Pennsylvania Divorce Cost Calculator

Pennsylvania divorce filing fees are set county by county. In Philadelphia County, the fee is $334.73. Add how the papers will be served, whether you have children and whether you agree, to total the court costs from Pennsylvania's official fee schedules. Runs in your browser; nothing is stored.

Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania average of $283 an hour, or enter the rate a lawyer quoted you.

Estimated court costs in Pennsylvania

  • Filing fee (Philadelphia County example; your county may differ) Source$334.73
  • Serving the papers (spouse signs the acceptance form) Source$0
  • Court costs you pay$334.73

Also note: Each county's prothonotary sets its own fee schedule on top of state add-ons; Philadelphia's $334.73 is made up of an $189.20 base fee plus ten state and local add-ons. Custody, support and other claims filed with the divorce can carry their own 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)

Pennsylvania divorce filing fee

Pennsylvania divorce filing fees are set county by county. In Philadelphia County, the fee is $334.73. (source)

Each county's prothonotary sets its own fee schedule on top of state add-ons; Philadelphia's $334.73 is made up of an $189.20 base fee plus ten state and local add-ons. Custody, support and other claims filed with the divorce can carry their own fees.

In Philadelphia County, if your spouse files a response, they pay $144.54. (source)

The case is filed in the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas (county prothonotary or family court clerk).

Serving divorce papers in Pennsylvania

Your spouse can sign the Acceptance of Service (form in Pa.R.Civ.P. 402(b), used under Pa.R.Civ.P. 1930.4(d)) instead of being served, which costs nothing. (form)

Sheriff and process-server fees are set locally in Pennsylvania; ask the sheriff's office in the county where your spouse lives.

Fee waiver in Pennsylvania

If you cannot afford the fees, file the Petition to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (IFP); from November 1, 2026, Application to Waive Fees and Costs under Pa.R.J.A. 1990 (Pa.R.Civ.P. 240; Pa.R.J.A. 1990 (effective November 1, 2026)). A filer who cannot pay may ask to be excused from the fee by IFP petition; Philadelphia asks filers on public assistance or SSI to bring proof. From November 1, 2026 a party is deemed without financial resources if receiving needs-based public assistance (such as SNAP, Medicaid, SSI or TANF), or with gross income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines and assets under $10,000 (excluding home and one vehicle); a substantial-hardship route also exists. (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 Pennsylvania

Clio reports an average billed family-law rate of $283 an hour in Pennsylvania 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.

What this page does not do

  • It does not file anything. Divorce cases are filed with the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas (county prothonotary or family court clerk).
  • 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 Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania divorce filing fees are set county by county. In Philadelphia County, the fee is $334.73. If your spouse signs the Acceptance of Service (form in Pa.R.Civ.P. 402(b), used under Pa.R.Civ.P. 1930.4(d)), there is no service fee. Lawyer fees are extra; Clio's 2025 average billed family-law rate in Pennsylvania is $283 an hour.

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

It depends on the county. In Philadelphia County it is $334.73. Check the fee schedule of the court where you file.

Can I get my divorce filing fee waived in Pennsylvania?

You can ask. File the Petition to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (IFP); from November 1, 2026, Application to Waive Fees and Costs under Pa.R.J.A. 1990. A filer who cannot pay may ask to be excused from the fee by IFP petition; Philadelphia asks filers on public assistance or SSI to bring proof. From November 1, 2026 a party is deemed without financial resources if receiving needs-based public assistance (such as SNAP, Medicaid, SSI or TANF), or with gross income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines and assets under $10,000 (excluding home and one vehicle); a substantial-hardship route also exists. The court or clerk decides whether to grant it.

Does my spouse have to pay a fee in Pennsylvania?

In Philadelphia County, yes, if they file a response: $144.54. Other counties set their own amounts.

Sources

Last checked October 24, 2026 against official sources.

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