New Hampshire Divorce Cost Calculator

Filing a divorce petition in New Hampshire costs $280 ($282 when you have minor children) in every county. Add how the papers will be served, whether you have children and whether you agree, to total the court costs from New Hampshire's official fee schedules. Runs in your browser; nothing is stored.

New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire average of $288 an hour, or enter the rate a lawyer quoted you.

Estimated court costs in New Hampshire

  • Filing fee for the divorce petition Source$280
  • Serving the papers (spouse signs the acceptance form)$0
  • Court costs you pay$280

Also note: Divorces with minor children add $2. The court rule also lists a $30 electronic case filing surcharge; which filings it applies to is unclear from the rule text.

Court costs in New Hampshire run from about $280 on the cheapest route to $310 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)

New Hampshire divorce filing fee

Filing a divorce petition in New Hampshire costs $280 ($282 when you have minor children) in every county. (source)

Divorces with minor children add $2. The court rule also lists a $30 electronic case filing surcharge; which filings it applies to is unclear from the rule text.

The case is filed in the New Hampshire Circuit Court, Family Division.

Serving divorce papers in New Hampshire

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 $30 (Statewide sheriff fee for service of a petition, plus mileage at the federal rate; county conventions may raise it yearly by up to the CPI (RSA 104:31)). (source)

Required parenting class

In divorces involving children, the court must require the parties to attend a 4-hour Child Impact Seminar, completed within 45 days of service of the petition. Paid to the presenter; the fee must be fair and reasonable as directed by the family division's administrative judge, and presenters must serve people on need-based assistance at reduced or no cost. A separate motion can ask the court to waive or reduce it. (source)

Fee waiver in New Hampshire

If you cannot afford the fees, file the Motion to Reduce or Eliminate Filing Fees and/or Costs (NHJB-3234-DFP) with Financial Affidavit (NHJB-2065-F) (N.H. Family Division Rule 1.3(P)). A person who cannot afford a filing fee files a motion with a financial statement asking to pay less or file for free; the court may waive any fee for good cause shown. (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 New Hampshire

Clio reports an average billed family-law rate of $288 an hour in New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire run from about $280 on the cheapest route to $310 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 New Hampshire Circuit Court, Family Division.
  • 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 New Hampshire?

Filing a divorce petition in New Hampshire costs $280 ($282 when you have minor children) in every county. Lawyer fees are extra; Clio's 2025 average billed family-law rate in New Hampshire is $288 an hour.

How much does it cost to file for divorce in New Hampshire?

$280, or $282 with minor children, the same in every county. Divorces with minor children add $2. The court rule also lists a $30 electronic case filing surcharge; which filings it applies to is unclear from the rule text.

Can I get my divorce filing fee waived in New Hampshire?

You can ask. File the Motion to Reduce or Eliminate Filing Fees and/or Costs (NHJB-3234-DFP) with Financial Affidavit (NHJB-2065-F). A person who cannot afford a filing fee files a motion with a financial statement asking to pay less or file for free; the court may waive any fee for good cause shown. The court or clerk decides whether to grant it.

Is a parenting class required for divorce in New Hampshire?

In divorces involving children, the court must require the parties to attend a 4-hour Child Impact Seminar, completed within 45 days of service of the petition. Paid to the presenter; the fee must be fair and reasonable as directed by the family division's administrative judge, and presenters must serve people on need-based assistance at reduced or no cost. A separate motion can ask the court to waive or reduce it.

Sources

Last checked October 24, 2026 against official sources.

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