Cheapest States for Divorce Filing Fees (Ranked Lowest to Highest)

Filing fees for divorce differ widely across U.S. states, influenced by county court schedules, indigency-waiver rules, and how each court system funds itself. Among the 10 states covered by PlainCivil (Michigan, Ohio, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Illinois, North Carolina, Texas, New York, Florida, California), base divorce filing fees range from $150 to $435, and most states publish a range rather than a single flat fee because the exact amount can vary by county. This ranking draws directly from PlainCivil's own filing-fee database, sourced from official state and county court fee schedules.

Top Patterns

Michigan holds the lowest position at $150–$250. Wayne County ~$225. Ottawa County ~$150. Fee waivers for low-income filers. Ohio follows closely at $150–$300. Franklin County ~$200. Hamilton County ~$275. Affidavit of Indigency available. Georgia rounds out the cheapest tier at $200–$225. Fulton County ~$225. Most counties $200-$225. Fee waivers via In Forma Pauperis.

The mid-range includes Pennsylvania at $200–$350, Illinois at $210–$350, and North Carolina at $225. Philadelphia ~$350. Other counties $200-$300. Fee waivers via In Forma Pauperis petition. Cook County ~$315. Other counties $210-$350. Fee waivers available. Filing fee ~$225 in most counties. Additional fees for service. Fee waivers (IFP) available.

Full ranking of divorce filing fees, 10 states covered by PlainCivil

  1. 1
    Michigan $150–$250 filing fee
    Wayne County ~$225. Ottawa County ~$150. Fee waivers for low-income filers.
  2. 2
    Ohio $150–$300 filing fee
    Franklin County ~$200. Hamilton County ~$275. Affidavit of Indigency available.
  3. 3
    Georgia $200–$225 filing fee
    Fulton County ~$225. Most counties $200-$225. Fee waivers via In Forma Pauperis.
  4. 4
    Pennsylvania $200–$350 filing fee
    Philadelphia ~$350. Other counties $200-$300. Fee waivers via In Forma Pauperis petition.
  5. 5
    Illinois $210–$350 filing fee
    Cook County ~$315. Other counties $210-$350. Fee waivers available.
  6. 6
    North Carolina $225 filing fee
    Filing fee ~$225 in most counties. Additional fees for service. Fee waivers (IFP) available.
  7. 7
    Texas $250–$350 filing fee
    Varies by county. Harris County ~$300, Travis County ~$280. Indigency waivers available.
  8. 8
    New York $335–$400 filing fee
    Index number $210 + Request for Judicial Intervention $95 + other fees. Total ~$335-400.
  9. 9
    Florida $400–$409 filing fee
    Petition fee $409 in most counties. Fee waivers available.
  10. 10
    California $435 filing fee
    Petition fee $435. Response fee $435 if contested. Fee waivers (FW-001) available.

Source PlainCivil court-schedule fields

Texas marks the entry to the higher-fee tier at $250–$350. Varies by county. Harris County ~$300, Travis County ~$280. Indigency waivers available. New York follows at $335–$400. Index number $210 + Request for Judicial Intervention $95 + other fees. Total ~$335-400. Florida follows at $400–$409. Petition fee $409 in most counties. Fee waivers available. California follows at $435. Petition fee $435. Response fee $435 if contested. Fee waivers (FW-001) available. For state-by-state process detail, see the divorce process guide.

Methodology Notes

Fees shown are pulled live from PlainCivil's own filing-fee database, which compiles base petition fees for uncontested, no-fault divorce filings from official state and county court fee schedules. Where a state publishes a range rather than a single statewide figure (because county courts set their own add-on fees within a state-set band), both the low and high end of that range are shown. Rankings sort by the low end of each state's range; ties are broken by the high end. This list covers only the 10 states PlainCivil tracks and reflects fees as of each record's last-verified date; it is not a survey of all 50 states.

Caveats and Limitations

Fees fluctuate with legislative sessions or administrative orders and can change after a record was last verified. County-level surcharges, such as records-automation or law-library fees, can push a filer's actual total above the base figure shown here. This ranking omits fee waivers for indigency, which are available in every state PlainCivil covers and can reduce the cost to $0 for qualifying filers, and it does not include service-of-process, mediation, or attorney costs. Always verify the current fee with the county clerk before filing. See our methodology for how every figure is sourced.