The fee to lodge your Application for Divorce in the Federal Magistrates court is $432.

The fee does not apply if any of the following matches your circumstances:-

• you hold a Health Care Card, Health Benefit Card, Pensioner Concession Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card or any other card issued by Centrelink or the Department of Veterans Affairs that entitles you to Commonwealth health concessions
• you are receiving Legal Aid, Youth allowance or Austudy payment or Abstudy
• you have received a "Notice of Exemption" from an approved Community Legal Centre
• you are an inmate of a prison or otherwise legally detained in a public institution

To be eligible for a fee exemption or waiver for a joint application, both you and your spouse must qualify for the exemption or waiver. If only one spouse qualifies for the exemption or waiver, then the full fee applies.

Click here for the Application Exemption Form for Payment of Court Fees in PDF format. When returning your completed application form to the registry you will need to attach photocopies of documentary evidence of any of the above (such as your Health Care Card or Legal Aid letter) to support your claim. Photocopy both sides of the card or other document.

If you do not qualify for any of the above, you may be able to apply for the fee to be waived on the basis of financial hardship.