Legal Costs in Raleigh, NC (2026)
Filing fees for LLCs, divorce, small claims, and notary services in Raleigh — all sourced from official North Carolina state records.
Form an LLC in Raleigh, NC
To form an LLC with a Raleigh address, you file with the North Carolina Secretary of State — not the city or county. The state filing fee is $125. Standard processing takes 3 business days. There is also an annual report fee of $200.
0| State filing fee | $125 |
| Annual report fee | $200 |
| Standard processing | 3 business days |
| Expedited processing | 1 |
| Publication cost | Not required |
Form Your Raleigh LLC Today
Skip the paperwork. A trusted formation service files your North Carolina LLC — starting from $125 + service fee.
Start My LLC →Small Claims Court in Raleigh
Small claims cases in Raleigh are heard at the Magistrate Court in Wake County. The maximum you can sue for is $10,000. Filing fees range from $96–$156 depending on the claim amount.
| Court name | Magistrate Court |
| Filing location | Wake County |
| Maximum claim limit | $10,000 |
| Filing fee | $96–$156 |
| Written contract SOL | 3 years |
| Oral contract SOL | 3 years |
Filing for Divorce in Raleigh
Divorce petitions in Raleigh are filed at the Wake County courthouse. The North Carolina state filing fee is $225. Sheriff service costs $30. North Carolina requires divorcing parents with minor children to complete a parenting class.
| Filing location | Wake County Courthouse |
| Filing fee | $225 |
| Sheriff service fee | $30 |
| Children surcharge | $25 |
| Parenting class | Required (if children) |
| Certified copy fee | $10 |
Uncontested Divorce in Raleigh?
Handle your Raleigh divorce online — starting from $159, no attorney required for uncontested cases.
Start My Online Divorce →Find a Notary in Raleigh, NC
North Carolina caps notary fees at $10 per notarial act ($25 for remote online notarization). Common places to find a notary in Raleigh: your bank (often free for account holders), UPS Store, FedEx Office, public libraries, and law offices.
North Carolina also allows Remote Online Notarization (RON) — get documents notarized via video call from anywhere, capped at $25. Useful if you can't travel to a Raleigh notary in person.
| Acknowledgment fee cap | $10 |
| Jurat fee cap | $10 |
| RON (remote online) | $25 |
| State fee law | Yes — fee cap enforced |