Reviewed August 2026
Cost and Filing Fees in Maryland
Filing a Complaint for Limited or Absolute Divorce in a Maryland Circuit Court costs $165, under the Maryland Courts' statewide Circuit Court Fee Schedule and Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 7-202(e). Maryland runs its circuit courts on one statewide fee schedule set by the Maryland Judiciary, so this amount applies whether you file in Baltimore City or a smaller county. If you cannot afford the fee, Maryland lets you ask the court to waive it. File a Request for Waiver of Costs, form CC-DC-089, along with a Notice Regarding Restricted Information, form MDJ-008. This page covers what the Maryland Courts publish directly, and flags what you should confirm locally, such as service and parenting class costs.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how cost and filing fees works under Maryland law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file Maryland paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
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Filing fee: $165 for a divorce complaint
The Maryland Courts' Circuit Court Fee Summary Chart lists a Complaint for Limited or Absolute Divorce at $165, citing Schedule II A 1 (A) and Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 7-202(e). This is the standard statewide filing fee for opening a divorce case in Circuit Court, for both a limited (legal separation-style) divorce and an absolute (final) divorce.
Fee waiver: Request for Waiver of Costs (CC-DC-089)
Maryland requires you to prepay court filing fees before the court can open your case. If you cannot afford them, you can ask the court to waive them. Submit a Request for Waiver of Costs, form CC-DC-089, along with your complaint, plus a Notice Regarding Restricted Information, form MDJ-008. The court weighs the Maryland Legal Services Corporation's Client Income Eligibility Guidelines, though the judge makes the final decision and may consider other factors too. If the court denies the request, you have 10 days to pay the fee or your case is treated as withdrawn. You can also separately request a Request for Final Waiver of Open Costs, form CC-DC-090, covering fees you might otherwise owe at the end of the case.
Service of process costs
After filing, your spouse must be formally served with the divorce complaint. Maryland allows service by sheriff or a private process server. The Circuit Court Fee Schedule does not set one fixed statewide dollar amount for this cost, since sheriff and process server fees are billed separately. Confirm the current cost with the sheriff's office or process server serving your case.
Parenting classes
Some Maryland circuit courts require parents in a divorce involving minor children to complete a parenting education program. This is set by local circuit court rule, not by one statewide requirement in the Circuit Court Fee Schedule. Check with the circuit clerk's office or family division where your case is filed to find out if a class applies and what it costs.
What drives the total cost up
An uncontested divorce, where both spouses agree on property division, custody, and support, keeps costs closer to the base $165 filing fee, service cost, and any required class. Costs rise when the case is contested: additional motions, discovery of financial and other records, contested hearings, and expert witnesses such as appraisers or custody evaluators all add expense beyond the base filing and service fees. Maryland's courts do not publish average attorney fee figures, so this page does not estimate a total cost, since that depends on how contested the case becomes.
Sources: Maryland Courts: Circuit Court Fee Summary Chart ($165 divorce complaint fee), Maryland Courts: Fee Schedules, Maryland Courts: Filing Fee Waivers (Request for Waiver of Costs, CC-DC-089)
Not independently confirmed
- Statewide sheriff or process server service fee
- Whether/where a parenting class is mandatory and its cost
- Any e-filing convenience fee through Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC)
Cost and Filing Fees in Maryland: frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Maryland?+
Maryland's statewide Circuit Court Fee Schedule sets the fee for a Complaint for Limited or Absolute Divorce at $165, under Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 7-202(e). This fee is the same across all Maryland circuit courts.
Can I get my Maryland divorce filing fee waived?+
Yes. File a Request for Waiver of Costs, form CC-DC-089, along with a Notice Regarding Restricted Information, form MDJ-008. The court weighs Maryland Legal Services Corporation income guidelines, and if it denies the request, you have 10 days to pay the fee.
How much does it cost to serve divorce papers in Maryland?+
Service is typically done by sheriff or a private process server. Maryland's Circuit Court Fee Schedule does not list one fixed statewide amount for this, since it is billed separately from the filing fee. Confirm the current cost with the sheriff's office or process server serving your case.
Do I have to take a parenting class if I have kids in a Maryland divorce?+
Some Maryland circuit courts require a parenting education program for cases involving minor children, but this depends on local circuit court rules rather than one statewide requirement. Check with the circuit clerk's office or family division handling your case.
Can I get a waiver of fees I owe at the end of my Maryland divorce case?+
Yes. Even if you did not request a waiver at the start of your case, you can file a Request for Final Waiver of Open Costs, form CC-DC-090, asking the court to waive fees you might otherwise owe once the case concludes.
Does Maryland publish average attorney fees for divorce?+
No. Maryland's court system does not publish average or typical attorney fee figures for divorce cases. Attorney fees vary by firm and by how contested the case becomes, so the courts do not track or report this.
This page is general information about cost and filing fees in Maryland, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with Maryland's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in Maryland. Virdix does not prepare or file Maryland divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in Maryland.
More Maryland divorce guides
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In the states Virdix serves, it guides you through that state's own court forms so your paperwork is complete and consistent before you file. If you're filing in Maryland, the resources above are the right place to start, and the form above will tell you the moment Virdix reaches your state.
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