North Dakota Divorce Cost Calculator

Filing a divorce petition in North Dakota costs $160 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 Dakota's official fee schedules. Runs in your browser; nothing is stored.

North Dakota 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 Dakota average of $285 an hour, or enter the rate a lawyer quoted you.

Estimated court costs in North Dakota

  • Filing fee for the divorce petition Source$160
  • Serving the papers (spouse signs the acceptance form) Source$0
  • Court costs you pay$160

Court costs in North Dakota run from about $160 on the cheapest route to $190 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 Dakota divorce filing fee

Filing a divorce petition in North Dakota costs $160 in every county. (source)

A joint petition, filed by both spouses together, costs $160 to file and needs no service.

If your spouse files a response, they pay $100. (source)

The case is filed in the North Dakota District Court (county clerk of district court).

Serving divorce papers in North Dakota

Your spouse can sign the Admission of Service (Petition) instead of being served, which costs nothing. (form)

Service by the sheriff costs $30 (Statewide sheriff fee per person served, plus actual postage and long-distance costs (N.D.C.C. 11-15-07(1))). (source)

Required mediation

New divorce cases with a dispute or unresolved issue about parental rights and responsibilities are referred by the clerk to the state Family Mediation Program within 10 days of filing (some cases are excluded, such as those involving domestic violence). The court program is free. The program provides up to 6 hours of combined orientation and mediation at no cost; extra sessions are at the hourly rate set by the state court administrator, with a fee waiver or sliding scale available. (source)

Fee waiver in North Dakota

If you cannot afford the fees, file the Petition for Waiver of Filing Fees, with Financial Declaration (Forms 1-3, ND Legal Self Help Center) (N.D.C.C. 27-01-07). The court may waive the filing fee for a person unable to pay it; the page says a waiver may be possible for someone who does not make much money or has a lot of expenses. (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 Dakota

Clio reports an average billed family-law rate of $285 an hour in North Dakota 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 Dakota run from about $160 on the cheapest route to $190 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 Dakota District Court (county clerk of district court).
  • 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 Dakota?

Filing a divorce petition in North Dakota costs $160 in every county. If your spouse signs the Admission of Service (Petition), there is no service fee. Lawyer fees are extra; Clio's 2025 average billed family-law rate in North Dakota is $285 an hour.

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

$160, the same in every county.

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

You can ask. File the Petition for Waiver of Filing Fees, with Financial Declaration (Forms 1-3, ND Legal Self Help Center). The court may waive the filing fee for a person unable to pay it; the page says a waiver may be possible for someone who does not make much money or has a lot of expenses. The court or clerk decides whether to grant it.

Does my spouse have to pay a fee in North Dakota?

Yes, if they file a response: $100.

Sources

Last checked October 24, 2026 against official sources.

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