LawLintel

Divorce Costs & Process by State

Divorce is a state-court process, and the numbers that matter — the filing fee, the residency requirement, the waiting period — are set by each state (and sometimes each county). This hub collects those facts for the ten largest states, each verified against the state judiciary, statute or county clerk fee schedule it comes from.

Court filing fees are only the government's share of the cost. An uncontested divorce where both spouses agree can often be completed for little more than the filing fee; a contested divorce with lawyers is a different financial event entirely. LawLintel separates official fees from market estimates so you always know which is which.

Divorce by state

StateFiling feeVerified
California$4352026-08-24
Texas$250–$4002026-08-24
Florida$4082026-08-24
New York$335 minimum2026-08-24
Pennsylvania$200–$3502026-08-24
Illinois$200–$4002026-08-24
Ohio$200–$4002026-08-24
Georgia$200–$2302026-08-24
North Carolina$2252026-08-24
Michigan$175 without children / $255 with children2026-08-24

Click a state for the full picture — fees, requirements, process steps, official forms and sources.

What drives the cost of a divorce

Three things determine most of the cost: whether the divorce is contested, whether children or significant property are involved, and where you file. The court's own fees are modest — typically $175 to $450 to open the case — and every state in this guide offers a fee waiver for filers who cannot afford them.

Contested cases add attorney fees (commonly $200–$500 per hour in metro areas), discovery, mediation and sometimes custody evaluation. That is why published averages for a contested divorce run from several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars — figures that are market estimates, not government fees.

Residency and waiting periods

Every state imposes a residency requirement before its courts will hear a divorce — commonly six months in the state, sometimes with an additional county requirement. Several states also impose a waiting period between filing and final judgment: Texas requires 60 days, California six months, Michigan 60 days (six months with children). New York and Ohio have no general post-filing waiting period.

Tools & comparisons

State guides

LawLintel provides general legal information, not legal advice. Laws, rules, procedures and fees change and can depend on your specific facts and county. Verify important information with the applicable court or a qualified attorney before acting.