California Divorce Filing Fee

Court Filing Fees by Path

The base filing fee for a California divorce depends on which path you take:

These are statewide base rates set by the Judicial Council. A few counties add courthouse construction surcharges that push the first paper fee up to $450. Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Francisco all fall into this category — check your county's fee schedule before filing.

Other Court Costs

Beyond the initial filing fee, expect these potential charges:

For a cooperative, uncontested divorce where you never file motions and only need one certified copy, these additional fees are minimal — under $20 total.

Total Cost Ranges

DIY uncontested (no professionals): $435 to $870 in court fees, depending on filing path. Add $50 to $150 for a process server if using the traditional path and you don't have a friend or relative who can serve. Total: roughly $500 to $1,000.

DIY with limited attorney help: Court fees plus $250 to $1,000 for targeted professional assistance — a document review session, help drafting the MSA, or a strategy consultation. Total: roughly $750 to $1,900.

Mediated divorce: Court fees plus mediator fees of $2,000 to $5,000 for the couple. Mediators typically charge $200 to $500 per hour. Total: roughly $2,500 to $6,000.

Attorney-represented uncontested: Court fees plus attorney retainers. Even for uncontested cases, California family law attorneys typically charge $2,500 to $5,000 in fees. Total: roughly $3,000 to $6,000.

Attorney-represented contested: Court fees, motion fees, discovery costs, and attorney billing. The average cost for a contested California divorce runs approximately $17,500 in attorney fees, with complex cases (business valuations, forensic accounting, custody evaluations, trial) reaching $50,000 or more.

Saving Money on Filing Fees

Fee waivers. If you receive Medi-Cal, CalWORKs, SSI, CalFresh, or other public benefits, you qualify under the public-benefits standard when you apply using Form FW-001. If your income falls below 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (roughly $1,500/month for a single person), you can also qualify. See our full guide on California divorce fee waivers.

Default-with-agreement path. If both spouses agree on terms but only one wants to handle the paperwork, the petitioner files the FL-100 ($435) and the respondent simply signs the MSA without filing a response. This saves the respondent's $435 fee. The total court cost is $435 instead of $870.

Summary dissolution. For qualifying couples (under five years married, no minor children or current pregnancy, no real estate, limited assets), the combined filing fee is $435 — the lowest court cost option.

Joint petition fee splitting. The FL-700 costs $870 combined, but both spouses can agree to split it. If one spouse qualifies for a fee waiver, the qualifying spouse pays nothing and only the other's portion is owed.

The Cheapest Possible Divorce

At the absolute minimum, a California divorce costs $435 (summary dissolution or default-with-agreement path) — or $0 if both spouses qualify for fee waivers. Add a friend or family member serving the papers for free (traditional path only), use the courts' free Guide & File tool and Self-Help Center for form preparation, and your total cost is under $500.

This minimum scenario requires: full cooperation between spouses, a straightforward financial situation, willingness to learn the process, and time to navigate it without professional help.

The California Divorce Filing Process Guide is designed for this exact situation — a structured walkthrough of the entire process with financial disclosure worksheets and judgment assembly checklists, for a fraction of what professional services charge.

See more California guides →