Connecticut Divorce Cost Calculator

Connecticut divorce filing fee

Filing a divorce petition in Connecticut costs $360 in every county. (source)

The case is filed in the Connecticut Superior Court (family matters, judicial district).

Serving divorce papers in Connecticut

Your spouse can sign the Certification of Waiver of Service of Process (JD-FM-249), with an Appearance (JD-CL-12) instead of being served, which costs nothing. (form)

Service by the state marshal costs up to $50 (state marshal fee, a statutory maximum per process served, plus mileage and copy charges (C.G.S. 52-261(a))). (source)

Required parenting class

Any party to a family action involving a minor child, unless the parties agree with court approval not to attend, the court finds it unnecessary, or the parties take a comparable program. Paid directly to the service provider; the statute caps the total at $200 per person, indexed annually for inflation, and no one may be excluded for inability to pay. (source)

Fee waiver in Connecticut

If you cannot afford the fees, file the Application for Waiver of Fees (JD-FM-75) (C.G.S. 52-259b; Practice Book 25-63). The court decides whether the applicant is indigent and unable to pay; a granted waiver can cover the entry fee, other filing fees, the cost of service by a state marshal and parenting education costs. (source)

The court or clerk decides whether to grant it and which fees it covers; filing the form does not guarantee a waiver.

Lawyer fees in Connecticut

Clio reports an average billed family-law rate of $431 an hour in Connecticut for 2025. (source) It is an average across lawyers, not a quote. Enter a lawyer's estimated hours above to price them, or enter the rate you were quoted.

Without a lawyer, court costs in Connecticut run from about $360 on the cheapest route to $410 or more on a contested case with state marshal service.