How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Massachusetts? Court Fees, Service and Fee Waivers
Massachusetts family law · Last reviewed October 28, 2026
Massachusetts court fees are set by statute and are the same in every county. A divorce costs $215 to file as a joint petition and $220 as a complaint, before service and any lawyer's fees. If you can't afford the fees, you can ask the court to waive them.
Filing fees
The fees come from G.L. c. 262, § 40, which sets the register of probate's fees, and the surcharge from § 4C. The court's fee pages state them this way:
| Item | 1A joint petition | 1B or fault complaint |
|---|---|---|
| Divorce filing fee | $200 | $200 |
| Filing surcharge | $15 | $15 |
| Summons | none (no summons in a 1A case) | $5 |
| Total at filing | $215 | $220 |
The court accepts a bank check or money order made out to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, cash, or a credit card.
Other court fees you may meet
| Item | Fee | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Separate support complaint | $100 + $15 surcharge | Court fee schedule |
| Complaint for custody, support and parenting time (unmarried parents) | $100 + $15 surcharge | Court fee schedule |
| Motion in a divorce case during the nisi period | $100 | Court fee schedule |
| Complaint to modify child support, custody or parenting time | $50 | Court fee schedule |
| Complaint to modify other issues (such as alimony) | $150 | Court fee schedule |
| Temporary restraining order against a spouse in a divorce or separate support case | No fee | Court fee schedule |
| Two Families Now parent education course | $49 per parent | Standing Order 3-23 |
Serving the complaint
In a 1B or fault case, your spouse must be served with the complaint and summons, usually in hand by a deputy sheriff or another person authorized to serve process (Mass. R. Dom. Rel. P. 4). The service charge isn't on the court's fee schedule, so ask the sheriff's office in your spouse's county. You avoid it if your spouse signs a notarized acceptance of service on the summons. If your spouse can't be found, the court can order service by publication; the court's fee page says the plaintiff pays any publication costs.
Parent education
In a contested divorce with minor children where you disagree about custody or parenting time, each parent must take the four-hour online Two Families Now course unless a judge waives it. Under Standing Order 3-23 it costs $49 per parent, and a parent who can't afford it can ask the court to waive the fee. Joint 1A petitions are exempt from the requirement.
Copies after the divorce
The court's records page lists $20 for a certificate of divorce absolute and $20 for a certified copy of the judgment nisi. A certified copy of the separation agreement is $20 for the first page plus a per-page charge the page prints as ".05 cents"; ask the court for the exact total. See records.
Fee waivers
If you can't pay, file an Affidavit of Indigency and Request for Waiver, Substitution or State Payment of Fees and Costs with your petition or complaint. Under G.L. c. 261, §§ 27A-27G, the normal fees and costs that can be waived include filing fees, the surcharge, and the costs of service of process, including publication. Standing Order 3-23 uses the same affidavit for the $49 parent education fee. The court's indigency page explains who qualifies and has the forms. In a 1A case, the court's page says to file for indigency if both of you are indigent.
What this page doesn't estimate
Lawyers' fees, mediators, appraisers and pension-division orders often cost far more than the court fees, and they vary with the case. We don't publish averages, because no official source tracks them.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Massachusetts?
$215 for a 1A joint petition ($200 filing fee plus $15 surcharge) and $220 for a 1B or fault complaint, which also needs a $5 summons. The fees are the same in every county.
Can I get the divorce filing fee waived in Massachusetts?
Yes. File an Affidavit of Indigency. If the court finds you indigent, it can waive the filing fee and surcharge and other normal costs, such as service. The same affidavit is how a parent asks the court to waive the parent education fee.
Who pays the cost of serving my spouse?
The spouse who files usually pays for service, and pays any publication costs if the court orders notice by newspaper. An indigency waiver can cover service costs, including publication.
How much is the Two Families Now course?
$49 per parent under Standing Order 3-23. A parent who can't afford it can ask the court to waive the fee.
Is a cheaper online divorce possible in Massachusetts?
eFileMA lets you file online, but the court fees are the same, and a joint petition still needs a hearing. Online document services charge their own fees on top.