What Does Divorce Cost in North Carolina?

Court filing fees, attorney rates, and what changes when both parties agree. Updated for 2026. These are estimates, not quotes.

The cost of a divorce in North Carolina depends almost entirely on one thing: whether both of you are reasonable. When you use SerenityNow to come to an agreement on property, support, and a parenting plan, most of the expense disappears. When you fight it out, attorney hours stack up fast. The two paths below show the difference honestly.

The two paths

Recommended

SerenityNow

$500

flat

We help both parties come to a reasonable agreement, then prepare your complete North Carolina filing packet. The court filing fee is paid separately to the court. The calmest and lowest cost path.

Contested, high conflict

$11,125+

Retainer plus dozens of billable hours. Costs climb with every disputed issue.

Child support in North Carolina

For a coparenting household with two children and a moderate income difference, the North Carolina guideline produces an estimate around $906 per month. Use the calculator below to run your own numbers and switch states if you need to compare.

Your situation

State

Your gross monthly income

Coparent gross monthly income

Number of children

Monthly child health insurance

Your overnights per year

Who pays support

Your estimate

Estimated monthly child support

$906/mo

paid by you to the other parent

A parenting time credit may apply at 123 or more overnights per year.

For an exact calculation, use the official North Carolina child support calculator.

Estimate only. Not legal advice. Confirm current guidelines with the official North Carolina child support agency.

Governing rule: NCGS §50-1. This estimate is illustrative and does not replace the official North Carolina calculation.

Where the money goes

Court filing fee (North Carolina)	$125 to $325
SerenityNow flat fee	$500
Attorney hourly rate	$200 to $375
Contested attorney time (40 to 100+ hours)	$11,000 to $27,500

Filing fees vary by county. Check your local clerk of courts for the exact amount. A fee waiver may be available if you qualify.

North Carolina cost facts

Court filing fee in North Carolina typically runs $225.
Residency rule: 6 months
When both parties are reasonable and use SerenityNow to come to an agreement, we prepare your complete court ready filing packet for a flat $500. The court filing fee is paid separately to the court.

The cheapest divorce is the one you do not fight

SerenityNow helps coparents reach a court ready agreement together, then prepares the filing paperwork for your state for a flat $500.

See how SerenityNow works

Estimate only. The figures on this page are general estimates drawn from published North Carolina court fee schedules and attorney rate surveys, and the child support estimate is illustrative. They are not legal or financial advice and they are not a quote for any specific case. The $500 SerenityNow fee covers document preparation for an uncontested filing where both parties are reasonable and use SerenityNow to come to an agreement, and does not include the court filing fee or any attorney representation. Actual costs vary by county and by the complexity of your situation. Child support estimates do not replace the official North Carolina calculation or the advice of a licensed attorney. Verify all figures with the North Carolina courts and a qualified professional before relying on them.