New Brunswick Divorce Cost Estimator

A divorce in New Brunswick costs between CAD $1,650 for an uncontested case and CAD $16,500 for a contested proceeding. The court filing fee is CAD $110 at the Court of King's Bench, Family Division, plus $7 for the Certificate of Divorce. Attorney fees represent the largest variable, with New Brunswick divorce lawyers charging a median rate of CAD $350 per hour. Additional costs include process serving ($70–$250), potential mediation fees, and property appraisals if assets require valuation.

The filing fee for a divorce petition in New Brunswick is CAD $110, payable to the Court of King's Bench, Family Division. An additional $7 fee applies for the Certificate of Divorce issued after the judgment becomes final. These fees are set by the New Brunswick court fee schedule at gnb.ca. Fee waivers are automatically available for Family Income Security Act recipients and individuals receiving legal aid services.

New Brunswick divorce attorneys charge a median hourly rate of CAD $350. For uncontested divorces without parenting or support issues, some firms offer flat fees starting at approximately CAD $1,200 plus HST. Uncontested cases involving parenting or support terms typically cost around CAD $1,750 as a flat fee. Contested divorces requiring court appearances, discovery, and trial preparation can reach CAD $16,500 or more depending on complexity.

New Brunswick provides automatic fee waivers for divorce filing costs to recipients of Family Income Security Act benefits and individuals receiving legal aid. The New Brunswick Legal Aid Services Commission assesses eligibility using a tiered income grid based on household size, though this grid has not been updated since 2017. Eligible applicants may be required to contribute CAD $150 or $250 toward their legal costs. Contact your local Legal Aid office to apply.

Mediation is not mandatory in New Brunswick, but the Court of King's Bench strongly encourages alternative dispute resolution before proceeding to trial. Private family mediators in New Brunswick typically charge CAD $150 to $300 per hour, with both parties usually sharing the cost. Court Social Workers within the Court Services Division also provide free intake, counselling, and mediation services for eligible families. Using mediation can significantly reduce total divorce costs compared to litigation.

An uncontested divorce in New Brunswick typically costs approximately CAD $1,650 total, including the $110 filing fee, attorney fees, and disbursements. Some New Brunswick law firms offer flat-rate packages starting at CAD $1,200 plus HST for simple divorces with no parenting or support issues, and CAD $1,750 for cases involving parenting arrangements or support terms. Process serving adds CAD $70 to $250 to the total cost.

Hidden divorce costs in New Brunswick include process server fees (CAD $70–$250), property appraisals for real estate or business valuation ($300–$5,000+), actuarial reports for pension division, and court transcript fees if motions are required. Substitutional service motions add legal fees if your spouse cannot be personally served. While the Parent Information Program is free, private parenting assessments ordered by the Court of King's Bench can cost several thousand dollars.

New Brunswick allows self-represented divorce filings at the Court of King's Bench, Family Division, reducing costs to the $110 filing fee plus disbursements. The Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick (PLEIS-NB) provides free guides and court forms. FamilyLawNB.ca offers the free Parent Information Program and step-by-step resources. Self-representation works best for uncontested divorces; contested cases involving property division under New Brunswick's Family Law Act benefit significantly from legal counsel.