In addition to legal fees there are also out-of-pocket expenses in a Connecticut divorce, custody or family law case. If you are the party commencing the action, then you will be required to pay a court filing fee of $225 to commence the action. In addition, you will be required to pay a marshal fee for the service of the action on the opposing party. Marshal fees vary depending upon a number of factors. However, if there are no extraordinary issues with service, the marshal fee is most often less than $60. If you have children under the age of majority with the opposing party, then you will be required to attend a Connecticut Parenting Education Program. The cost for this program is currently $125. Also, if you would like to obtain a certified copy of your judgment for your Connecticut divorce, custody or family law matter, then you will be required to pay a $25 fee.

In addition to these basic out-of-pocket expenses, a party in a Connecticut divorce, custody or family law matter may also be required to pay fees for expert witnesses (e.g., a forensic accountant) or a private investigator. If there is real property, then parties will often need to pay a fee to have the property appraised. Should a party wish to subpoena a person or entity, then he or she will need to pay a marshal to serve such a subpoena. I recently sent a marshal out to serve a subpoena on an individual. He made several trips to this particular individual's place of employment and the individual in question was not present or unavailable. Finally, he made service. Given these extra trips, the subpoena fee was approximately $75.

The out-of-pocket expenses referenced above are current as of the date of this post.