Pro Se NetworkThe court fees, and how to have them waived.
Preparing your divorce papers with Jeremy is free. The one cost you cannot avoid by doing it yourself is the court’s filing fee, and even that can be waived.
What New York charges
- $210 to buy an index number when you start the case.
- $125 when you file the Request for Judicial Intervention (RJI) and Note of Issue together.
That is about $335 in court fees for an uncontested divorce. Some guides split the second fee as $95 for the RJI and $30 for the Note of Issue; the total is the same. Fees change, so confirm with your County Clerk before you file.
Other small costs can come up: copies, notarizing signatures, and mailing. Serving your spouse can cost nothing if a friend or relative over 18 delivers the papers.
What filing will cost you
New York's court fees for an uncontested divorce. Confirm current fees with your County Clerk.
*If the judge grants your application to proceed without paying fees (a “poor person’s order”), the court fees are waived. You apply with a sworn statement about your income and expenses; see below.
Can’t afford the fees? Ask for a waiver
If paying would be a real hardship, you can ask the court for permission to proceed without paying fees (sometimes called a “poor person’s order”). You file an application with a sworn statement about your income and expenses. If the judge grants it, the court fees are waived.
The NY courts publish the forms and instructions, and their Help Centers can walk you through them for free.
What is free with Jeremy
Right now, Jeremy’s guidance and document preparation cost nothing, start to finish. There is no charge to finish your forms.
Ready when you are. It's free.
Jeremy walks you through New York's uncontested divorce forms in plain language. Document preparation is free. The only required cost is the court's own filing fee, and you may qualify to have that waived.
Start free with JeremySources
- NY Courts: Uncontested divorce overview (fees and fee waiver)
- NY Courts: Frequently asked questions (total court fees)
Last reviewed 2026-10-16. Laws and fees change; confirm with the court before you file.