Quebec Divorce Cost Estimator

A Quebec divorce costs between CAD $1,750 for an uncontested case and CAD $13,638 for a contested proceeding based on 2020 provincial data. Court filing fees start at CAD $325 for contentious applications or CAD $108 for joint applications, plus a CAD $10 Central Registry fee. Attorney fees at a median rate of CAD $375 per hour represent the largest variable cost, with retainers ranging from CAD $1,000 to CAD $10,000.

Quebec Superior Court charges CAD $325 for a contentious divorce application and CAD $108 for a joint (uncontested) application under the Tariff of Court Costs, indexed annually on January 1. An additional CAD $10 Central Registry fee is payable to Justice Canada for all divorce applications. Fee waivers are available through the legal aid system for financially eligible applicants.

Quebec divorce attorneys charge between CAD $150 and CAD $500 per hour, with a median rate of CAD $375 per hour. Retainer deposits typically range from CAD $1,000 to CAD $10,000 depending on case complexity. Quebec uniquely permits notaries to handle amicable divorces (since February 2017), which often costs significantly less than lawyer-led proceedings for couples who agree on all terms.

Quebec provides legal aid for divorce through the Commission des services juridiques. A single person earning CAD $29,302 or less annually qualifies for free legal aid, which covers all court filing fees and attorney costs. Contributory legal aid is available for higher incomes, requiring fixed payments between CAD $100 and CAD $800. Individuals receiving social assistance or social solidarity benefits automatically qualify.

Quebec mandates attendance at a free parenting-after-separation information session for divorcing couples with children who cannot resolve disputes before their court hearing. The province also funds 5 free mediation hours for separating couples with dependent children (2.5 hours for agreement revisions) through the Ministère de la Justice. Additional mediation hours cost a regulated rate of CAD $130 per hour plus applicable taxes.

An uncontested (joint) divorce in Quebec costs a median of CAD $1,750, which includes the CAD $108 joint application filing fee, the CAD $10 Central Registry fee, and professional fees for a notary or attorney to prepare the draft agreement. Quebec's notary-led amicable divorce option (available since 2017) can bring professional fees to a few hundred dollars for simple cases where spouses agree on all terms under the Civil Code of Quebec.

Beyond filing fees and attorney fees, Quebec divorces may incur bailiff fees for service of process, business or real estate appraisal costs (CAD $300–$5,000), actuarial valuations for pension division, and notary fees for property transfers. Mediation beyond the 5 free government-funded hours costs CAD $130 per hour. If child custody is disputed, a psychosocial assessment or parenting expert evaluation can add CAD $3,000–$8,000 to total costs.

Quebec allows self-represented divorce through JuridiQC's Joint Divorce Help Tool, which guides spouses step-by-step through preparing and filing documents. A joint application requires only the CAD $108 court fee plus the CAD $10 Central Registry fee. However, both spouses must agree on all terms including spousal support, family patrimony partition, and matrimonial regime division. Éducaloi (educaloi.qc.ca) provides free legal information resources in both English and French.