Reviewed August 2026
Cost and Filing Fees in New York
You file for divorce in New York in the Supreme Court of the county where either spouse lives. Starting a case means paying two separate fees. The New York Unified Court System's filing fee schedule sets the fee for an index number at $210, under CPLR § 8018(a)(1)(i) and (3). A second fee, the Request for Judicial Intervention fee, costs $95. You need it to bring the case in front of a judge once the divorce needs a hearing, a trial, or a final judgment. If you cannot afford these fees, you can ask the court for a fee waiver. New York calls this poor person's relief, under CPLR 1101. Beyond the filing fees, the total cost of a New York divorce depends on serving the other spouse and how contested the case becomes.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how cost and filing fees works under New York law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file New York paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
Get notified when Virdix reaches New York
We'll send one email, nothing else, the day New York launches.
Index number and Request for Judicial Intervention fees
New York's official filing fee schedule sets the fee for an index number, the number assigned when a Supreme Court civil case, including a divorce, is first filed, at $210, under CPLR § 8018(a)(1)(i) and (3). A second fee applies once the case needs to move in front of a judge. The Request for Judicial Intervention, or RJI, costs $95. Together, $210 plus $95 covers the core cost of starting and actively pursuing a New York divorce case in Supreme Court, separate from any later filing fees for specific motions.
Fee waiver: poor person's relief
If you receive public benefits, are low-income, or don't have enough money to cover your household's basic needs and court fees, you can ask the court for a fee waiver. New York calls this poor person's relief, under CPLR 1101. With a fee waiver, you don't have to pay court costs for starting a case, filing a jury demand, appealing a decision, or getting a trial transcript. No single official form covers this request. Instead, you submit a Notice of Motion along with a sworn affidavit explaining your finances, the nature of the case, and why you can't afford the costs. If you later win a judgment or settlement, the judge can require you to pay back any waived fees.
Serving the other spouse
After filing, New York requires the divorce summons and complaint to be served on the other spouse. This usually happens through a process server, since a party to the case cannot personally serve the papers. Service carries its own fee, separate from the index number and RJI fees, and the amount depends on the process server and the county. If the other spouse signs an affidavit of service acknowledgment, or the parties use a joint filing where both sign, formal third-party service costs can sometimes be avoided.
Family Court versus Supreme Court fees
New York's fee waiver and filing fee information notes that filing fees aren't required in Family Court cases or domestic violence cases. This matters for New York filers, since custody, child support, and order of protection matters connected to a divorce may be handled in Family Court, where no filing fee applies. The divorce itself, though, must still be filed in Supreme Court, where the index number and RJI fees do apply.
What makes a New York divorce cost more
The $210 index number fee, the $95 RJI fee, and a basic service fee cover an uncontested case, where both spouses agree on the terms. A contested case costs more. It can require additional motions, each potentially carrying its own filing fee, discovery such as requests for financial records or depositions, mediation, appraisals of real property, retirement accounts, or a business, and multiple court appearances. Disputes over equitable distribution of property, maintenance (New York's term for spousal support), or custody are the most common reasons a New York divorce ends up costing more than the base filing and service fees.
Sources: NY Courts: Filing Fees schedule (archived, nycourts.gov/forms/filingfees.shtml), NY CourtHelp: Fee Waiver (Poor Person's Relief) (archived, nycourts.gov/courthelp), NY CourtHelp: Uncontested Divorce DIY Forms (archived, nycourts.gov/courthelp)
Not independently confirmed
- Current live nycourts.gov page confirmation of the $210/$95 fees (confirmed via a 2024 archived snapshot; the live site blocked automated verification at the time of research)
- Process server fee amounts by county
- Whether NYSCEF e-filing carries a separate technology fee
Cost and Filing Fees in New York: frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to file for divorce in New York?+
New York's Unified Court System fee schedule sets the fee for an index number, required to start a Supreme Court case, at $210, under CPLR § 8018(a)(1)(i) and (3). A separate Request for Judicial Intervention fee of $95 applies once the case needs to go in front of a judge. Together, these are the core filing costs for a New York divorce.
What if I can't afford the New York filing fees?+
You can ask the court for a fee waiver, called poor person's relief, under CPLR 1101, if you receive public benefits, are low-income, or can't afford your household's basic needs and court fees. File a Notice of Motion with a sworn affidavit explaining your finances and case. No single official form covers this; call the Court Clerk's Office or visit a Court Help Center for guidance.
Does New York charge extra to serve my spouse with divorce papers?+
Yes. Serving the summons and complaint through a process server carries a fee separate from the index number and RJI fees, since a party to the case cannot personally serve the papers. The amount depends on the process server and the county. If both spouses sign a joint filing, or the other spouse signs an acknowledgment, formal third-party service costs can sometimes be avoided.
Do I have to pay a fee for Family Court matters connected to my divorce?+
No. New York's court system doesn't require filing fees in Family Court cases or domestic violence cases, even though custody, child support, or order of protection matters connected to a divorce may be handled there. The index number and Request for Judicial Intervention fees apply only to the divorce action itself, filed in Supreme Court.
If I win my case, do I have to pay back a fee waiver?+
Possibly. If the court grants you poor person's relief and you later win a judgment or settlement, the judge may require you to pay back any court fees that were waived. Discuss this with the court if your financial situation changes during the case.
What makes a New York divorce cost more than the filing fees?+
Contested cases cost more. Disputes over equitable distribution of property, maintenance, or custody can require additional motions, each potentially carrying its own fee, plus discovery, mediation, appraisals of real estate or business interests, and multiple court appearances. An uncontested case, where both spouses agree on the terms, generally stays closer to the base filing and service fees.
This page is general information about cost and filing fees in New York, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with New York's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in New York. Virdix does not prepare or file New York divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in New York.
More New York divorce guides
Virdix currently serves California and Florida
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 New York, the resources above are the right place to start, and the form above will tell you the moment Virdix reaches your state.
If the court clerk rejects a document we prepared, we fix it for free until it's accepted. See how the guarantee works