New Hampshire Divorce Filing Fee and Total Costs

The base filing fee for divorce in New Hampshire is $280 without minor children or $282 with minor children. But the filing fee is just the starting line. Depending on your case, total costs for a self-filed divorce can range from $320 to over $900 — and that is before any attorney involvement.

Here is every cost you should plan for.

Court Filing Fees

The $2 difference for cases with children is a surcharge under Family Division Rule 1.3. The 3% card surcharge applies to all electronic and in-person card payments — so if you pay the $282 by card, you will actually pay $290.46.

Many online sources still list the NH divorce filing fee as $252. That figure is outdated. The current fees are $280 and $282 under the Circuit Court Family Division fee schedule.

Service of Process Costs

Joint petitions skip service entirely. If you file an Individual Petition, your spouse must be formally served. Costs depend on the method:

The court always tries courthouse pickup first. You only pay for certified mail or sheriff service if your spouse does not pick up the papers within the 10-day window.

Mandatory Program Fees

The four-hour Child Impact Program is required for every divorce involving minor children. Both parents must complete it, and each pays their own $85 fee. Mediation is mandatory only when spouses disagree on custody, property, or support issues.

Total Cost Scenarios

Uncontested joint petition, no children: $280 filing + $40 certified copies = $320 minimum

Uncontested joint petition, with children: $282 filing + $170 Child Impact ($85 × 2) + $40 copies = $492 minimum

Individual petition, cooperative spouse, with children: $282 filing + $0 service (courthouse pickup) + $170 CIP + $40 copies = $492

Individual petition, uncooperative spouse, mediation needed: $282 filing + $75 sheriff service + $170 CIP + $225 mediation share + $40 copies = $792

These figures assume you handle the case yourself. Traditional attorney representation in NH ranges from $2,000–$5,500 for an uncontested case to $9,000–$35,000+ for a contested divorce.

Fee Waivers for Low-Income Filers

If you cannot afford the filing fee, the court offers a waiver process:

Filing fee waiver — Submit a "Motion to Reduce or Eliminate Filing Fees and/or Costs" along with a completed Financial Affidavit proving financial hardship. File this motion at the same time as your petition.

Child Impact Program fee waiver — The court's filing fee waiver does not automatically cover the $85 CIP fee. To waive the CIP cost, first apply directly to the program provider. If they deny the request, file Form NHJB-2345-F with the court.

Mediation fee assistance — If you qualify as indigent, submit a Mediation Payment Worksheet (Form NHJB-2782-F) to access state mediation and arbitration funds.

Hidden Costs to Watch For

The 3% card surcharge adds up across multiple transactions. Pay by check or cash when possible.

Notarization fees — The Financial Affidavit must be notarized. Many banks offer free notary services to account holders.

Document copies — You will need extra copies of your petition, settlement agreement, and financial documents. Courthouse copiers typically charge per page.

Postage and travel — If you are serving papers by certified mail or driving to a courthouse in another town, factor in these incidental costs.

The New Hampshire Divorce Filing Process Guide includes a complete fee worksheet that calculates your expected total based on your specific situation — children, service method, and whether mediation is likely.

See more New Hampshire guides →