The standard court filing fee for an application for divorce in 2026 is $1,125, although a reduced fee of $375 is available for eligible applicants. The core complication is that these fees are mandated by federal regulations rather than the court, meaning they are non-negotiable.
Standard and reduced filing fees
The standard cost to file for divorce is $1,125, while those who meet specific financial criteria can apply for a reduced fee of $375. This means your initial budget depends heavily on whether you qualify for government assistance or meet low-income thresholds.
How fees are regulated
Court fees are set by the Federal Government under the Family Law (Fees) Regulations 2022 and are updated via annual gazetted increases. Because these are federal regulations, the filing costs remain the same regardless of which Sydney registry processes your application.
GST and additional costs
GST does not apply to court filing fees. While the filing fee itself is a fixed cost, you should account for separate costs if you also need to file for consent orders, which currently cost $205.
The eligibility hurdle
Applying for the reduced fee of $375 requires providing sufficient evidence of financial hardship. The difficulty lies in the administrative burden of gathering and presenting this documentation to satisfy the court’s strict eligibility requirements.
Questions to consider
- Do I meet the financial criteria to apply for the reduced filing fee?
- Will I need to file for a property settlement or parenting arrangements alongside my divorce, and how will those additional fees impact my budget?
- Is my priority a fast filing, or is the time required to evidence a fee reduction more valuable?
This information is general in nature and does not constitute legal
advice. For advice specific to your situation, contact JB Solicitors.