How much does it cost to get divorced in Germany?

Beyond the personal and emotional toll of getting divorced, doing so in Germany means navigating strict legal requirements that take time and make the process fairly expensive.

Fortunately, a bit of forward planning can help you minimise these costs and clear the legal hurdles more smoothly.

Here are the costs to expect if you're getting divorced in Germany, as well as how to keep them as low as possible. 

A divorce in Germany is not as simple as signing a few papers at a registry office.

To start, before a married couple can divorce they must first complete a mandatory "separation year" (Trennungsjahr), proving they have taken the time "apart", even if they still share a roof.

The year-long break is only sufficient if both spouses agree to file for divorce. If one spouse does not want to divorce, the family courts tend to see this as an opportunity for reconciliation. In this a separation period of at least three years may be required before the divorce can go ahead.

READ ALSO: How does divorce affect your residence rights in Germany?

A divorce must also be finalised in court and the law in Germany requires that at least one spouse is represented by a qualified lawyer.

There’s no way around this, and you can’t represent yourself. The most cost-effective option is to use a single lawyer who charges a flat rate, and not to apply to the court for any additional services. More on this below. 

How much does it cost?

Court and legal fees for a divorce are not applied as a flat rate, butare  based on the "value of the case" (Verfahrenswert or Streitwert).

This figure is determined by combining the three-month net income of both spouses and adding a portion of their joint assets, such as savings and property. 

The court also factors in the pension equalisation (Versorgungsausgleich), or the automatic splitting of pension entitlements gained during the marriage.

If the court is also to address the equalisation of accrued gains, spousal support or child support, you can expect legal costs to rise. 

As of June 1st, 2025, the Cost Law Amendment Act raised court fees by approximately six percent and legal fees by nine percent.

For a typical couple with a combined monthly income of €5,000, the total cost for court fees and one lawyer in 2026 now sits at approximately €3,428. If both parties hire their own legal counsel, that cost can easily double to over €6,000.

If you want to estimate your own potential costs, this divorce calculator from FinanzTip can give you an idea about how much your divorce would likely cost. 

How to keep costs low

The simplest and most effective way to minimise costs is to pursue an uncontested divorce (einvernehmliche Scheidung).

If you and your spouse agree on all major issues like custody and asset division, only one person needs to hire a lawyer to file the petition while the other simply consents. This saves the cost of a second set of legal fees.

Settling disputes outside of the courtroom is also vital for keeping costs low.

Every issue a judge has to resolve—such as determining support payments or the value of household goods—increases the aforementioned "value of the case" and, thus, the final bill you will be expected to pay.

Couples who settle these matters via a private separation agreement before their court date see significantly lower fees.

Childcare costs factored in

In calculating costs, the court accounts for the financial burden of raising children.

You can deduct a flat rate from your combined net income for child support payments—usually between €250 and €300 monthly per child—depending on the specific regional court.

For a safe initial estimate, experts suggest deducting €250 per child from your monthly net income before multiplying that total by three to reach your base procedural value.

EXPLAINED: How does shared custody after divorce work in Germany?

Some courts also grant an extra "child allowance" that is deducted from your total assets before they are factored into the case value. 

Payment up front

One detail that often surprises foreigners is that the court requires payment in advance.

When your lawyer files the divorce petition, they include a preliminary value of the proceedings, which determines the "court fee advance".

The person who officially files the petition is responsible for this payment; the court will not even process the papers or notify the other spouse until the treasury has received the funds.

While you cannot file for divorce jointly—only one person can be the "petitioner"—the court usually stipulates in the final decree that each spouse must pay half of the court costs.

This means that once the proceedings are finished, the person who paid the advance will typically receive a reimbursement of 50 percent from their former spouse.

Financial support 

For those who cannot afford these fees, the state provides a safety net known as "legal aid" (Verfahrenskostenhilfe).

If your income is below a certain threshold or you are receiving social benefits, you can apply to have the state cover your court and legal costs. Your lawyer typically handles this application alongside your initial divorce petition.

It is important to note that standard legal insurance in Germany rarely covers divorce costs beyond an initial consultation.

Additionally, unlike some other legal expenses, divorce costs are generally not tax-deductible as "extraordinary expenses" in Germany. So you'll generally need to expect these costs to be private out-of-pocket expenditures.

Please note: The content provided here is for informative purposes only. It should not be considered legal advice.