Louisiana • Uncontested • No minor children
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Divorce Cost Estimate
Louisiana Divorce Cost Calculator
Estimate divorce costs in Louisiana using state-specific filing fee, attorney rate, mediation, children, property, and case complexity assumptions.
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Filing fee$330
Service of process$75
Attorney range$2,000 - $4,000
Mediation$350
These estimates are for planning only. They use the existing state-specific filing, attorney, and mediation assumptions and are not legal advice.
Louisiana Divorce Cost Snapshot
Use this 2026 Louisiana divorce cost guide to compare parish filing costs, attorney expenses, Louisiana's separation requirements, community-property rules, and the cost difference between agreed and contested cases.
CategoryTypical range
Parish divorce filing costVaries; $400–$500 in Jefferson
Attorney planning rate$250–$450+/hr
Uncontested planning range$3,500–$9,000
Contested planning range$15,000–$50,000+
Separation without minor children180 days
Separation with minor children365 days
How Much Does Divorce Cost in Louisiana?
Louisiana divorce filing costs vary by parish. Jefferson Parish currently lists a $400 advance deposit for a divorce with acceptance of service and $500 when one service is required, provided no additional rules or restraining requests are included.
The court deposit is usually a small part of the total once attorneys become involved. Community property, a home, retirement benefits, a business, debt, spousal support, custody, child support, and valuation disputes can add substantial work.
Louisiana is a community-property state. In a judicial partition, the court divides community assets and liabilities so each spouse receives property of equal net value. These figures are planning ranges—not statewide averages, legal advice, or attorney quotes.
Local court charges are only the starting point in Louisiana; attorney involvement, property issues, mediation, and contested proceedings can have a much larger effect on the final budget. See our national guide to divorce costs for a deeper explanation of how those expenses fit together.
Louisiana Divorce Filing Fees by Parish
Louisiana uses parishes rather than counties, and each clerk maintains its own advance-cost schedule. Confirm the deposit, service charge, and later filing costs with the applicable Clerk of Court.
Parish or filingCurrent costWhat to know
Jefferson Parish—with acceptance$400Advance deposit for a divorce with acceptance of service and no additional rules, temporary restraining orders, or restraining orders. Court source
Jefferson Parish—with one service$500Advance deposit for a divorce with one service and no additional rules or restraining requests. Court source
Jefferson Parish—with a rule$600The published schedule illustrates how adding a court request can increase the required advance deposit. Court source
Other Louisiana parishesConfirm locallyOrleans, East Baton Rouge, Caddo, St. Tammany, Lafayette, and other clerks publish or provide their own cost schedules. Court source
- Advance deposits are not necessarily the final court cost; additional pleadings, pages, exhibits, notices, service, and certifications can add charges.
- Mediation, appraisals, business valuation, financial experts, retirement division work, custody professionals, and trial expenses are separate.
- A qualifying filer who cannot afford court costs may request permission to proceed in forma pauperis under Louisiana procedure.
Louisiana's Divorce Separation Periods
180 days without minor children
For an ordinary non-covenant marriage with no minor children of the marriage, Civil Code Article 103.1 generally sets a 180-day continuous-separation period.
365 days with minor children
When there are minor children of the marriage at the relevant Article 102 or Article 103 filing point, the ordinary period is 365 days.
The spouses must live separate and apart continuously
These are separation requirements, not merely waiting periods measured from filing. Reconciliation or uncertainty about the separation date can affect eligibility and proof.
Two Louisiana Divorce Filing Routes
An Article 102 divorce lets a spouse file before the full separation period has been completed. The applicable period must elapse after service or written waiver while the spouses live continuously separate and apart before a rule to show cause is filed.
An Article 103(1) divorce is available when the spouses already lived separate and apart continuously for the applicable 180- or 365-day period before the petition was filed. Article 103 also lists certain other grounds with different required proof.
- Article 102: file first, then complete the applicable continuous-separation period
- Article 103(1): complete the applicable continuous-separation period before filing
- Service, waiver, the separation date, and accurate follow-up procedure can affect timing
Is Louisiana a 50/50 Divorce State?
Louisiana is a community-property state. When spouses cannot agree and the court partitions the community, it divides the community assets and liabilities so each spouse receives property of equal net value.
That does not mean every asset is physically divided in half. A court can allocate an asset or liability entirely to one spouse and use another asset or an equalizing payment to balance the net distribution.
- Home equity and other real estate
- Bank and investment accounts
- Vehicles and valuable personal property
- Retirement benefits
- Businesses and professional practices
- Community debts and reimbursement claims
What Property Can Remain Separate in Louisiana?
Civil Code Article 2341 treats qualifying property as a spouse's separate property, including property acquired before the community regime and property acquired individually by inheritance or donation.
Classification, reimbursement, mixed funds, improvements, and tracing can still create substantial disputes. A detailed property analysis may be necessary when separate and community money interacted during the marriage.
Does Covenant Marriage Affect Divorce in Louisiana?
Yes. Louisiana covenant marriages are governed by different, more restrictive grounds and procedures than ordinary marriages. The ordinary Article 102 and Article 103 separation framework should not simply be applied to a covenant marriage.
Louisiana law generally requires counseling or other efforts to preserve a covenant marriage, subject to an abuse exception, and limits divorce to the grounds in R.S. 9:307. That can materially change both timing and cost.
Uncontested vs. Contested Divorce Costs in Louisiana
Agreed Louisiana divorce
- The applicable separation period and procedure are satisfied, and the spouses have resolved property, debt, the home, support, custody, and child support.
- Fewer disagreements generally mean fewer attorney hours, rules, discovery requests, and hearings.
- A simple qualifying self-represented case may cost less, but parish forms and Article 102 or 103 procedure still matter.
Contested Louisiana divorce
- One or more significant community-property, support, custody, parenting, or procedural issues remain unresolved.
- Discovery, temporary hearings, appraisal, business valuation, retirement analysis, mediation, experts, depositions, and trial preparation add cost.
- A major community-property dispute, prolonged custody case, closely held business, or trial can exceed the range.
Attorney time often becomes the largest variable when a Louisiana case remains disputed. Our divorce lawyer cost guide explains retainers, hourly billing, and why total legal fees vary.
What Can Make a Louisiana Divorce More Expensive?
The parish deposit matters initially, but unresolved community-property, support, and parenting issues usually determine the eventual total.
- Classifying community and separate assets or debts
- Reimbursement claims and financial tracing
- Home valuation, refinancing, sale, or offsetting awards
- Retirement benefits and specialized transfer orders
- Business ownership, goodwill, disputed income, or valuation
- Custody, child support, or spousal-support disputes
- Additional rules, temporary relief, discovery, experts, mediation, or trial
How Long Does Divorce Take in Louisiana?
No minor children of the marriage
180 days apartThe ordinary non-covenant Article 102 or Article 103 separation period generally applies.
Minor children of the marriage
365 days apartThe ordinary non-covenant separation period increases when minor children exist at the statutory measuring point.
Article 102 divorce
File before period is completeThe applicable time runs after service or waiver while the spouses remain continuously separate, followed by the required rule procedure.
Article 103(1) divorce
Separate before filingThe applicable continuous-separation period generally must already be complete when the petition is filed.
Agreed case after eligibility
Often 1–4 additional monthsComplete paperwork, service or waiver, correct procedure, and court scheduling determine the remaining time.
Contested financial or parenting case
Often 9–18+ monthsProperty disputes, custody, discovery, experts, or trial can extend the case beyond the minimum separation period.
Complex contested case
Often 12–24+ monthsA business, extensive property partition, prolonged custody litigation, or trial can take considerably longer.
Example Louisiana Divorce Scenarios
These examples illustrate how different facts can change a planning range. They are not predictions or legal quotes.
Agreed Jefferson Parish divorce
- No minor children
- Limited community property
- Acceptance of service
- Complete agreement
Uses Jefferson Parish's $400 advance deposit with acceptance plus approximately $3,500–$7,000 in professional help. Later or additional costs may apply.
Louisiana divorce with minor children
- Two minor children
- Parenting arrangement needed
- Child support
- Jointly owned home
- Settlement expected
The 365-day separation period, parenting terms, community property, support calculation, and the home are likely to matter much more than the opening deposit.
Contested Louisiana divorce with significant property
- Marital home
- Retirement assets
- Business ownership
- Community-property dispute
- Spousal support disputed
Financial discovery, business valuation, appraisal, reimbursement analysis, depositions, experts, and trial preparation may be required.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Louisiana?
There is no single statewide amount. Jefferson Parish currently lists $400 with acceptance of service and $500 with one service for a divorce without additional rules or restraining requests.
How long must you be separated for divorce in Louisiana?
For an ordinary non-covenant marriage, the period is generally 180 days without minor children of the marriage and 365 days with minor children.
What is the difference between Article 102 and Article 103 divorce?
Article 102 permits filing before the applicable separation period is complete. Article 103(1) applies when that period was completed before filing.
When does the Article 102 period start?
The required time is measured from service or written waiver of the petition—or the start of separation—whichever is later, while the spouses remain continuously separate.
Is Louisiana a 50/50 divorce state?
Louisiana uses community-property rules. In a judicial partition, each spouse receives community property of equal net value, though individual assets need not be divided equally.
Is Louisiana a community-property state?
Yes.
Is property owned before marriage separate?
Property acquired before the community-property regime is generally separate. Qualifying individual inheritances and donations can also be separate.
Does having children change the separation period?
Yes. The ordinary period increases from 180 to 365 days when there are minor children of the marriage at the relevant statutory point.
Does Louisiana have covenant marriage?
Yes. Covenant marriages have different grounds, counseling provisions, and timelines from ordinary marriages.
Are divorce filing fees the same in every parish?
No. Each parish clerk maintains its own filing and advance-cost schedule.
Can I file without a lawyer?
Yes. Louisiana provides self-help materials and forms for certain Article 102 and Article 103 cases, although local requirements should be checked carefully.
Louisiana Sources and Further Reading
- Louisiana Civil Code Article 102: Divorce after filing
- Louisiana Civil Code Article 103: Divorce grounds
- Louisiana Civil Code Article 103.1: Separation periods
- Louisiana Civil Code Article 2341: Separate property
- Louisiana R.S. 9:2801: Community-property partition
- Louisiana R.S. 9:307: Covenant-marriage divorce
- Louisiana R.S. 13:3492: Article 102 notice and timing
- Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court: Fees
- Louisiana State Bar Association: Self-help resources