How to Get a Divorce If I Don't Have the Filing Fee
- 1). Visit the family law section of the civil court in the county where you will be filing your divorce. Tell the clerk you wish to file for divorce, but do not have the filing fees. She will give you an Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status.
- 2). Complete the Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status. Some states may require you to pay an application fee. Florida's application fee is $25. The application fee is waived (in the state of Florida) for dependency cases or Chapter 39 termination of parental rights cases. Some states may also request a copy of your bank statements and pay stubs for employment verification and to verify the amount of money you make.
- 3). Review the clerk's decision. If indigent status was denied, you may request a hearing before a judge to determine indigence. Depending on your state, there may or may not be a fee for the hearing. Florida does not require a fee for this hearing.
- 4). Attend the hearing. If the court does not determine you to be indigent, you may try to borrow the money from a friend or family member. In no-fault states, such as Florida, you may also ask your spouse to file. It does not matter who files in a no-fault state.
- 5). Request (in the petition) that your spouse reimburse you for the filing fee. Many times, if a spouse stays home, especially at the request of the other spouse, the court will order that the working spouse pay filing fees and other court costs and a portion of the nonworking spouse's attorney's fees.