The Cost of Divorce in Sweden

Divorcing in Sweden is generally not associated with high costs. On the contrary, Sweden is one of the less expensive countries in which to obtain a divorce. The legislature has intentionally designed the process to be accessible to everyone, regardless of financial circumstances. Essentially, the only mandatory expense in connection with a divorce is the application fee. Any additional costs are typically optional and depend on your personal decisions.

Application Fee for Divorce

To file for divorce in Sweden, you must pay an application fee to the district court (tingsrätten). The fee is currently set at 900 SEK, regardless of whether the application is submitted jointly by both spouses or by only one party. This fee is mandatory and must be paid before the court begins processing the case. Payment is usually made via bank transfer or credit card.

The application fee is a fixed cost and is non-refundable once the case has commenced, even if you decide to withdraw the application.

No Additional Fees

Apart from the application fee, there are no mandatory fees to have your divorce approved. This remains true even if the divorce requires a period of reconsideration (betänketid). There is no additional fee when you decide to proceed with the finalization of the divorce after the reconsideration period. Furthermore, the required certificates, such as the extract of personal data (personbevis) needed for the application, are provided free of charge by the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket), and you can request them yourself.

Person pointing to the price of 900 SEK for a divorce in Sweden.
The only fee that you absolutely have to pay when divorcing in Sweden is the court’s application fee of 900 SEK. However, the advice is that you consult a lawyer before applying for divorce why you also should expect legal fees for one or a couple hours consultation.

Legal Representation Costs

Sweden does not require legal representation in divorce cases, meaning you are not obligated to hire a lawyer to represent you in court. You are free to handle your case independently and communicate directly with the court if you prefer. In many situations, this is entirely feasible. However, it is generally advisable to consult a family law attorney before filing for divorce. This consultation can provide you with a legal review of your case and advice on what you should consider during the process. After receiving legal guidance, you may choose to draft and file the divorce application yourself if you feel confident in your understanding of the requirements.

If you decide to engage a legal representative, you should expect an hourly fee ranging from 1,500 SEK to 3,000 SEK, depending on the professional you hire. For those seeking only pre-application legal advice, fixed-price consultations are often available. Such services can provide valuable insights and help ensure you do not make mistakes during the application process, making them a worthwhile investment.

If you have a home insurance policy, it often includes legal protection that can cover some litigation costs. However, divorces are typically excluded from this insurance coverage, meaning you cannot use your insurance to pay for legal representation. Nonetheless, you should confirm the specific terms of your home insurance policy with your provider to verify what applies in your particular case.

This structure ensures that divorce in Sweden remains financially manageable for most individuals, with the primary costs being tied to optional legal services rather than mandatory expenses.

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