How Much Does a Divorce Cost in North Carolina? $225 Now, $305 From December 1, 2026
North Carolina family law · Last reviewed October 23, 2026
North Carolina's divorce filing fee is set by statute and the same in every county. Today it's $225. A 2026 law raises it to $305 for filings on or after December 1, 2026.
The filing fee
| Part | Through Nov. 30, 2026 | From Dec. 1, 2026 | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Court of Justice fee (district court) | $130 | $160 | G.S. 7A-305(a)(2) |
| Facilities fee | $16 | $16 | 7A-305(a)(1) |
| Telecommunications and data connectivity fee | $4 | $4 | 7A-305(a)(1a) |
| Absolute divorce fee | $75 | $125 | 7A-305(a2) |
| Total | $225 | $305 |
The divorce packet says it plainly: "The fee for filing a case for divorce is currently $225.00." The increase comes from S.L. 2026-41, signed July 7, 2026, and applies to fees assessed on or after December 1, 2026. The Legislature's online statutes and the court system's fee chart hadn't been updated for it as of October 2026, so you may still see $225 in places; a complaint filed on or after December 1 owes $305. The same law raised connectivity fees in criminal, estate and special proceedings cases, but not the $4 civil fee.
Responding
An answer alone costs nothing. Filing fees apply to a later pleading only if it contains a counterclaim: "Civil filing fees are assessed for all complaints and for any subsequent pleading containing a counterclaim, crossclaim, or third-party complaint." A counterclaim for property division or alimony costs $150 today and $180 from December 1, 2026.
Other court costs
| Item | Cost | Statute or source |
|---|---|---|
| Sheriff's service, per item of process | $30 | G.S. 7A-311 |
| Certified mail service (packet estimate) | about $7 in postage | Divorce packet |
| Notice of hearing on a motion | $20 | G.S. 7A-305(f) |
| Alias or pluries summons, or an endorsement | $15 | G.S. 7A-308 |
| Resuming a former name | $10 | G.S. 50-12 |
| Custody mediation | Free | N.C. Courts |
| Domestic violence protective order | No court costs | Fee chart |
For the sheriff, "When two or more items of civil process are served simultaneously on one party, only one thirty-dollar ($30.00) fee shall be charged." The clerk accepts cards, cash, money orders and cashier's checks; "Personal checks are not accepted."
Complex financial cases. From January 1, 2027, a party can ask to have a complicated equitable distribution, alimony or support claim assigned to a special judge. That designation carries a separate fee ($1,130 from December 1, 2026), split equally between the spouses. It doesn't apply to the divorce filing.
Proceeding as an indigent
If you can't afford the costs, ask to proceed as an indigent under G.S. 1-110, on the Petition to Proceed as an Indigent (AOC-G-106). A judge or clerk may approve it "when the person makes affidavit that he or she is unable to advance the required court costs." The clerk must approve it if you receive food and nutrition benefits, Work First or SSI, or if a legal services program represents you. Others may be approved at the court's discretion, and the clerk can ask for a Civil Affidavit of Indigency (AOC-CV-226). Advance costs aren't collected "in suits by an indigent." According to the packet, an approved petition also covers the sheriff's service fee.
Other costs to plan for
- Publication, if your spouse can't be found, costs whatever the newspaper charges for three weekly notices.
- Lawyer's fees. The court's lawyer referral service connects you with a lawyer who will "charge no more than $50 for an initial, 30-minute consultation." Legal Aid of North Carolina helps eligible people at 1-866-219-5262. Court-appointed lawyers aren't available for divorce.
- Counsel fees from your spouse. A dependent spouse entitled to alimony can ask the court to order the other spouse to pay reasonable counsel fees, and fees can also be awarded in custody and support cases.
- Experts such as appraisers and business valuators in an equitable distribution case.
This page doesn't publish an average cost of a North Carolina divorce; the figures online come from law-firm marketing, not official sources.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to file for divorce in North Carolina?
$225, the same in every county. For filings on or after December 1, 2026, it's $305. Service by the sheriff adds $30.
Why is the North Carolina divorce fee going up?
The 2026 budget law, S.L. 2026-41, raised the district court fee from $130 to $160 and the absolute divorce fee from $75 to $125, effective December 1, 2026.
Does the defendant pay a fee in a North Carolina divorce?
Not for an answer alone. A counterclaim costs $150 ($180 from December 1, 2026).
Can I file for divorce in North Carolina for free?
If the court lets you proceed as an indigent. The clerk must approve it if you receive food and nutrition benefits, Work First or SSI, or have a legal services lawyer.
How much does it cost to resume my maiden name?
$10, whether you ask for it in the divorce or afterward.