Sources and scope: the legal statements below were compared with the linked California statutes, court rules, and court or agency material. This is general legal information, not advice about a specific case.
Most counties charge $435; Riverside and San Francisco charge $450
The Judicial Council's 2026 schedule lists $435 for the first petition or other first paper in a family case and the same amount for a respondent's first appearance. Local courthouse-construction surcharges raise the total to $450 in Riverside and San Francisco.
Think of that payment as an entry fee, not the price of the divorce. Service, Requests for Order, copies, certifications, e-filing provider charges, lawyers, experts, and steps such as deeds or retirement orders can each cost more.
| County | Petition or first paper | Response or first appearance | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $435 | $435 | Attorneys generally must follow the court's family e-filing rules |
| San Diego | $435 | $435 | ZIP code and the court's venue declaration affect the filing location |
| Orange | $435 | $435 | Most family matters go through Lamoreaux Justice Center |
| Riverside | $450 | $450 | Includes an authorized local courthouse-construction surcharge |
| San Francisco | $450 | $450 | Includes an authorized local courthouse-construction surcharge |
A regular response and a joint petition change the amount due
In a regular case, the petitioner pays a first-paper fee unless the court waives it. A respondent who files a response or another chargeable first appearance generally owes a separate $435 or $450. If the respondent never appears and the case proceeds by default, there is ordinarily no response fee for the petitioner to pay.
California Courts lists $870 to file the joint petition introduced in 2026. Because local construction charges and clerk systems do not always map neatly onto a statewide description, joint petitioners in Riverside, San Francisco, or any court showing a different local amount should ask the clerk what is due rather than doubling another line of the schedule.
Summary dissolution uses one $435–$450 filing fee under the current court instructions. If only one spouse receives a waiver, the spouse who does not qualify pays the full fee. Each joint petitioner who needs a waiver files a separate request.
| Path | 2026 statewide amount | Local treatment | Before fee waivers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular; no respondent appearance | $435 standard first-paper fee | Riverside and San Francisco list $450 | One fee unless waived |
| Regular; petition and response | $435 for each party's first paper | Use each county's first-paper total | One fee for each spouse who appears |
| Joint petition | $870 on the California Courts page | Ask the clerk about any local treatment | One combined filing with two petitioners |
| Summary dissolution | $435 standard filing fee | Court instructions give a $435–$450 range | One filing fee |
Later filings and copies can add their own court charges
The statewide schedule also lists charges that can arise after filing. Whether one applies depends on the document, whether it is also that party's first paper, and what has already been paid. If the form does not match a line below cleanly, ask the clerk before filing.
| Item | Published charge | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| Request for Order or another family-law motion | $60 | Usually charged unless the filing is also the party's first paper |
| Qualifying custody or visitation modification/enforcement | +$25 | Added to certain custody or parenting-time requests |
| Stipulation and order without a hearing | $20 | A stipulation needing no order has no listed fee |
| Court copy | $0.50 a page | Certification is charged separately |
| Certification | $40 a document | Added to the per-page copy charge |
| Certified dissolution record | $15 a copy | The listed amount for an ordinary request |
The largest costs usually come from work outside the clerk's fee schedule
California does not set one price for a private process server, attorney, mediator, custody evaluator, appraiser, or forensic accountant. The bill depends on the provider, location, work requested, issues in dispute, and time spent. Court-authorized publication can also be costly when ordinary service is not possible.
For a realistic budget, keep court charges separate from outside services. Estimate professional time from the tasks likely to be needed and use an actual rate or quote when available; a generic multiplier for a 'contested' case hides more than it explains.
- Serving the papers or publishing notice with court permission
- E-filing provider, electronic-service, and card charges
- Full-representation or limited-scope legal help
- Mediation or another private settlement process
- An appraisal, business valuation, tracing analysis, or tax advice
- A custody evaluation, minor's counsel, or another court-appointed professional
- Deeds, retirement division orders, refinancing, and other work after judgment
FW-001 offers three ways to qualify for a waiver
Form FW-001 asks whether the applicant receives a listed public benefit, has gross monthly household income below the Judicial Council table, or cannot pay court fees while meeting basic household needs. The judge reviews the request; expecting reimbursement from a spouse later does not itself establish eligibility.
The application is confidential. If an approved applicant later becomes able to pay, the person must notify the court within five days. A waiver can be ended or repayment required under the rules, and it ordinarily expires 60 days after the case ends. It does not pay a private lawyer, mediator, fine, or every outside expense.
| Household size | Monthly threshold |
|---|---|
| 1 | $2,660.00 |
| 2 | $3,606.67 |
| 3 | $4,553.33 |
| 4 | $5,500.00 |
| 5 | $6,446.67 |
| 6 | $7,393.33 |
| Each additional person | +$946.67 |
A waiver helps with court fees, not every divorce expense
The March 2026 form lists CalFresh, SSI, SSP, Medi-Cal, County Relief or General Assistance, IHSS, CalWORKs or Tribal TANF, CAPI, WIC, and unemployment benefits. Check the benefit actually received rather than trying to convert it to an assumed monthly income.
An approved waiver covers specified court fees and can be used to seek waiver of a sheriff's service charge through the required process. It does not make a private process server, lawyer, or mediator free. Each spouse qualifies separately.
Build the budget one known cost at a time
1. Pick the county and filing path
Begin with $435 or $450 and decide whether a respondent will file a chargeable first appearance or the spouses will use a joint petition.
2. Account for waivers separately
Treat each spouse's waiver status on its own and keep the signed waiver order.
3. Add the court filings you expect
Count likely Requests for Order, custody surcharges, stipulation orders, copies, and certifications.
4. Price outside work separately
Use quotes for service, publication, e-filing, legal help, mediation, valuation, experts, and implementation when you can.
5. Check the amount on filing day
Confirm the court, fee schedule, payment method, and local forms before submitting the papers.
Questions readers often ask
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to file for divorce in California in 2026?
The standard first-paper fee is $435. Riverside and San Francisco charge $450 because of local construction surcharges. Service, later filings, copies, and professional help cost extra.
Does the responding spouse pay a filing fee too?
Usually, yes, if the respondent files a response or another chargeable first appearance. The amount is generally the same $435 or $450 unless that spouse receives a fee waiver.
What does a California joint petition cost in 2026?
California Courts lists an $870 filing fee. Ask the filing clerk about local treatment and how the court handles the fee when one or both spouses request a waiver.
Will a fee waiver pay for a divorce lawyer?
No. It covers qualifying court costs and can support waiver of certain sheriff charges. It does not pay a private lawyer, mediator, fine, or every expense outside the courthouse.
Can I qualify if my income is above the FW-001 table?
Possibly. The form has a separate route for someone who cannot pay court fees and still meet basic household needs. The judge reviews the financial information and decides.
Does the $435 filing fee include attorney fees?
No. The filing fee opens or answers the court case. Legal work, service, mediation, experts, e-filing provider charges, and work after judgment are separate.
Sources used for this guide
Official sources
- Judicial Council — 2026 Statewide Civil Fee Schedule
Lists 2026 first-paper, motion, custody, stipulation, copy, certification, and record fees, together with county construction surcharges.
- Judicial Council — Civil fee schedules
Hosts the Judicial Council's fee schedule now in effect and its archive of prior schedules.
- California Courts — Start a divorce or legal separation
Explains who meets the ordinary residency rules, which statewide forms start a regular case, and how the $435–$450 filing fee fits into filing.
- California Courts — Joint petition for divorce
Explains the joint-petition route introduced January 1, 2026: the forms, $870 fee, no-service process, bar on temporary orders, and revocation option.
- California Courts — Summary dissolution qualifications
Lists every summary-dissolution qualification, including marriage length, children, real estate, property and debt limits, support waiver, and agreement.
- California Courts — Ask for a court fee waiver
Explains who may qualify, which court costs may be waived, how confidentiality works, and what can happen after approval.
- Judicial Council Form FW-001 — Request to Waive Court Fees
Links to the mandatory FW-001 request form revised March 1, 2026.
- Judicial Council — 2026 fee-waiver materials
Documents the March 1, 2026 revisions and the gross-monthly-household-income table used on FW-001.