New Hampshire • Uncontested • No minor children
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Divorce Cost Estimate
New Hampshire Divorce Cost Calculator
Estimate divorce costs in New Hampshire using state-specific filing fee, attorney rate, mediation, children, property, and case complexity assumptions.
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Filing fee$280
Service of process$75
Attorney range$3,000 - $6,000
Mediation$500
These estimates are for planning only. They use the existing state-specific filing, attorney, and mediation assumptions and are not legal advice.
New Hampshire Divorce Cost Snapshot
Use this 2026 New Hampshire divorce cost guide to understand filing costs, court-connected mediation, residency and jurisdiction, mandatory financial disclosure, property division, and the difference between agreed and contested cases.
CategoryTypical range
Filing without minor children$280
Filing with minor children$282
Court-connected mediation$450 per case
Attorney planning rate$275–$500+/hr
Uncontested planning range$3,500–$9,000
Contested planning range$15,000–$50,000+
How Much Does Divorce Cost in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire's current divorce instructions list a $280 filing fee without minor children and $282 when minor children are involved. Service, certified copies, mediation, and professional fees may add to that amount.
The filing fee is usually only a small part of the final expense. Real estate, retirement accounts, business ownership, alimony, parenting arrangements, child support, financial disclosure, valuation, discovery, and trial can add substantially more.
New Hampshire presumes that equal property division is equitable, but a judge can order a different result under the statutory factors. These figures are planning ranges—not statewide averages, legal advice, or attorney quotes.
Local court charges are only the starting point in New Hampshire; 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.
How Much Does It Cost to File for Divorce in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire publishes separate filing totals for divorce cases with and without minor children. Individual petitions may also require service, while joint petitions do not require separate service under RSA 458:9.
Divorce filingCurrent amountWhat to know
Without minor children$280Current filing amount identified in the Judicial Branch's divorce instructions. Court source
With minor children$282Includes the additional $2 fee required when parental rights and responsibilities will be determined. Court source
Court-connected mediation$450 per caseCovers the first four hours of mediation and up to one hour of related administrative work; allocation and assistance rules may affect what each party pays. Court source
- Sheriff service, certified copies, motions, appraisal, business valuation, retirement division, parenting professionals, and experts may add cost.
- A joint petition does not require further service or notice; an individual petition must be served under the statutory process.
- A qualifying filer may ask the court to reduce or waive covered fees using the Judicial Branch's request and financial affidavit procedure.
New Hampshire Divorce Rules That Can Affect Cost
Residency depends on both spouses' circumstances
Jurisdiction exists when both spouses are domiciled in New Hampshire, when the filing spouse is domiciled there and the other spouse is personally served in the state, or when the filing spouse has been domiciled there for the preceding year.
$450 court-connected mediation fee
The set fee covers up to four hours of mediation plus one hour of administrative work. The court may allocate responsibility, and qualifying parties may receive assistance.
Early mandatory financial disclosure
Rule 1.25-A generally requires an exchange within 45 days after filing or at least 10 days before an initial hearing, along with continuing updates when material changes occur.
Equal property division is presumed equitable
Fifty-fifty is the statutory starting presumption, but it is not guaranteed when the court finds an equal division inappropriate under the listed factors.
Must You Live in New Hampshire for One Year Before Filing?
Not always. RSA 458:5 provides three routes: both spouses are domiciled in New Hampshire when the action begins; the filing spouse is domiciled there and the other spouse is personally served within the state; or the filing spouse has been domiciled there for the immediately preceding year.
The one-year route matters when the other jurisdictional paths do not apply. Child-custody jurisdiction is a separate analysis under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act.
Does New Hampshire Have No-Fault Divorce?
Yes. RSA 458:7-a permits divorce, irrespective of either spouse's fault, when irreconcilable differences have caused the irremediable breakdown of the marriage.
New Hampshire also recognizes fault grounds. For cost planning, an agreed irreconcilable-differences case is usually very different from one involving disputed fault, finances, or parenting issues.
How Long Must You Wait for a New Hampshire Divorce?
New Hampshire does not impose one universal 30-, 60-, 90-, or 120-day post-filing waiting period. Completion instead depends on service, mandatory disclosure, agreements, parenting issues, mediation, required documents, hearings, and court scheduling.
A straightforward joint case can therefore move much faster than a heavily contested individual petition, but the court must still receive and approve the necessary documents.
New Hampshire Requires Early Financial Disclosure
Family Division Rule 1.25-A requires parties in new divorce cases to exchange specified financial information. The Judicial Branch checklist states that disclosure is generally due within 45 days of filing or 10 days before an initial hearing.
The required materials include a current Financial Affidavit, tax returns, pay records, and additional documents relevant to insurance, credit, businesses, assets, and liabilities. Incomplete or disputed disclosure can lead to motions, discovery, depositions, tracing, and expert work.
- Current Financial Affidavit and monthly expenses
- Personal and business tax returns
- Recent pay records
- Business financial statements
- Insurance documentation
- Credit, mortgage, asset, and liability records
Is New Hampshire a 50/50 Divorce State?
New Hampshire begins with a presumption that an equal division is equitable. The court may depart from equal division when it finds that result inappropriate after considering the statutory factors.
Classification, valuation, debt allocation, retirement benefits, business interests, and the evidence supporting an unequal distribution can increase attorney and expert time.
- The marital home and other real estate
- Bank and investment accounts
- Retirement and pension benefits
- Vehicles and valuable personal property
- Business interests
- Debt and unequal-division claims
What Changes When a New Hampshire Divorce Involves Children?
Cases involving minor children require decisions and documents addressing parental rights and responsibilities, parenting schedules, child support, medical support, and related expenses.
The Judicial Branch's instructions identify materials such as a Parenting Plan, Financial Affidavits, Final Decree, and child-support orders. Disagreement can add mediation, temporary orders, evaluations, hearings, and attorney preparation.
- Parenting plans
- Decision-making and residential responsibility
- Child-support calculations
- Medical support and other expenses
- Court-connected mediation
- Temporary orders, evaluations, or trial
Uncontested vs. Contested Divorce Costs in New Hampshire
Agreed New Hampshire divorce
- The spouses have resolved the property, debt, alimony, parenting, and support issues that apply.
- A joint petition avoids separate service, and fewer disputes generally mean less discovery and fewer hearings.
- A straightforward self-represented case can cost considerably less; the Judicial Branch provides official forms and instructions.
Contested New Hampshire divorce
- One or more significant financial, property, support, or parenting issues remain unresolved.
- Temporary orders, discovery, mediation, appraisal, business valuation, depositions, experts, and trial preparation add cost.
- A substantial property dispute, prolonged parenting case, business valuation, or trial can exceed the range.
Attorney time often becomes the largest variable when a New Hampshire case remains disputed. Our divorce lawyer cost guide explains retainers, hourly billing, and why total legal fees vary.
What Can Make a New Hampshire Divorce More Expensive?
Court costs matter at the beginning, but unresolved financial and parenting questions usually determine the eventual total.
- Arguments for unequal property division
- Home valuation, equity, refinancing, or sale
- Business ownership, income analysis, or valuation
- Incomplete or disputed mandatory disclosure
- Parental-rights and parenting-schedule disputes
- Alimony, discovery, depositions, experts, or trial
How Long Does Divorce Take in New Hampshire?
Residency and jurisdiction
VariesOne year of domicile is required in one statutory route, but not when either of the other jurisdictional routes applies.
Mandatory financial disclosure
Generally within 45 daysDisclosure may be due sooner when the initial hearing is less than 55 days after filing.
Straightforward agreed divorce
Often 2–4 monthsComplete filings, disclosure, agreements, court review, and scheduling determine actual timing.
Agreed divorce with children or substantial property
Often 3–7 monthsParenting plans, financial affidavits, support, property, and settlement documents can add time.
Moderately contested divorce
Often 6–12 monthsMediation, discovery, temporary orders, financial disagreements, and parenting disputes can extend the case.
Complex contested divorce
Often 12–24+ monthsBusiness valuation, substantial discovery, parenting litigation, experts, or trial can make the process considerably longer.
Example New Hampshire Divorce Scenarios
These examples illustrate how different facts can change a planning range. They are not predictions or legal quotes.
Agreed New Hampshire divorce without children
- Joint petition
- No minor children
- No real estate
- Limited property and debt
- Complete agreement
Combines the $280 filing fee with approximately $3,500–$7,000 in professional help. A qualifying self-represented case may cost considerably less.
New Hampshire divorce with children and a home
- Two minor children
- Parenting plan needed
- Child support
- Jointly owned home
- Settlement expected
The $282 filing fee is a small part of the total. Parenting terms, financial disclosure, support, real estate, mediation, and attorney time are more likely to determine the expense.
Contested New Hampshire divorce with significant assets
- High-value home
- Retirement accounts
- Business ownership
- Unequal property division requested
- Alimony disputed
Financial discovery, appraisal, business valuation, mediation, depositions, expert analysis, and trial preparation may be required.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to file for divorce in New Hampshire?
Current 2026 instructions list $280 without minor children and $282 when minor children are involved. Service and other case costs may be additional.
Must you live in New Hampshire for one year before filing?
Not always. One year of domicile is one jurisdictional route, but jurisdiction can also exist when both spouses are domiciled in New Hampshire or when the filing spouse is domiciled there and the other spouse is personally served in the state.
Does New Hampshire have a divorce waiting period?
New Hampshire does not impose one universal fixed post-filing waiting period. Service, disclosure, agreements, mediation, hearings, and court scheduling determine timing.
Does New Hampshire have no-fault divorce?
Yes. Irreconcilable differences causing the irremediable breakdown of the marriage is a no-fault ground.
Is New Hampshire a 50/50 divorce state?
New Hampshire presumes equal property division is equitable, but a court may order a different distribution under the statutory factors.
Is New Hampshire a community-property state?
No. New Hampshire applies its equitable-distribution statute.
Is financial disclosure required?
Yes. Rule 1.25-A requires mandatory initial disclosure in new divorce cases and continuing updates when material financial information changes.
How much does court-connected divorce mediation cost?
The set fee is $450 per case for the first four hours of mediation and up to one hour of related administrative work. Allocation and financial-assistance rules may affect each party's payment.
Does a joint petition require service?
No. RSA 458:9 states that a joint petition may be filed without further service or notice.
Can New Hampshire divorce fees be waived?
A qualifying filer may ask the court to reduce or waive covered fees using the Judicial Branch's request and financial affidavit process.
Can I file without a lawyer?
Yes. The New Hampshire Judicial Branch provides official Family Division forms and filing instructions for cases with and without minor children.
New Hampshire Sources and Further Reading
- New Hampshire Judicial Branch: Divorce and legal-separation resources
- New Hampshire Judicial Branch: Mandatory-disclosure checklist
- New Hampshire Judicial Branch: Mediation in divorce and parenting cases
- New Hampshire RSA 458:5: Divorce jurisdiction
- New Hampshire RSA 458:7-a: Irreconcilable differences
- New Hampshire RSA Chapter 458: Divorce and property division