1. Family Court fees and funding

Family Court fees and funding

Where to start
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Overview

Certain applications or events associated with the Family Court may have a fee. You may be able to apply for support to help with these fees.

Application and hearing fees

When you file your application to the court, you must pay any application fees, or show a receipt that you’ve already paid.

Applications that have a fee 

Application name Fee
Dissolution Order (for a divorce) $211.50
Parenting Order  $220
Change (vary) or cancel (discharge) a Parenting Order $220
Apply for an order about relationship property $700

Hearings that have a fee

You may have to pay a fee before you can attend some hearings.

Hearing name Fee
Relationship property $906 per half day or part of a half day

All other Family Court applications have no fee. This means if your application or hearing is not listed here, it is free to apply.

If you’re not sure whether you need to pay an application fee, check with your lawyer or freephone the Ministry of Justice on 0800 268 787(external link).

How to pay your fees

Online

You can use our File and Pay service to pay for any application fees. This service lets you pay your fees online using a credit card or debit card.

When you make a payment through File and Pay, you will receive a receipt. You should send this receipt to the court with your documents, to show proof of payment.

You can also use our File and Pay service to file your documents with the court.

Go to File and Pay(external link)

Your lawyer

If you have a lawyer, you may be able to arrange payment through them. Your lawyer can also help prepare the application and file it at the nearest court for you. 

In person

You can pay your application fee at the Family Court. You can pay by cash, eftpos, debit or credit card. You can file your documents at the same time.

File Family Court documents

Other fees or costs to consider

If you’re going to the Family Court, there may be other fees or costs to think about. You may need to arrange and pay for the cost of:

  • transport to get to the Family court
  • childcare - if you are attending a Family Court hearing, children aren’t usually allowed in the courtroom
  • your lawyer if you don’t have legal aid
  • legal aid fees – legal aid is considered a loan, you may have to repay some or all of it
  • cost contribution order.

Legal Advice and Support

Cost Contribution Orders

Financial support

If you need support to pay your fees, you may be able to apply for a fee waiver.

Apply for a fee waiver

It costs $448.50 per person to attend a Family Dispute Resolution mediation service. You may qualify for funding to help with this fee.

Funding for Family Dispute Resolution mediation service

If you’re going through a relationship break-up, or changing the day-to-day care of a child, your financial situation may change. For example, you might have less money coming in each week or you might be spending more on things like food and rent. There are organisations that offer financial support and services that can help you sort out a new budget.

Feeling overwhelmed?

Going to Family Court can be hard. It's normal to feel overwhelmed. There are services available to help and support through this time.

Visit our help page