How much does it cost to file for divorce in Utah?
As of October 2026, filing a divorce petition in Utah costs $350 at the court, and a counterclaim costs $130. Parents of children under 18 also pay $30 per person for the divorce orientation class and $35 per person for the parenting class. People who cannot afford the fees can ask the judge for a fee waiver.
The court's own fees are the smallest part of a divorce bill, but they are the first thing you pay and the easiest to pin down. Here is the full list, what can be waived, and where the real costs start.
Fees last checked: October 19, 2026, against the Utah Courts fee schedule effective May 6, 2026. Court fees change, so confirm on the court's page before you file. This is general information, not legal advice.
The court filing fees
Utah charges one fee to open a divorce case and smaller fees for a few things that can happen inside it.
- Divorce or separate maintenance petition: $350
- Counterclaim by the other spouse: $130
- Motion for a temporary separation order: $35
- Petition to modify a divorce decree later: $100
The $350 is paid by the person who files, called the petitioner. The other spouse pays nothing to the court to file an answer, and pays $130 only if they file a counterclaim of their own.
If you use the court's online form builder, expect a small document preparation fee as well. The court also lists a fee for the Office of Vital Records when the divorce is finalized.
Run your own numbers
See a rough comparison for your situation in about a minute.
Open the savings toolRequired classes if you have children
If you have children under 18, both parents must take two classes before the court will sign a final decree.
- Divorce orientation: $30 per person
- Parenting: $35 per person
The orientation fee drops by $15 if the petitioner attends in person within 30 days of filing, or if the respondent attends in person within 30 days of being served. The online version is not discounted. The petitioner must finish the classes within 60 days of filing and the respondent within 30 days of receiving the notice.
Children aged 6 to 17 can take a free online class made for them. It is optional.
Serving the papers
Utah law says you cannot hand the papers to your spouse yourself. You have three paid or unpaid routes.
- Any adult who is not part of the case can serve them for free.
- A sheriff, constable, or private process server will do it for a fee, which varies by county and company.
- Mail or courier with a signature required works too. Ordinary stamped mail does not.
If your spouse is cooperative, they can sign an acceptance of service instead, which costs nothing. You have 120 days from filing to complete service.
What a fee waiver covers
If you cannot afford the fees, you can ask the judge to waive them. The request is filed with your other papers and the judge decides based on your income and circumstances. A waiver can cover the filing fee and some other court costs, and the class fees can also be waived. The court's fee waiver page explains who qualifies.
Where the real costs start
If your spouse agrees with everything in the petition, the costs above may be close to the whole bill. Utah requires 30 days between filing and finalizing the divorce, and an uncontested case can move through on paperwork.
If your spouse files an answer that disagrees, the case is contested, and two more costs appear.
Mediation. Once an answer is filed, Utah refers the contested issues to mediation, and you must attend at least one session with a mediator on the court's roster before the case moves forward. The court does not set a price. You pick the mediator and pay their rate, usually split equally. If you cannot afford it, the court's ADR office runs an income survey that can lead to reduced fees or a pro bono mediator. Our guide on Utah's divorce mediation requirement walks through the rule.
Attorneys. This is where the number stops being hundreds and starts being thousands. A contested divorce handled through litigation commonly runs $15,000 to $30,000 per spouse. Our guide on what a contested divorce really costs in Utah breaks that down.
Where Salt City Mediation fits
Salt City Mediation is not on the court's roster, so a session with us does not satisfy the mandatory mediation step. David Ring III is currently completing the additional training the court requires for its domestic roster. In the meantime, what we offer is voluntary mediation: the practical conversations couples want to work through before filing, or alongside the court process, such as who keeps what and how parenting logistics will run. If your case needs a rostered mediator, we will say so in the free consult and point you to the court's list.
Common questions
Can I get the Utah divorce filing fee waived?
Yes, if you cannot afford it. You file a fee waiver request with your other papers and the judge decides based on your income and circumstances. A waiver can cover the filing fee and some other court costs. The forms and the current rules are on the Utah Courts website.
Do I have to pay for the divorce classes in Utah?
If you have children under 18, both parents must complete the divorce orientation class, $30 per person, and the parenting class, $35 per person. A petitioner who attends orientation in person within 30 days of filing gets $15 off, and a respondent gets the same discount within 30 days of being served. A judge can waive the class fees.
How much does the mandatory mediation cost in a Utah divorce?
Utah does not set a fixed fee. The parties choose a mediator from the court's roster and pay that mediator's rate, split equally unless they agree otherwise or the court orders otherwise. If you cannot afford it, the court's ADR office runs an income survey that can lead to financial help or a pro bono mediator.
Sources
David Ring III
Mediator and founder of Salt City Mediation LLC. Founder of EmpathEase, an app for practicing empathy and Nonviolent Communication. Completed Utah Dispute Resolution's 40-hour mediation training in 2026.