District of Columbia Divorce Cost Calculator
Filing a divorce petition in District of Columbia costs $80 in every county. Add how the papers will be served, whether you have children and whether you agree, to total the court costs from District of Columbia's official fee schedules. Runs in your browser; nothing is stored.
District of Columbia fees checked against official court sources on October 24, 2026.
This runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent, saved or added to the page address.
Leave blank if you are filing on your own. If a lawyer gave you an estimate of hours, enter it here.
Leave blank to use the District of Columbia average of $352 an hour, or enter the rate a lawyer quoted you.
Estimated court costs in District of Columbia
- Filing fee for the divorce petition Source$80
- Serving the papers (spouse signs the acceptance form)$0
- Court costs you pay$80
An estimate from official fee schedules, not a bill. The fee your court clerk charges on the day you file is the one that counts. (October 24, 2026)
District of Columbia divorce filing fee
Filing a divorce petition in District of Columbia costs $80 in every county. (source)
The case is filed in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Family Court (Domestic Relations Branch).
Serving divorce papers in District of Columbia
If your spouse is willing, ask the clerk about a form your spouse can sign to accept the papers, which avoids a service fee.
Sheriff and process-server fees are set locally in District of Columbia; ask the sheriff's office in the county where your spouse lives.
Fee waiver in District of Columbia
If you cannot afford the fees, file the Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Costs, Fees, or Security (In Forma Pauperis) (D.C. Code 15-712). Persons who are unable to pay court fees may apply for a waiver; the $80 fee is due unless the court gives permission not to pay because you cannot afford it. (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 District of Columbia
Clio reports an average billed family-law rate of $352 an hour in District of Columbia 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.
What this page does not do
- It does not file anything. Divorce cases are filed with the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Family Court (Domestic Relations Branch).
- It does not quote lawyer fees; it prices only the hours you enter.
- It does not decide fee-waiver eligibility; the court does.
- It is not legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a divorce in District of Columbia?
Filing a divorce petition in District of Columbia costs $80 in every county. Lawyer fees are extra; Clio's 2025 average billed family-law rate in District of Columbia is $352 an hour.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in District of Columbia?
$80, the same in every county.
Can I get my divorce filing fee waived in District of Columbia?
You can ask. File the Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Costs, Fees, or Security (In Forma Pauperis). Persons who are unable to pay court fees may apply for a waiver; the $80 fee is due unless the court gives permission not to pay because you cannot afford it. The court or clerk decides whether to grant it.
Sources
- District of Columbia divorce filing fee
- District of Columbia parenting class rule
- Clio: average lawyer hourly rates in District of Columbia
Last checked October 24, 2026 against official sources.
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