Court Filing Fees

All states

Court filing fees in Iowa

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

$285to file for divorce
$215to file for an adult name change

The details

Fee to file for divorce
Petition for dissolution of marriage $285 (Iowa Code 602.8105(1)(b)). Includes the filing fee and docketing of any dissolution decree.12

Same fee statewide.

Fee to respond to a divorce
No answer fee listed1

Fee page lists no fee for an answer.

Fee for an adult name change
Petition for change of name $215 (Iowa Code 602.8105(1)(a))134

Same fee statewide.

An Iowa Courts FAQ page still says $195. The fee page updated for 2026 changes says $215.

Court that handles divorce
District Court3
Fees change, and some counties add local fees. Check the court's own fee page or call the clerk before you file.

Sources

  1. Civil Court Fees, Iowa Judicial Branch, checked 1 November 2026
  2. Divorce, Iowa Judicial Branch, checked 1 November 2026
  3. Name Change, Iowa Judicial Branch, checked 1 November 2026
  4. Name Change for Adults and Minor Children (FAQ), Iowa Judicial Branch, checked 1 November 2026

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