Court Filing Fees

All states

Court filing fees in Maryland

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

$165to file for divorce
$165to file for an adult name change

The details

Fee to file for divorce
a clerk shall collect a $165 filing fee for docketing a civil action or proceeding (includes $55 MLSC surcharge and $30 Records Improvement surcharge). Schedule effective September 2, 2026.12

Same fee statewide.

Montgomery County page defers to the statewide schedule.

Fee to respond to a divorce
No counter-complaint fee listed1
Fee for an adult name change
There is a filing fee ($165)32

Same fee statewide.

Court that handles divorce
Circuit Court13
If you cannot afford the fee
CC-DC-089, Request for Waiver of Costs: Court considers the MLSC Client Income Eligibility Guidelines and other factors. The judge decides.4 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. Revised Schedule of Charges, Costs and Fees to be Charged by the Clerks of the Circuit Courts (effective September 2, 2026), Maryland Judiciary, checked 1 November 2026
  2. Civil Fees, Harford County Circuit Court, Maryland Judiciary, checked 1 November 2026
  3. Name Change, Maryland Judiciary, checked 1 November 2026
  4. Filing Fee Waivers, Maryland Judiciary, checked 1 November 2026

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