Rhode Island Divorce Cost Calculator

Filing a divorce petition in Rhode Island costs $130 in every county. Add how the papers will be served, whether you have children and whether you agree, to total the court costs from Rhode Island's official fee schedules. Runs in your browser; nothing is stored.

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

This runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent, saved or added to the page address.

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 Rhode Island average of $361 an hour, or enter the rate a lawyer quoted you.

Estimated court costs in Rhode Island

  • Filing fee for the divorce petition Source$130
  • Serving the papers (spouse signs the acceptance form)$0
  • Court costs you pay$130

Also note: The Family Court also applies a technology surcharge of up to $25 under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-15-11 on top of the $130 entry fee; the current surcharge amount was not confirmed.

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)

Rhode Island divorce filing fee

Filing a divorce petition in Rhode Island costs $130 in every county. (source)

The Family Court also applies a technology surcharge of up to $25 under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-15-11 on top of the $130 entry fee; the current surcharge amount was not confirmed.

The case is filed in the Rhode Island Family Court (statewide, Domestic Relations Clerk's Office).

Serving divorce papers in Rhode Island

If your spouse is willing, ask the clerk about a form your spouse can sign to accept the papers, which avoids a service fee.

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

Fee waiver in Rhode Island

If you cannot afford the fees, file the Motion, Affidavit, and Order to Proceed in Forma Pauperis (Family Court form) (R.I. Family Court Rules of Domestic Relations Procedure, appendix of forms). A party who cannot afford the fees may file the motion and affidavit to proceed in forma pauperis; the court decides. No numeric test was found in the rules text. (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 Rhode Island

Clio reports an average billed family-law rate of $361 an hour in Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island Family Court (statewide, Domestic Relations Clerk's Office).
  • 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 Rhode Island?

Filing a divorce petition in Rhode Island costs $130 in every county. Lawyer fees are extra; Clio's 2025 average billed family-law rate in Rhode Island is $361 an hour.

How much does it cost to file for divorce in Rhode Island?

$130, the same in every county. The Family Court also applies a technology surcharge of up to $25 under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-15-11 on top of the $130 entry fee; the current surcharge amount was not confirmed.

Can I get my divorce filing fee waived in Rhode Island?

You can ask. File the Motion, Affidavit, and Order to Proceed in Forma Pauperis (Family Court form). A party who cannot afford the fees may file the motion and affidavit to proceed in forma pauperis; the court decides. No numeric test was found in the rules text. The court or clerk decides whether to grant it.

Sources

Last checked October 24, 2026 against official sources.

Know someone who could use this? Share this free tool:

Share: