Maryland Divorce Cost Calculator

Filing a divorce petition in Maryland costs $165 in every county. Add how the papers will be served, whether you have children and whether you agree, to total the court costs from Maryland's official fee schedules. Runs in your browser; nothing is stored.

Maryland fees checked against official court sources on October 24, 2026.

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Do you have children under 18 together?
Do you and your spouse agree on everything?
How will your spouse get the divorce papers?

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 Maryland average of $355 an hour, or enter the rate a lawyer quoted you.

Estimated court costs in Maryland

  • Filing fee for the divorce petition Source$165
  • Serving the papers (spouse signs the acceptance form)$0
  • Court costs you pay$165

Court costs in Maryland run from about $165 on the cheapest route to $225 or more on a contested case with sheriff service (court costs only, not lawyer fees).

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)

Maryland divorce filing fee

Filing a divorce petition in Maryland costs $165 in every county. (source)

The case is filed in the Maryland Circuit Court (clerk of the circuit court for the county).

Serving divorce papers in Maryland

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 $60 (Statewide sheriff fee for service of a paper not including an execution or attachment (Cts. & Jud. Proc. 7-402)). (source)

Fee waiver in Maryland

If you cannot afford the fees, file the Request for Waiver of Costs (CC-DC-089), with Notice Regarding Restricted Information (MDJ-008) (Md. Rule 1-325). The court considers the Maryland Legal Services Corporation Client Income Eligibility Guidelines and may consider other factors; the judge decides. (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 Maryland

Clio reports an average billed family-law rate of $355 an hour in Maryland 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 Maryland run from about $165 on the cheapest route to $225 or more on a contested case with sheriff service.

What this page does not do

  • It does not file anything. Divorce cases are filed with the Maryland Circuit Court (clerk of the circuit court for the county).
  • 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 Maryland?

Filing a divorce petition in Maryland costs $165 in every county. Lawyer fees are extra; Clio's 2025 average billed family-law rate in Maryland is $355 an hour.

How much does it cost to file for divorce in Maryland?

$165, the same in every county.

Can I get my divorce filing fee waived in Maryland?

You can ask. File the Request for Waiver of Costs (CC-DC-089), with Notice Regarding Restricted Information (MDJ-008). The court considers the Maryland Legal Services Corporation Client Income Eligibility Guidelines and may consider other factors; the judge decides. The court or clerk decides whether to grant it.

Sources

Last checked October 24, 2026 against official sources.

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