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Court filing fees in Alabama

What the court charges to start a divorce or an adult name change in Alabama, as stated in the fee schedule or statute. Lawyer fees, service of papers and newspaper costs are extra.

The details

Fee to file for divorce

Complaint $199.00 (Jefferson County Circuit Clerk domestic relations fees, current as of June 21, 2012)¹²

This is the fee in Jefferson. Other counties may charge a different amount.

The newest source we could read for this fee is from 2012. Confirm the current fee with the clerk.

Montgomery County lists a Domestic Relations Docket Fee of $194.00, so amounts differ by county. Jefferson page is dated 2012.

Fee to respond to a divorce

No answer fee listed¹

Jefferson County page lists no answer or counterclaim fee.

Fee for an adult name change

(Fee $65.00-80.00) to be determined by number of copies made³

This is the fee in Jefferson. Other counties may charge a different amount.

Probate Court gives a range, not a single figure.

Court that handles divorce

Circuit Court (divorce). Probate Court handles name changes.¹³

If you cannot afford the fee

Form C-10-CIVIL, Affidavit of Substantial Hardship and Order (Request to Waive Filing Fees): Court considers public benefits, income against US poverty guidelines, and whether paying would cause substantial hardship.⁴ Get the form

Sources

1. Filing Fees (Domestic Relations), Jefferson County Circuit Court, Alabama, checked 1 November 2026
2. Domestic Relations Fee Chart, Circuit Court of Montgomery County, Alabama, checked 1 November 2026
3. Name Change instructions, Jefferson County Probate Court, Alabama, checked 1 November 2026
4. Affidavit of Substantial Hardship and Order, Form C-10-CIVIL Rev. 9/2019, Alabama Unified Judicial System, checked 1 November 2026

Checked 1 November 2026. "Secondary" marks a source we used only because the official page could not be read.