How much does a divorce cost. This is one of the most frequently searched search terms on the internet. And frankly - there is nothing surprising about it. Before anyone decides to take this step, they want to know how much it will cost them. The problem is that a precise answer to this question simply does not exist. I can, however, break the topic down into its essentials and show what these costs consist of and depend on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One cost is always the same, regardless of whether the parties are in agreement or in a hard dispute: the court fee for an application for divorce is PLN 600<\/strong>. It is paid by the plaintiff when filing the petition with the court. It does not matter whether you are filing for divorce without the adjudication of guilt or with the adjudication, the amount is identical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are in a difficult financial situation, you can apply for exemption from court fees. The application is accompanied by a statement of your family and financial situation on an official form - available both at the court and on the website of the Ministry of Justice. The court will then assess whether your financial situation justifies the exemption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes. If the court pronounces a divorce without determining fault, the plaintiff shall be reimbursed ex officio half of the petition fee, i.e. 300 z\u0142<\/strong>. In addition, the defendant is obliged to reimburse the plaintiff PLN 150<\/strong>. These are not large amounts, but they show that an uncontested divorce is cheaper not only in theory, but also in the final settlement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At divorce with the declaration of guilt<\/strong> the rule is different: a party found guilty of divorce shall, as a rule, bear all the costs of the proceedings, including the costs of the attorney of the winning party, but up to a maximum of six times the minimum rate arising from the Regulation of the Minister of Justice on fees for lawyers' activities. Currently, the minimum rate in a divorce case is PLN 720, so the court may award a maximum of PLN 4320.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The filing fee is a starting point, but rarely the only expense. How much a divorce costs depends on the particular case. Below you will find additional items that affect the cost of divorce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Division of common property<\/strong> - If you want to settle property issues already during the divorce case, an additional fee is payable. An application for the division of joint property is a fee of PLN 1000<\/strong>. However, if the application contains a consensual design for division, i.e. both parties are in agreement, the fee is only 300 z\u0142<\/strong>. The division of joint assets at the same time as a divorce case is not always possible. If it would lead to an undue delay in the proceedings, the court will not decide on the division of the property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eviction of a spouse<\/strong> - if in the application you request at the same time to evict the other spouse from the joint residence, there is an additional fee of PLN 200<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stamp duty on power of attorney<\/strong> - if you decide to seek the assistance of a solicitor, a stamp duty of PLN 17 will be added to the costs. This is a nominal cost, but it is worth knowing about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Court experts, OZSS<\/strong> - in cases where the court deems it necessary (most often in child custody disputes or when one party's health is in question), an expert may be called. The costs of expert opinions can be significant and are difficult to predict in advance. The cost of an expert opinion is approximately PLN 1,300 in Krak\u00f3w.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mediation<\/strong> - If the case goes to mediation, there are the costs of the mediator. However, this is an expense that can be worthwhile - good mediation can save time, money and energy for later disputes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Spousal maintenance<\/strong> - if the court awards alimony to a divorced spouse, the unsuccessful party shall be ordered to pay a proportional fee on the awarded claim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Requests for security<\/strong> - If they are not filed directly in the statement of claim, they are subject to a fee. An application for security regarding contacts is PLN 100. This question always falls immediately after the question about the court fee. And here there is no single answer: rates can vary greatly<\/strong>. The attorney's fee is set individually and depends on a number of factors: the complexity of the case, the extent of the evidence procedure, the number of hearings, the need to prepare additional letters or requests for evidence. It is also relevant whether the attorney is to prepare only the statement of claim or to conduct the entire case from the first consultation to the final judgment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The location of the case is also important. Rates can vary from city to city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In uncomplicated divorce cases without an adjudication of guilt, without disputes over children or property, it is usually the cost of the several thousand zlotys<\/strong>. In more complex cases - with fault adjudication, maintenance disputes, child custody issues, lawyer's fee rates can be as high as a dozen or sometimes tens of thousands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every case is different and only after talking about your specific situation can you say what you can realistically expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I understand that when planning a budget, the first question is: how much does it cost? But when it comes to family matters, it's also worth asking the second question: how much can it cost me to lack of a good attorney<\/strong>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Formal errors in the statement of claim, omitted requests for evidence, incorrectly worded demands concerning children or property - all of these can generate costs that are much higher than the lawyer's fees. A well-managed case can shorten proceedings, reduce the number of hearings and better safeguard your interests for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So how much does a divorce cost? The minimum you always start with is PLN 600 court fee<\/strong>. In a consensual divorce without an adjudication of guilt, part of this amount is returned. However, this is rarely the only cost; there are also attorney's fees, possible costs for mediation, expert opinions, division of property or other claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How much exactly does a divorce cost? This always depends on the specific case. The more contentious the issues, the higher and more difficult to predict the total cost of the proceedings. That is why it is advisable to make an appointment for a consultation and calmly analyse the situation before filing - so that you do not start with wrong assumptions about the course and cost of the whole process.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCan part of the fee be recovered?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What else will you pay for in a divorce case?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If, during the course of the proceedings, you apply for a justification of certain decisions (e.g. on security) you will pay PLN 30 for each application, and if you decide to apply for a justification of the judgment, the court fee is PLN 100.
How much a divorce costs is also influenced by whether the case ends at first instance or whether an appeal is filed. The topic of appeal costs will be discussed in more detail in the next post. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHow much does a solicitor cost in a divorce case?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why is it important to look at costs in a broader perspective?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How much does divorce cost in 2026 - a summary<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n