North Carolina Divorce Cost Calculator

Filing a divorce petition in North Carolina costs $225 in every county. Add how the papers will be served, whether you have children and whether you agree, to total the court costs from North Carolina's official fee schedules. Runs in your browser; nothing is stored.

North Carolina 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 North Carolina average of $322 an hour, or enter the rate a lawyer quoted you.

Estimated court costs in North Carolina

  • Filing fee for the divorce petition Source$225
  • Serving the papers (spouse signs the acceptance form) Source$0
  • Court costs you pay$225

Also note: Adding a claim to resume a former name can add a $10 fee. A counterclaim, such as one for property division or alimony, carries its own court costs.

Court costs in North Carolina run from about $225 on the cheapest route to $255 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)

North Carolina divorce filing fee

Filing a divorce petition in North Carolina costs $225 in every county. (source)

  • Courtroom and judicial facilities fee (district court): $16
  • Court telecommunications and data connectivity fee: $4
  • General Court of Justice fee (district court): $130
  • Absolute divorce cost: $75

Adding a claim to resume a former name can add a $10 fee. A counterclaim, such as one for property division or alimony, carries its own court costs.

The case is filed in the North Carolina District Court (Clerk of Superior Court in your county).

Serving divorce papers in North Carolina

Your spouse can sign the Acceptance of Service (signed before a notary) instead of being served, which costs nothing. (form)

Service by the sheriff costs $30 (Statewide civil process fee for each item served, set by statute). (source)

Required mediation

When custody or visitation is contested, the court sets those issues for the state custody mediation program, unless it waives mediation for good cause. The custody mediation statutes state no fee; confirm with your local district program. (source)

Fee waiver in North Carolina

If you cannot afford the fees, file the Petition to Proceed as an Indigent (AOC-G-106) (N.C.G.S. 1-110). The clerk must allow it when you file the sworn petition and receive food and nutrition benefits, Work First Family Assistance or SSI, or are represented by a legal services organization. A judge or clerk may also allow it for others who are unable to advance the court costs. (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 North Carolina

Clio reports an average billed family-law rate of $322 an hour in North Carolina 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 North Carolina run from about $225 on the cheapest route to $255 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 North Carolina District Court (Clerk of Superior Court in your 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 North Carolina?

Filing a divorce petition in North Carolina costs $225 in every county. If your spouse signs the Acceptance of Service (signed before a notary), there is no service fee. Lawyer fees are extra; Clio's 2025 average billed family-law rate in North Carolina is $322 an hour.

How much does it cost to file for divorce in North Carolina?

$225, the same in every county. Adding a claim to resume a former name can add a $10 fee. A counterclaim, such as one for property division or alimony, carries its own court costs.

Can I get my divorce filing fee waived in North Carolina?

You can ask. File the Petition to Proceed as an Indigent (AOC-G-106). The clerk must allow it when you file the sworn petition and receive food and nutrition benefits, Work First Family Assistance or SSI, or are represented by a legal services organization. A judge or clerk may also allow it for others who are unable to advance the court costs. The court or clerk decides whether to grant it.

Sources

Last checked October 24, 2026 against official sources.

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