Every state offers a fee waiver that lets low-income filers skip the divorce filing fee entirely. The waiver, sometimes called an in forma pauperis application or a request to waive court fees, eliminates the filing fee and often the related court costs too. You qualify if your income falls below your state’s threshold, usually tied to the federal poverty guidelines, or if you receive public benefits. This is the single most important option for anyone who cannot afford to file.
To apply for a fee waiver, you follow a simple process that varies slightly by state. First, get the fee waiver form from your court clerk or the court’s website, since most states publish it online. Next, fill it out with your income, household size, and any benefits you receive, such as SNAP or Medicaid. Finally, file the waiver together with your divorce petition, and the clerk will review it before processing your case.
California’s court self-help center is a good model of what most states provide, with the waiver form and income guidelines available free online. If your waiver is approved, you pay nothing to file, and the court may also waive service and copy costs. If it is denied, the clerk will usually explain why and whether you can pay in installments instead. Either way, a lack of money should never stop you from filing for a no-fault divorce.
