How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Missouri in 2026?
How much does a divorce cost in Missouri? If you file it yourself and agree, it costs about $200 to $500. With a lawyer on a simple case, it runs $1,500 to $5,000. A contested divorce costs $10,000 to $30,000 or more. The filing fee is about $103 to $235, depending on your county.
The cost of divorce in Missouri depends on one big thing. That thing is whether you and your spouse agree. The cheap path is an agreed, uncontested case where you settle everything first. Missouri also has one of the shortest waits in the country, just 30 days.
This guide breaks down the Missouri filing fee and the cost by type. It also shows how to keep your divorce affordable. Every number here is a 2026 number. The real total depends on your path and your lawyer.
Quick Answer: Missouri Divorce Costs at a Glance
Here is the average cost of divorce in Missouri in 2026, at a glance. The filing fee is set by each county. The total depends on your path, not just the fee. An agreed divorce stays low, while a court fight climbs fast.
| Cost factor | Missouri (2026) |
|---|---|
| Court filing fee | $103 to $235 by county |
| Uncontested total (DIY) | $200 to $500 |
| Average with a lawyer | $4,000 to $12,000 |
| Contested divorce | $10,000 to $30,000 or more |
| Typical timeline | 30-day legal minimum wait; about 1 to 3 months agreed, 6 to 18 months or more contested |
Filing Fees and Court Costs in Missouri
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Missouri? There is no single statewide fee. Each circuit court sets its own, and most counties charge about $103 to $235. For example, St. Louis County charges $148.50 and Jackson County, which is Kansas City, charges $144.50.
You file in the Circuit Court of a county where either spouse lives. Missouri calls a divorce a “dissolution of marriage,” which just means the legal end of the marriage. The cost of filing for divorce in Missouri also includes service. Service by the sheriff costs about $40 to $65, or a private process server charges $50 to $100.
A cooperating spouse can skip that cost. They can sign an acknowledgment of service, or file an entry of appearance and waiver in agreed cases. The served spouse has 30 days after service to file an answer.
You may be able to skip the fee too. Low-income filers can file a Motion to Proceed as a Poor Person, also called in forma pauperis, which means filing without paying. The free forms are on the official Missouri Courts website. You can also see our guide to divorce filing fees by state. Missouri also offers legal separation at about the same cost, but the marriage continues.
How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Missouri by Type?
How much a divorce costs in Missouri depends on the type you choose. A simple agreed case costs far less than a court fight. The table below shows the typical total for each path. Your path is set by how much you agree.
| Divorce type | Typical total cost (2026) |
|---|---|
| DIY uncontested (file yourself) | $200 to $500 |
| Uncontested with a lawyer | $1,500 to $5,000 |
| Mediated divorce | $2,000 to $6,000 |
| Contested divorce | $10,000 to $30,000 or more |
An uncontested divorce Missouri couples file themselves is the lowest option. If you settle everything first, you pay close to the filing fee. The average cost of divorce in Missouri climbs once a lawyer or a court fight is involved. The cost of an uncontested divorce in Missouri is hard to beat, and you can see our uncontested divorce guide.
What Affects the Cost of Divorce in Missouri
A few things affect the cost of divorce in Missouri. Conflict is the biggest one by far. The more you fight, the more lawyer time you pay for. Children, property, and location all add to the bill.
Children raise the cost of a divorce. A parenting plan is required, which is a written schedule and set of rules for the child. Missouri starts from a presumption that equal parenting time is best. Child support is set on the state’s Form 14, which is the official support calculation.
Property division matters too. Missouri uses equitable distribution, which means the court divides marital property in a fair, not automatic, way. There is no automatic 50/50 split here. The judge first sets aside each spouse’s separate property, then divides the rest.
Location changes the price as well. St. Louis and Kansas City lawyers charge the most. Smaller communities cost less. The 30-day wait is short, so it adds less cost than the long waits in most states.
How to Keep Divorce Costs Down in Missouri
You can keep the cost of divorce in Missouri low. The biggest saving comes from settling everything before you file. A few simple moves make a real difference. Here are the best ones.
- Sign a full settlement agreement. When you settle property, support, and parenting first, there is nothing to fight over.
- Use a flat-fee or limited-scope lawyer. Pay only for a review of your agreement, not the whole case.
- Use mediation. A mediator settles parenting disputes for a few thousand dollars.
- Skip the service fee. Have your spouse sign an acknowledgment of service or an entry of appearance.
- Use the free court forms. Skip paid paperwork services and use the state’s free forms.
- File the poor person motion. If your income is low, ask the court to waive the fees.
These steps add up to a cheap divorce in Missouri. For more ways to save, read our cheap divorce guide. Free help is available at Missouri Legal Services.
Missouri Divorce Filing Steps (Summary)
Filing for divorce in Missouri follows a clear path. It is simplest when your case is agreed. Here are the main steps in order.
- Meet the residency rule. One spouse must have lived in Missouri for 90 days before filing.
- File and pay the fee. File the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage in Circuit Court in a county where either spouse lives. Pay the fee, or file the poor person motion. The uncontested divorce in Missouri paperwork is free on the state court website.
- Serve your spouse. Use the sheriff, a private server, or a signed acknowledgment of service. Your spouse has 30 days to answer.
- Settle the terms. Swap the income and property statements. Settle property, support, and parenting in a written agreement.
- Finish required steps. Complete the parenting plan, the Form 14 calculation, and any parenting class if you have minor children.
- Wait out the 30 days. The clock runs from the filing date, which keeps agreed cases fast.
- Finalize the divorce. The judge signs the Judgment of Dissolution, and the divorce is final.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
It costs about $103 to $235 to file for divorce in Missouri. Each county sets its own fee, so the amount varies. For example, St. Louis County is $148.50 and Kansas City is $144.50. If you cannot afford it, you can file a motion to proceed as a poor person.
An uncontested divorce in Missouri costs $200 to $500 if you file it yourself. That is mostly the filing fee plus service. Settling everything first keeps you out of court. The cost rises to $1,500 to $5,000 with a flat-fee lawyer.
A divorce in Missouri cannot be final until 30 days after filing. That wait runs from the filing date, not from service. It is one of the shortest waits in the country. Agreed cases usually finish in about 1 to 3 months, while contested cases take 6 to 18 months or more.
A divorce lawyer in Missouri costs about $200 to $400 per hour. St. Louis and Kansas City charge the most, while smaller communities run lower. A flat fee for a simple agreed case runs $1,500 to $5,000. A contested case costs much more, often $10,000 to $30,000 or more per spouse.
The Bottom Line
How much a divorce costs in Missouri ranges from $200 for an agreed DIY case to $30,000 or more for a court fight. The filing fee is just $103 to $235 by county. A signed settlement agreement is the biggest cost lever you control. Agree with your spouse, and the short 30-day wait keeps the case fast and cheap.
To estimate your own number, try our divorce cost calculator. You can also read our pillar guide on how much a divorce costs.
For information only, not legal advice.
