How Much Does It Cost to Publish a Divorce Notice in the Newspaper?

When a spouse cannot be located, most U.S. courts require Divorce by Publication before granting a final judgment. This means you must publish a legal notice about your divorce case in a local, court-approved newspaper for a set number of weeks.

• Low End ($200–$300): Small or rural counties, where newspapers charge less for legal notices.
  
• Middle Range ($350–$450): Most counties fall in this bracket. Four weeks of publication in a local paper is standard.
  
• High End ($500–$600+): Major metropolitan areas (New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago) charge significantly more because of higher ad rates.
  

Important: This cost covers publication only. Court filing fees, investigator services, and affidavit preparation are separate and not included in this range.

How Newspapers Calculate Legal Notice Fees

Publication costs are not arbitrary. Newspapers use several pricing models:

• Per Line
  - Many legal newspapers charge by the line.
  - Example: $8 per line, with a minimum of 10 lines.
  
• Per Word
  - Some charge by the word, often $1–$2 per word per week.
  - A 100-word notice over four weeks could cost ~$400.
  
• Flat Rate
  - A few newspapers set flat fees for standard notices, regardless of word count.
  - Example: $325 for four weeks of family law publication.
  

Because the text of the notice is usually court-mandated, you don’t have much control over length. A longer notice means higher costs.

Publication Length Requirements

Most states require three to four consecutive weeks of publication. A few examples:

• Florida: Four consecutive weeks in a local paper approved by the clerk, followed by 20-day waiting period.
  
• Texas: Four consecutive weeks of citation by publication.
  
• Washington State: Three weeks minimum.
• New York: Publication in designated legal newspapers for four weeks.
• Maryland: In some cases, two separate newspapers are required, which increases the cost.
  

State-Specific Cost Examples

While exact fees vary by county, these examples show typical ranges:

• Florida – $250–$450 for four weeks of publication.
• Texas – $200–$400, depending on county and newspaper.
  
• New York – $400–$600 in New York City; smaller counties ~$300–$450.
  
• California – $300–$500, especially in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
  
• Illinois – $250–$450 for four consecutive weeks in a county-designated paper.
  
• Georgia – $200–$350; notices run in the county’s “legal organ” newspaper.
  
• Washington State – $300–$400 for three weeks.
  
• Maryland – $400–$600 when two papers are required.
  
• Arizona – $250–$400 for four weeks.
  

These examples show why it’s important to budget broadly: your county clerk determines which papers are acceptable, and you must follow that directive.

Extra or Hidden Costs

Beyond the baseline $200–$600, there are additional expenses you should know about:

• Affidavit/Proof of Publication Fee
  After the notice runs, the newspaper issues an affidavit (proof of publication). Some charge $25–$75 for this certificate.
  
• Re-Publication
  If the notice is misprinted, contains errors, or skips a week, the entire run must start over. This doubles the cost and delays the case.
  
• Clerical Handling Fees
  Some counties charge a small administrative fee to file the affidavit of publication with your case.
  

These aren’t always disclosed upfront, so it’s best to confirm with your clerk or chosen newspaper.

How Publication Fits Into the Bigger Picture

It’s easy to think of newspaper publication as the biggest cost in a missing spouse divorce. In reality, it’s just one step in a longer process.

A full divorce by publication generally involves:

• Investigator’s Report – to prove attempts to locate your spouse.
  
• Affidavit of Diligent Search – sworn statement of all search efforts.
  
• Court Filing Fees – to open the case.
  
• Newspaper Publication – $200–$600, as detailed here.
  
• Waiting Period – usually 20–30 days after publication.
  
• Final Judgment Request – petitioning the court to finalize the divorce.

Of these, newspaper publication is often the second-largest cost, after filing fees.

Budgeting for Divorce by Publication

If you are planning ahead, keep in mind that the Affidavit of Search is just one required document. Courts typically require additional pleadings to move your case forward. Here’s what a more realistic budget looks like:

• Investigator & Affidavit Prep (our scope): ~$470 flat.
  
• Court Filing Fees: $200–$500, set by the county clerk.
  
• Newspaper Publication: $200–$600, paid directly to the newspaper.
  
• Proof of Publication (Affidavit from newspaper): $25–$75.
  
• Other Required Divorce Documents (Petition, Summons, Default Request, Judgment, etc.): $300–$700 if prepared by document services, plus $25–$50 per notarization where required.
  
• Total Typical Range: $1,200–$2,000 before attorney representation.
  

If you hire an attorney to prepare and file everything, expect $1,500–$3,500+ in additional legal fees.

Why Publication Is Unavoidable

Some clients ask whether they can skip publication to save money. Unfortunately, the answer is no. Courts will not approve divorce by publication without proof that the notice ran in an official newspaper of record for the required number of weeks.

Online postings or personal notices do not satisfy the law unless your state has passed specific digital publication statutes (a rarity). Until that changes, newspaper publication remains a mandatory cost.

Important Disclaimer

The $200–$600 cost range provided here is an average nationwide estimate. Your actual cost depends on:

• The county where you file.
  
• Which newspapers your court approves.
  
• Repeat searches periodically to show continuing diligence, not just one attempt.
  

Publication fees are paid directly to the newspaper. Our role is to prepare the affidavit and supporting documents that allow you to reach the publication stage. We do not control or set publication pricing.