New Jersey Divorce Filing Fee and Fee Waiver: Costs and How to Apply

What Filing for Divorce Costs in New Jersey

The court fees for a New Jersey divorce are fixed statewide — they do not vary by county.

• Complaint filing fee: $300
• Parenting workshop fee: $25 (required for both parties if the action involves custody, visitation, or support of minor children)
• Answer or response fee: $175 (paid by the defendant if they file a response)

The $300 filing fee is paid at the time you file. If you submit through JEDS (the court's electronic filing portal), you pay by credit or debit card. In-person or mail filings require cash, check, or money order payable to "Treasurer, State of New Jersey."

These are the mandatory court fees. They do not include costs you may choose to incur — sheriff service fees (examples start at $24 plus mileage), private process server fees, or certified copy charges after finalization.

The Fee Waiver: Who Qualifies

Under Court Rule 1:13-2(a) and Administrative Directive 03-17, indigent litigants can have court fees waived entirely. You qualify if you meet both conditions:

1. Household income at or below 150% of the current federal poverty level. The applicable dollar threshold depends on household size and the current federal guidelines.
2. No more than $2,500 in liquid assets — such as cash or bank accounts.

If you are represented by Legal Services of New Jersey (LSNJ) or another certified pro bono legal organization, you are exempt from those filing fees under the fee-waiver guidance without a separate application.

How to Apply for the Fee Waiver

You apply at the same time you file your complaint. If you file the complaint without the fee waiver application, the clerk can reject the filing for nonpayment.

The application consists of two documents:

• Request for Fee Waiver (Form 04): the cover form requesting the waiver
• Form A (Certification in Support of a Fee Waiver): detailed financial disclosure supporting your eligibility

You must attach six consecutive months of bank statements for every account you hold, plus two months of income documentation (pay stubs, benefits statements, or a signed statement explaining no income).

The court reviews the application and either grants or denies the waiver. If granted, it covers the $300 filing fee and any other court fees during the case. There is one catch: if you later receive a financial settlement or recovery exceeding $2,000 during the divorce, you must repay all waived fees to the court.

Filing Fees in Context

The $300 court fee is the minimum cost of a New Jersey divorce, not the total. But compared to hiring an attorney — retainers in New Jersey typically range from $3,000 to $10,000, with hourly rates between $250 and $500 — the court fees are a small fraction of the overall cost for most people.

For self-represented filers, the real expense is not the $300 fee but the time spent assembling paperwork correctly. A clerk rejection means re-filing, which can add weeks. The New Jersey Divorce Filing Process Guide includes JEDS upload checklists and redaction rules that help you get the filing accepted the first time — protecting the time investment even if the money is modest.

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