What does a divorce cost?
In North Carolina, there is a filing fee payable to the clerk of court in the county in which the action is being filed to initiate the lawsuit for a divorce. Additionally, there is a fee for service or actual delivery of the lawsuit to the opposing party. Service is typically accomplished by certified mail or by sheriff, and those costs vary.
- The filing fee for a claim for absolute divorce is $225.00
- The service fee for the sheriff’s office is $30.00
- Certified mail varies in cost, but it is typically $4.00 – $6.00
If a person chooses to hire an attorney to handle his or her divorce, that attorney will charge a reasonable fee for the time spent to draft the necessary documentation to complete the divorce and to appear in court on his or her client’s behalf, if necessary. The best way to get an estimate for the total cost of a divorce is to set up an initial consultation with an attorney to review the details of the case.