How quickly can you get divorced in Estonia?
No faster than a month — and the wait is written into the law. Where there is no dispute and the marriage is dissolved at the vital statistics office or before a notary, it is dissolved no earlier than one month and no later than three months after the application is filed. Both spouses must attend at the agreed time — even where the application was filed electronically. Three routes, three prices: at the vital statistics office the state fee is €90; before a notary, around €80 including VAT; and in court, €100 — or €75 when filed through the e-file system. Court is necessary where the spouses cannot agree on the divorce or the questions surrounding it.
📋 The rules
- By agreement: 1–3 months from filing
- Both spouses must attend
- Vital statistics office: €90
- Notary: around €80
- Court: €100, or €75 via e-file
🔓 Exceptions
- The court route is used where the spouses cannot reach agreement
- The application can be filed electronically, but you must still attend in person
- Dividing property is a separate question from the divorce itself
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Divorce and dividing property are two different things. Dissolving the marriage at the vital statistics office or before a notary is quick and cheap — but it does not divide the property. Dividing joint property is a separate agreement or court dispute, and that is where the costs and the years arise. If you can agree on the property, the total cost stays within a few hundred euros; if you cannot, the bill multiplies. Practical advice: have the property agreement notarised alongside the divorce — it forestalls later disputes. And plan for the wait: one month is a minimum that cannot be shortened, and three months is the maximum, after which the application must be filed again.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
How quickly can a marriage be dissolved?
By agreement, no earlier than one month and no later than three months after the application is filed. The one-month wait is set by law and cannot be shortened, however amicable the split.
What does a divorce cost?
The state fee is 90 euros at the vital statistics office, around 80 euros before a notary including VAT, 100 euros in court, and 75 euros when the court claim is filed through the e-file system.
Can the application be filed online?
It can. The application may be submitted electronically, but regardless of how it is filed both spouses must attend in person at the agreed time for the marriage to be dissolved.
When is court necessary?
Where the spouses cannot agree on the divorce or on the questions surrounding it. Where they do agree, the vital statistics office or a notary is faster and cheaper than court proceedings.
Does divorce divide the property?
It does not. Dividing joint property is a separate matter, settled by agreement or by the court. Notarising a property agreement alongside the divorce prevents disputes later on.
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