Louisiana Divorce Cost Calculator

Louisiana divorce filing fee

Louisiana divorce filing fees are set county by county. In East Baton Rouge Parish, the fee is $275. (source)

In East Baton Rouge Parish the $275 is a $150 advance deposit plus the $125 Judgment of Divorce; a divorce under Civil Code article 102 also needs a $145 rule to show cause. Each parish clerk sets its own deposits: Orleans Parish charges $337.50 for a divorce petition, and Jefferson Parish asks for a $400 deposit when service is accepted.

The case is filed in the Louisiana District Court (parish clerk of court; Orleans: Civil District Court).

Serving divorce papers in Louisiana

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 $90 (East Baton Rouge Parish clerk's charge per service of process in a family suit (the with-service deposit is $90 higher than without)). (source)

Fee waiver in Louisiana

If you cannot afford the fees, file the Affidavit and motion to proceed in forma pauperis (La. C.C.P. arts. 5181-5188) (La. C.C.P. art. 5181). An individual who is unable to pay the costs of court because of poverty and lack of means may proceed without paying the costs in advance or as they accrue. (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 Louisiana

Clio reports an average billed family-law rate of $289 an hour in Louisiana 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 East Baton Rouge Parish run from about $275 on the cheapest route to $365 or more on a contested case with sheriff service; other counties in Louisiana charge different amounts.