Costs of Divorce and Divorce by Mutual Consent in Bulgaria

Both contentious divorce, in which the spouses dispute a right or interest, and divorce by mutual consent necessarily involve costs. These include the initial state fee payable to the court, fees calculated by the court when movable or immovable property is divided, and the lawyer’s fee for conducting the proceedings.

Under the Tariff of State Fees Collected by the Courts under the Code of Civil Procedure, the fees differ according to the type of divorce. In contentious proceedings an initial fee of BGN 25 is payable when the claim is filed, and when the judgment is delivered the court determines the remaining fee, up to BGN 50. In proceedings by mutual consent, in addition to the initial fee, the court determines the final fee when granting the divorce and approving the agreement; this fee is lower, up to BGN 40, with no stated minimum.

A special feature is that the law attempts to cover the different possible arrangements between the spouses. Where the parties agree on their property relations, including division of movable and immovable property, a fee of 2% of the value of each share in the matrimonial community property is collected. Where the agreement concerns maintenance, whether for a minor child or a spouse, the proportional fee charged by the court is 2% of the value of the payments for three years.

An appraisal or another expert examination may be appointed during the proceedings. It is prepared by a court expert included in the list approved by the regional court, whose remuneration is paid by the party requesting the examination. Depending on the complexity and number of questions, the fee commonly ranges from BGN 150 to BGN 300.

The costs also include the lawyer’s fee for representation and preparation of the divorce documents. Bulgarian lawyers determine their fees in accordance with the applicable rules on lawyers’ remuneration. The article lists minimum amounts of BGN 600 for contentious divorce and BGN 400 for divorce by mutual consent.

The expenses should be planned in advance. The exact amount depends on the claims, the property involved, the evidence required, and the agreed legal representation.