Reviewed August 2026
Cost and Filing Fees in North Dakota
A petition for divorce, annulment, or separation in North Dakota district court costs $160. That's the fee listed in the court fee schedule published by the North Dakota Court System. State law sets it under Title 14 of the North Dakota Century Code, and it applies the same way in every county's district court. If you can't afford the fee, you can ask the court to waive it with the court's filing fee waiver forms. North Dakota's self-help center also sells low-cost paper form packets, including a $5 packet for a simple divorce, for filers who lack computer access and need paper copies. Past the filing fee, the total cost of a North Dakota divorce depends on serving the other spouse, whether the case involves the state's required parenting course for minor children, 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 North Dakota law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file North Dakota paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
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District court filing fee
The North Dakota Court System's official fee schedule lists the fee 'for filing a petition for divorce, annulment, or separation (Title 14)' at $160. It's a single statewide fee, set by the court fee schedule and North Dakota Century Code Title 14, so it works the same way whether you file in Cass County, Burleigh County, or any other judicial district in the state. A separate, smaller fee schedule covers later motions, such as a motion to modify spousal support, property division, child support, or parenting arrangements after the divorce is final.
Filing fee waiver
North Dakota's Legal Self Help Center publishes a dedicated set of Filing Fee Waiver Forms for people who cannot afford the district court filing fee. You submit these forms to the clerk of district court along with, or before, your petition, asking the court to let the case proceed without prepaying the $160 fee. The self-help center's divorce page links directly to these forms, alongside the standard service instructions and forms for a divorce case.
Self-help form packets and service costs
If you don't have computer access to print the state's self-help forms, the clerk of court will give you a paper set for a small designated fee. The court's fee schedule lists this at $5 for a Simple Divorce packet and $5 for a Modification and Enforcement of Parenting Time packet. Serving the divorce papers on the other spouse costs more: a sheriff or a private process server will charge a service fee separate from the filing fee. If the other spouse's location is unknown, you'll need service by publication instead, which requires a court order and newspaper publication costs.
Parenting course for cases with minor children
North Dakota district courts generally require parents in a case with minor children to complete a parenting course before a final decree. Courts refer filers to a program for this, and an outside provider typically runs it rather than the court billing for it directly. That means the cost is set by the provider and isn't part of the $160 filing fee. Check with the clerk of district court in the county where you're filing for the current list of approved providers and their fees.
What makes a North Dakota divorce cost more
The $160 filing fee and a basic service fee cover an uncontested divorce, where both spouses agree on the terms. A contested case costs more. It can require additional motions, each with its own filing fee under the court's motion fee schedule, plus discovery such as requests for financial records, mediation, appraisals of real property or a business, and extra hearings before a district judge. Disputes over property division, spousal support, or parenting time are the most common reasons a North Dakota divorce runs above the base filing and service fees.
Sources: North Dakota Court System: Court Fees schedule (PDF), North Dakota Legal Self Help Center: Divorce, North Dakota Court System: Filing Fee Waiver Forms
Not independently confirmed
- Exact sheriff/process server service fee amounts by county
- Current per-provider price for the required parenting course
- Individual motion filing fee amounts for post-decree modifications
Cost and Filing Fees in North Dakota: frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to file for divorce in North Dakota?+
The North Dakota Court System's official fee schedule sets the fee for filing a petition for divorce, annulment, or separation at $160. It's a single statewide fee that works the same way in every county's district court, since North Dakota Century Code Title 14 and the court's fee schedule set it.
What if I can't afford the North Dakota filing fee?+
Use the North Dakota Legal Self Help Center's Filing Fee Waiver Forms to ask the court to let your case proceed without paying the $160 filing fee upfront. Submit them to the clerk of district court along with your petition. The self-help center's divorce page links directly to these forms.
Does North Dakota charge for paper divorce form packets?+
Yes. If you don't have computer access to print the self-help forms yourself, the clerk of court can give you a paper packet for a small fee. The court's fee schedule lists $5 for a Simple Divorce form packet. That's separate from the $160 court filing fee for the case itself.
Does North Dakota charge extra to serve my spouse with divorce papers?+
Yes. Serving the petition through a sheriff or a private process server carries its own fee, separate from the filing fee, and the amount depends on the method and county. If your spouse's location is unknown, ask the court for service by publication instead, which requires a court order and newspaper publication costs.
Is a parenting class required in a North Dakota divorce with children?+
North Dakota district courts generally require parents in a case involving minor children to complete a parenting course before a final decree. An outside provider typically runs the course and sets its own fee, so the cost isn't part of the $160 filing fee. Ask the clerk of district court in your county which providers are approved and what they charge.
What makes a North Dakota divorce cost more than the filing fee?+
Contested issues raise the cost. Disputes over property division, spousal support, or parenting time can require additional motions, each carrying its own filing fee, plus discovery, mediation, appraisals, and more court hearings. An uncontested case, where both spouses agree on the terms, generally stays close to the base filing and service fees.
This page is general information about cost and filing fees in North Dakota, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with North Dakota's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in North Dakota. Virdix does not prepare or file North Dakota divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in North Dakota.
More North Dakota divorce guides
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