File your divorce forms
Once you finish filling out your divorce forms, you must file them with the court. Filing means giving your forms to the court clerk so your case can officially start.
💵 You’ll usually have to pay a filing fee of $435–$450.
If you can’t afford the fee, you can ask the court for a fee waiver. ↗️
File your forms at the courthouse
To file your divorce forms in person:
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Find the right courthouse
Use the Find my court page ↗️ to find the courthouse that accepts divorce filings.
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Bring these forms to the court clerk
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The original forms you filled out
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2 copies of each form
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File your forms
The clerk will:
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Stamp your forms
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Give you a case number
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Keep the original forms
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💵 Pay the filing fee
When you file your divorce forms, you must pay a filing fee of $435–$450.
You usually pay the fee:
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In person
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By mail
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Online (if your court allows e-filing)
If you can’t afford the fee, you can ask the court for a fee waiver. ↗️
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Take your copies with you
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1 copy is for you
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1 copy is for your spouse
📌 You’ll need the stamped copies for the next steps in your case.
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Can you file by mail or online?
File by mail
Yes. You can file by mail if you:
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Mail the original and 2 copies to the court clerk
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Include:
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The filing fee or a fee waiver request
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A self-addressed stamped envelope with enough postage
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⚠️ If you don’t include a stamped envelope, you’ll have to go to the courthouse to pick up your copies.
File online
Some courts allow online filing (e-filing).
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Check your court’s website to see if e-filing is available
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Each court has its own rules and approved e-filing providers
📌 Not all courts offer e-filing.
Key takeaways
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Filing starts your divorce case.
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You must file your forms with the court clerk.
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Bring the original forms and 2 copies if filing in person.
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You can file in person, by mail, or online (if your court allows it).
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The filing fee is $435–$450, but you can ask for a fee waiver if you can’t afford it.
Start a divorce case
What's next?
Once you’ve filed the forms, the next step is to share the forms with your spouse or domestic partner. You need to follow a specific process to do this called serving papers.