The court fee for a divorce application in Australia is $1,125 as at 2026, or $375 if you hold an eligible concession card or can show financial hardship. But the filing fee is usually the smallest part of the picture. What separation actually costs depends on how you and your former partner resolve property and parenting, and the difference between an agreed outcome and a contested court case can be tens of thousands of dollars.
Court fees in 2026
Current Federal Circuit and Family Court filing fees include: application for divorce $1,125 (reduced fee $375); application for consent orders to formalise an agreed property or parenting outcome $205; initiating application for final orders $435 for parenting or financial orders, or $710 for both; and if interim orders are also sought, the combined filing fees are $585 and $860 respectively. Defended matters attract further fees, including a setting down fee and daily hearing fees of $790 per day in Division 2. Fees change from time to time, so check the court’s website for the current schedule.
What lawyers cost, and what drives the bill
Legal costs in family law are driven almost entirely by conflict. An uncontested divorce application is a modest fixed cost. A negotiated property settlement formalised by consent orders is typically a few thousand dollars. A fully contested property or parenting case that runs to a final hearing can cost each party $50,000 to well over $100,000. The single most effective way to control costs is to narrow the dispute early: know your legal position, make sensible offers, and use mediation and consent orders rather than litigation wherever possible.
Why paying for early advice usually saves money
Most expensive family law disputes we see in the Illawarra share a pattern: months of argument, positions hardening, and only then legal advice. By that point, opportunities to settle cheaply have often passed. A single, thorough consultation at the start does the opposite. You learn the realistic range for your settlement, the time limits that apply to you, and the cheapest path to a binding outcome. Many people need nothing more than that one session and a clear plan.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get the divorce fee reduced?
Yes, to $375, if you hold certain government concession cards or can demonstrate financial hardship. For a joint application, both parties must be eligible.
Is a “cheap online divorce” a good idea?
The divorce application itself is administrative, and many people file it themselves through the Commonwealth Courts Portal. The risk is not the form, it is what gets missed around it: the 12-month time limit after divorce for property claims, superannuation, and unformalised agreements that fall apart years later.
Does the more expensive lawyer mean a better outcome?
No. The right question is whether your lawyer resolves disputes efficiently or inflames them. Ask any lawyer you meet how they propose to keep you out of court.
What does a consultation with Garrison Lawyers cost?
Pricing is provided when you book, and we regularly run offers for first consultations, alongside a free 20-minute Discovery Call. The 90-minute session is designed to be a complete strategic review of your situation, not a sales pitch.
Know where you stand before you spend
Book a consultation through our consultations page or call (02) 4210 9288. Garrison Lawyers acts for clients across Wollongong, Lake Heights, Shellharbour, Kiama, the Illawarra and the Shoalhaven, in person or by video.
Or start your enquiry right now
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This article is general information only, current at the date of publication. Court fees stated are as published by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and may change. It is not legal advice. For advice about your situation, speak with a family lawyer.