Understanding the Cost of Divorce in Maryland

The financial implications of a divorce process in Maryland can vary extensively, and this variation is generally determined on an individual case basis. Numerous factors contribute to the overall cost of a divorce in Maryland. Some of these primary factors include court fees, attorney fees, costs for document preparation, trial expenses, and any additional costs related to settlement procedures such as mediation. Given these considerations, it's important to evaluate the total divorce cost as a cumulative sum of all professional fees and associated costs.

In any divorce proceeding, the most quantifiable element of expense is court fees. In Maryland, two court fees exist: an initial filing fee of $165 is required to secure a case number, and a final filing fee of $20 is necessary to schedule your case on the court's calendar and to finalize your divorce where you seek judicial intervention. Unless you qualify for a waiver, these court fees are compulsory. We provide this waiver application upon request or when it seems suitable. The court fees are paid when submitting your paperwork to the court.

Strategies to Reduce Divorce Costs in Maryland

The primary strategy to mitigate your divorce costs in Maryland is by reaching an agreement with your spouse. By arriving at a consensus, you eliminate the need for attorneys to litigate your divorce issues or engage in mediation. By limiting unnecessary expenses for attorney and other professional services, you have greater control over your divorce costs. It's worth noting that even in cases where large sums are spent in preparation for a court battle, most divorce cases eventually settle by agreement. In such instances, the majority of your resources are spent on an attorney for negotiation, typically with your spouse's attorney.

Another cost-saving method is to utilize Maryland Divorce Online. Once you've reached an agreement, you respond to our online questionnaire, and then review the paperwork that reflects your agreements with your spouse. Both of you can then sign and notarize the paperwork online. We can then E-file your case for you, subsequently placing your divorce case on the court calendar. A judge will be assigned to your case and, once all the paperwork is complete, will sign off on the divorce. This process eliminates court visits, office visits, and the need for notary hunting. Even better, our online attorney service comes at a lawyer-free price.

Defining an Agreed Divorce

An agreed (or uncontested) divorce happens when you and your spouse resolve all the issues of your divorce prior to filing. The divorce settlement agreement outlines the division of your marital property and debts, and, if applicable, provides a plan for child support, custody, and visitation. By reaching an agreement in advance, you can save significantly on your divorce costs.

What Does Our Website Offer?

Through our website, you can complete an agreed divorce 100% online. The process is simple - you answer a series of questions and submit your responses. Our online attorney prepares all the necessary paperwork for you. Next, you and your spouse review the documents. You and your spouse can then each sign and notarize the paperwork online using our E-notary service. Following this, we E-file your case with the appropriate Circuit Court.

How Much Does Our Service Cost?

We offer a flexible pay-as-you-go pricing model, allowing you to make payments on your schedule and at your convenience.

To complete a divorce in Maryland, two separate court actions are required. We provide two services to cover these: case initiation and case finalization. Both services encompass: a licensed Maryland attorney drafting all your paperwork, our online notary service, all court fees, and the attorney e-filing all documents for you.

Here's a breakdown of the costs:

Phase 1: Total cost is $375, specifically divided as follows:

• Attorney’s Fees: $180
• Virtual Signing Session - includes remote signing, digital signature, and remote online notary: $50
• Court Fee: $165
• Surcharge for e-filing charged by Maryland: $20

Phase 2: Total cost is $335, and includes all documents necessary to finalize the divorce. The costs are divided as follows:

• Attorney’s Fees: $200
• Virtual Signing Session - includes remote signing, digital signature, and remote online notary: $50 for each spouse
• Second Maryland Court Filing Fee and e-file surcharge from the state: $20

Please Note:

A $40 revision fee will be applied if a material error is made on the questionnaire in phase 1 or phase 2, necessitating the attorney to correct case documents.

Should you decide to dismiss your case once it's filed with the court, Maryland charges a fee for this service. The total fee (state fee + attorney’s fee) is $90.