How to read the result
What this divorce cost estimator calculates
Change the facts to compare scenarios, then read the lines under the total. They show which inputs were used and which questions—such as above-threshold support, a formula adjustment, or an expert fee—the calculator leaves open.
What the estimator adds together
Court fees+Service+Professional time+Case expenses
The court-fee line begins at $335 for an ordinary uncontested filing. Service, attorney time, and mediation are starting inputs you can replace; they are not New York averages or provider quotes.
Court filing and calendaring
Where the $335 uncontested minimum comes from
| Filing item | Current fee | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Index number | $210 | Paid when the Supreme Court action begins |
| Uncontested RJI and Note of Issue | $125 total | Paid when the final packet is placed on the calendar; the statewide component charges are $95 and $30 |
| Ordinary minimum | $335 | Court charges only; service and professional work are separate |
Local court pages often call the combined $125 amount a Note of Issue or calendar fee. The statewide schedule lists a $45 motion, a $35 settlement-stipulation filing, and other charges that apply only when the case needs that filing.
Why the total can change quickly
The $335 stays put while the work expands or contracts
The paperwork still has to be right
The court minimum is the same, but an agreement, support worksheets, service or joint filing, and property-transfer documents still take work. Replace the attorney-hours input with a flat-fee or limited-scope quote if that is how the help will be billed.
Professional time can become the largest line
A temporary motion, financial discovery, parenting dispute, appraisal, business valuation, mediation, or trial preparation can add many hours. Enter those hours or quotes separately instead of relying on a statewide average.
Read the total before using it
The estimator prices only the lines on the screen
Included in the displayed total
- The $335 minimum court-fee line
- Your service figure
- Your attorney hours multiplied by your hourly rate
- Your mediation figure
- A 1.0, 1.25, or 1.5 multiplier applied only to attorney labor
Enter elsewhere in your budget if needed
- An appraisal or other financial expert
- Forensic accounting or a business valuation
- A custody-related professional
- Transcripts, records, and certified judgments
- A deed, retirement order, refinance, or other post-judgment work
If the court charges are unaffordable
A 2026 divorce fee-waiver application is available statewide
A person on public benefits, with low income, or unable to cover both basic needs and court fees may apply under CPLR 1101. The form asks about income, benefits, property, expenses, and the basis of the case. A judge decides the request, and the filing court’s submission instructions still apply.
Open the official statewide divorce fee-waiver form ↗Before asking for a legal-fee quote
Organized facts make the scope easier to price
- Prepare a complete list of assets, debts, income, recurring expenses, and existing court orders.
- Organize tax returns, account statements, deeds, titles, retirement records, and insurance information by topic and date.
- Write down what is agreed, what is disputed, and any safety issue that changes how papers or negotiations should be handled.
- Get separate quotes for legal work, mediation, service, appraisal, valuation, and transfer documents instead of asking for one vague total.
- Confirm the correct County Clerk, Supreme Court matrimonial office, NYSCEF availability, and local checklist before paying for filing help.
Questions about the result
What the calculator can and cannot tell you
How much does an uncontested divorce cost to file in New York?
New York Courts says to budget at least $335: $210 to buy the index number and $125 when the uncontested case is placed on the calendar. The statewide schedule lists the calendar charges as a $95 RJI and a $30 Note of Issue, while local clerks often collect them together. Service, copies, and legal help cost extra.
Is there a New York divorce waiting period?
There is no single statewide cooling-off period measured from the filing date. The no-fault ground requires an irretrievable breakdown for at least six months, but that period is not a promise of a six-month case. Service, the defendant’s response, unresolved issues, paperwork, and the county’s review time determine the timeline.
What usually makes a New York divorce more expensive?
Legal fees usually rise with the work the case requires: temporary motions, document exchange, disputed income, parenting litigation, a home or business valuation, retirement-order drafting, settlement sessions, or trial. The $335 court minimum stays the same whether those issues are easy or difficult.
Can New York court fees be waived?
Yes. A person who receives public benefits, has low income, or cannot cover both basic needs and court charges may ask for a fee waiver under CPLR 1101. New York Courts publishes a divorce-specific application effective March 1, 2026; the judge decides what to waive.
Which court handles divorce in New York?
A divorce case belongs in New York Supreme Court, filed through the County Clerk. Family Court may hear child support, spousal support, custody, and other family matters, but it cannot dissolve a marriage.
Does the $335 minimum include personal service?
No. The $335 is a court-fee minimum. Personal service, attempts at service, or a motion for another method of service are separate, and the price depends on where the spouse is and what the case requires.
New York law and court materials
Sources for the figures and formulas
- New York Courts — filing an uncontested divorce
Where an uncontested case begins, which papers start it, the $210 index-number fee, and the court’s at-least-$335 total.
- New York Courts — statewide filing fees
The statewide schedule showing a $210 index number, $95 RJI, $30 Note of Issue, $45 motion, and when the Note of Issue fee is $125.
- New York Courts — divorce fee waivers
Who may ask for a fee waiver, what financial information the court expects, and when notice to another government office is required.