Court Filing Fees

All states

Court filing fees in Maine

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

$120to file for divorce, plus other fees the source lists separately

The details

Fee to file for divorce
Entry of a Family Matter Action $120.00 (District Court fee schedule, A.O. JB-05-26, effective March 9, 2026)12

Same fee statewide.

The order does not label this item as divorce in so many words.

Fee to respond to a divorce
No fee for an answer or counterclaim listed1
Fee for an adult name change
Probate Courts are exempt from the listed fees14

Adult name change is a Probate Court matter. No adult fee found. 18-C 1-602 sets $50 for any other formal proceeding but does not name name changes.

Newspaper publication for a name change
No. The court may not require public notice before approving the name change (18-C M.R.S. 1-701(2)).5
Court that handles divorce
District Court (divorce). Probate Court handles adult name changes.21
If you cannot afford the fee
Application to Proceed Without Payment of Fees and Affidavit: The court may waive filing fees if you qualify because of your financial circumstances.32 Get the form
Fees change, and some counties add local fees. Check the court's own fee page or call the clerk before you file.

Sources

  1. Administrative Order JB-05-26 (A. 3-26), Court Fees Schedule, Maine Supreme Judicial Court, checked 1 November 2026
  2. Divorce: How to start, Maine Judicial Branch, checked 1 November 2026
  3. Divorce without Minor Children packet (FM-081 Rev. 12/20), Maine Judicial Branch, checked 1 November 2026
  4. Title 18-C, 1-602 Filing and certification fees, Maine Legislature, checked 1 November 2026
  5. Title 18-C, 1-701 Process to change name, Maine Legislature, checked 1 November 2026

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