Costs of Contested Divorce and Divorce by Mutual Consent

Divorce costs are not limited to one fee. Court fees, agreed lawyers’ remuneration and possible expenses for evidence, documents and separate property proceedings must be distinguished.

Court fees

Fees are determined under the current Tariff of State Fees Collected by the Courts under the Code of Civil Procedure. The type of divorce and the claims and agreement matter. Property arrangements and maintenance may attract proportional fees based on the relevant interest. The amount must therefore be calculated for the actual documents at the time of filing, rather than by mechanically using old figures in Bulgarian leva.

Lawyers’ remuneration

Under Article 36(2) of the Bar Act, amended in 2026, remuneration is agreed by the lawyer and client and must be fair, justified and consistent with the dignity of the profession. Paragraphs 3 and 4 apply where no fee has been agreed. Old publications on minimum fees should not be presented as an automatic mandatory price for every divorce.

Clarify in writing whether the agreement covers advice, drafting the application and settlement, hearings, negotiations and appeals. Separate partition proceedings or another property dispute may require a separate agreement.

Is a lawyer compulsory?

There is no general requirement to engage a lawyer for first-instance divorce proceedings. This does not remove the requirements governing documents and evidence. In divorce by mutual consent, Article 330 of the Code requires the spouses to appear personally; appointing a lawyer does not by itself replace that appearance.

Experts and other expenses

If necessary, the court may appoint an appraisal or another expert examination and set a deposit. There is no universal price for every expert report. Certificates, translations, registrations and obtaining documents may also involve expenses.

Who bears the costs?

Allocation depends on the proceedings, findings on fault, the agreement and the applicable rules of the Code, including Article 329. It should not be promised that the other spouse will necessarily reimburse every expense.

For an initial estimate, prepare information on the children, maintenance, family home and property, and indicate whether agreement has been reached. Tomovi Law Firm can discuss the necessary steps and the scope of legal assistance.

Sources: Bar Act, Article 36; Code of Civil Procedure, Articles 73, 329 and 330.