Indiana Divorce Cost Calculator

Indiana divorce filing fee

Filing a divorce petition in Indiana costs $157 under the statewide fee schedule (some counties add local charges). (source)

• Civil filing fee (IC 33-37-4-4(a)): $100
• Document storage fee: $5
• Automated record keeping fee: $20
• Public defense administration fee: $5
• Judicial insurance adjustment fee: $1
• Judicial salaries fee: $20
• Court administration fee: $5
• Pro bono services fee: $1

Counties with an approved alternative dispute resolution plan add $20 to every dissolution petition ($177 total).

The case is filed in the Indiana Circuit or Superior Court (county clerk).

Serving divorce papers in Indiana

If your spouse is willing, ask the clerk about a form your spouse can sign to accept the papers, which avoids a service fee.

Service by the sheriff costs $28 (Statewide sheriff's service of process fee when the clerk collects it (Trial Court Fee Manual)). (source)

Fee waiver in Indiana

If you cannot afford the fees, file the Verified Motion for Fee Waiver, with an Order on the motion. The petitioner states under oath that they cannot pay the filing fees or other costs because they do not have sufficient income or resources, and lists household income and expenses; the court may waive all prepayment or order partial payment. (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 Indiana

Clio reports an average billed family-law rate of $284 an hour in Indiana 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 Indiana run from about $157 on the cheapest route to $185 or more on a contested case with sheriff service.