★★★★★
“We were able to self-file for divorce and avoided lawyers and litigation altogether. Ryan was incredibly responsive, kind, and most importantly — knows his stuff.”
4.9·285+ Google reviews·St. Paul, MN
Minnesota divorce cost · Updated October 2026
How much does a Minnesota divorcecost without a lawyer?
In Minnesota, the court filing fee is $390 to $405, depending on your county, and the court’s Guide & File forms are free. That only works if you two already agree on the terms. If you don’t yet, that’s the part I help with.
- One neutral mediator for both of you
- $1,695 per person, flat, for the full Three-Part Process
- Virtual by default · no hourly billing, no retainer
I’m Ryan, your mediator. I don’t take sides. Not sure mediation fits? Start with a free call. You don’t have to agree to anything.
Flannel People Mediation
$1,695
per person, flat · the full Three-Part Process
- 1Private one-on-ones, each of you heard first
- 2Written prep work, on your own time
- 3The mediation session, together
No hourly billing. Court filing fees are separate.
What a Minnesota divorce costs without a lawyer
The required court costs, from the Minnesota Judicial Branch, as of September 2026.
$390–$405
Filing fee, by county
$340 base + $50 surcharge + a county law library fee. Ramsey $405, Hennepin $402.
$0
Court forms
Minnesota Guide & File builds the divorce forms for free. eFiling through it adds $5.
Fee waiver
If you qualify
People with a low income can ask the court to waive or reduce court fees (an IFP request).
Sources: MN Judicial Branch district court fees, Guide & File FAQ, Fee Waiver (IFP). See the filing fee for all 87 Minnesota counties. Fees change; confirm with your county court. General information, not legal advice.
Cost rises with disagreement, not paperwork
What recently divorced readers nationwide reported spending, by route.
$1,170
Average · median $300
No lawyer (DIY paperwork)
$4,000
Average
Lawyers, no disputed issues
$21,500
Average
Lawyers, three or more issues to trial
Source: Nolo/DivorceNet reader survey of recently divorced readers (2019 fieldwork). General information only, not a prediction for any one case.
What clients say
4.9 stars across 285+ Google reviews.
★★★★★
“I was a ball of nerves before our virtual mediation session. Ryan's calmness, casual approach, and insights helped us get through very difficult topics to the point of an agreement. The nerves quickly went away.”
★★★★★
“We were at a stalemate. Ryan was fantastic — balanced, fair, and helped us reach a resolution that will only strengthen our co-parenting.”
Pick my free 15-min call time
Free 15-min call · No obligation · No credit card
What we charge
$1,695 per person
Flat, for the whole Three-Part Process
It isn’t an hour of mediation. It’s a whole process I’ve built backward from what actually helps two people reach agreement: each of you gets heard first, the prep work clears the ground, and by the time you’re together you can really see and hear each other without falling into the usual traps.
Our three-part process
The Flannel Three-Part Process
Every part is included in $1,695 per person. Nothing is scheduled until you’ve both said yes.
Part 1 · The one-on-ones
Private · each of you separately
Each of you is heard first.
I meet with each of you separately first, so each of you is heard fully before you're in the same room.
Part 2 · The prep work
On your own time · written
Sort what's agreed from what's open.
A short written intake you each complete on your own time. It sorts out what you already agree on and what's actually open.
Part 3 · The session
Virtual by default · together
The groundwork is done. Now decide.
By the time we're together, the groundwork is done. We'll work toward a written agreement on the issues you both agree on.
Virtual by default
Sessions run on secure Zoom, so you can join from home. No hourly billing, no retainer. Court filing fees are separate.
In person, by appointment
In-person meetings at our St. Paul office, serving the Twin Cities, are by appointment only and carry a $500 facility reservation fee.
Pick my free 15-min call time
Free 15-min call · No obligation · No credit card
Common questions
The required court cost is the filing fee: $390 to $405 depending on the county, as of September 2026 ($405 in Ramsey, $402 in Hennepin). Minnesota Guide & File, the court's online form tool, is free; eFiling through it adds $5. Anything beyond that, such as a mediator, is optional.
The Minnesota Judicial Branch lets people with a low income ask the court to waive or reduce court fees with a fee waiver (IFP) request. Eligibility is set by the court, so check the Fee Waiver page on mncourts.gov.
In the Nolo/DivorceNet reader survey, people who divorced without a lawyer reported a median of $300 and an average of $1,170, mostly filing fees and paperwork help. Those couples generally already agreed on the terms.
In the same survey, costs rose with the number of disputed issues: about $4,000 on average with lawyers and no disputed issues, and about $21,500 when three or more issues went to trial.
$1,695 per person, flat, for the full Flannel Three-Part Process: private one-on-ones with each of you, the written prep work, and the mediation session itself. No hourly billing. Court filing fees are separate.
No. A mediator is neutral, represents neither spouse, and doesn't give legal advice. For questions about your legal rights, talk to a licensed attorney.
Not sure mediation fits? Let’s talk for 15 minutes.
Free, no pressure. I’ll walk you through the Three-Part Process and the $1,695 per person flat fee, and you can decide if it’s right for you two.
Pick my free 15-min call time