Key points
- Court filing fees for an uncontested divorce are at least $335, including $210 for the index number, plus $35 to file a settlement agreement.
- Our fixed fee is $1,500 with no children, $2,000 with children and $2,500 with real estate. Court fees are separate, and payment plans are available.
- Extras can include serving the papers, dividing retirement accounts and transferring real estate.
- If the court fees would be an extreme hardship, you can apply to have them waived.
- Usually neither spouse has to appear in court.
An uncontested divorce, in which you and your spouse agree on every issue, is the least expensive way to end a marriage in New York. It is not free. Here is what couples in Brooklyn, Manhattan and the rest of New York City can expect to pay in 2026: the court’s fees, a lawyer’s fee if you hire one, and the extras that sometimes come up.
Court filing fees: at least $335
The New York State courts say an uncontested divorce costs at least $335 in court filing fees, including $210 for the index number that opens the case. If you have a settlement agreement, there is a separate $35 fee to file it. The Bronx Supreme Court’s matrimonial office also lists $8 for each certified copy of the Judgment of Divorce and $45 for each motion. These fees are the same whether you file on your own or through a lawyer.
If paying the fees would be an extreme financial hardship, you can ask the court to waive them (CPLR 1101); the County Clerk can tell you how to apply.
Our fixed fee
| Your situation | Fixed fee | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| No children | $1,500 | Standard uncontested divorce |
| With children | $2,000 | Including the custody agreement |
| With real estate | $2,500 | Property transfer documentation |
Each fixed fee includes preparing the complete divorce package, drafting the settlement agreement, preparing and filing the court papers, and support throughout the process. Court filing fees are not included, and payment plans are available. Joel Yacoob personally handles every case; details are on our uncontested divorce page.
What can add to the cost
- Serving the papers. Someone over 18 who is not a party must deliver the summons to your spouse, so you cannot do it yourself. Many people use a professional process server; with a cooperative spouse, a friend or relative over 18 can do it.
- Retirement accounts. Dividing a 401(k) or pension usually requires a separate court order, often called a QDRO, that the plan administrator must approve. Raise it at the start so it is planned for.
- Real estate. Transferring a house, condo or co-op to one spouse takes a deed or other transfer documents, and often a refinance. Our $2,500 tier includes the property transfer documentation; recording fees are separate.
- An issue that becomes contested. If you and your spouse stop agreeing, the case is no longer an uncontested, fixed-fee matter. Contested cases are handled under a written retainer agreement, which New York requires in domestic relations matters (22 NYCRR 1400.3).
- Corrections. Papers with missing forms or inconsistent terms come back from the court for correction, which costs time. Careful preparation avoids most of that.
Doing it yourself or hiring a lawyer
You do not need a lawyer to get an uncontested divorce in New York. The courts publish free forms and a do-it-yourself program, and couples with no children, no property and no support issues sometimes file on their own.
The risk is concentrated in the settlement agreement. It must be signed and acknowledged like a deed to be enforceable (DRL § 236(B)(3)). If you have children, it must recite that you were told about the Child Support Standards Act and, if the child support departs from the guideline amount, state that amount and the reasons (DRL § 240(1-b)(h)). Spousal maintenance should be addressed with the statutory guidelines in mind. A mistake can send the papers back, or leave terms open to challenge after the divorce.
Mediation, or a lawyer-prepared uncontested divorce?
Mediation can help a couple reach agreement, but a mediator is neutral and cannot advise either spouse. Many couples who mediate still have a lawyer review the terms and prepare the agreement and court papers. See mediation in an uncontested New York divorce.
How long it takes
The clerk and a judge review the papers before the judge signs the Judgment of Divorce. Timing varies with each county’s workload; many uncontested cases are completed within several months of the papers being submitted, and usually neither spouse has to appear in court. See our step-by-step uncontested divorce guide.
Filing in Brooklyn and the other boroughs
A divorce is filed in the Supreme Court of a county where you or your spouse lives or, if you have minor children, where a child lives (CPLR 515). In Brooklyn, that is the Supreme Court, Kings County, at 360 Adams Street. Manhattan cases go to the Supreme Court, New York County, whose matrimonial parts sit at 60 and 80 Centre Street, and Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island each have their own Supreme Court. Papers are filed with the County Clerk, and in counties that participate they can be filed electronically through NYSCEF, the court system’s e-filing system.
Our office at 195 Montague Street is a short walk from the Kings County courthouse, and we handle uncontested divorces in every borough. See Brooklyn divorce lawyer and Manhattan divorce lawyer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to get a divorce in New York?
An uncontested divorce filed without a lawyer. The court fees start at $335 and can be waived for extreme financial hardship. Hiring a lawyer adds a fee but lowers the risk of rejected papers and problems with the settlement agreement.
Are court fees included in your fixed fee?
No. Court filing fees, including the $210 index number fee, are paid separately. Our fixed fee covers the settlement agreement, the court papers and the filing.
Do both spouses need lawyers for an uncontested divorce?
No. New York does not require either spouse to have a lawyer. We represent one spouse; the other may hire his or her own lawyer or proceed without one.
Do we have to go to court for an uncontested divorce?
Usually not. In most uncontested divorces, a judge reviews the papers and signs the Judgment of Divorce without a court appearance. The court can ask for corrections, or occasionally for an appearance, if something in the papers needs explaining.
How much does a contested divorce cost?
There is no fixed price. The cost depends on the issues in dispute and how far the case goes, and the terms are set out in a written retainer agreement, which New York requires in domestic relations matters (22 NYCRR 1400.3).
This article is attorney advertising and is provided for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every situation is different; consult a New York matrimonial attorney about your circumstances.
Ready to Start Your Uncontested Divorce?
Joel Yacoob prepares the settlement agreement and court papers and handles the filing for a fixed fee, in Brooklyn and every New York City borough. Tell us a little about your situation and he will contact you.
- Joel Yacoob reads every request himself.
- Consultations by phone or video, Monday–Friday, 9 AM–7 PM.
- Prefer to talk now? Call (718) 975-1123.
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