Divorce is set to become more expensive in Tajikistan following the approval of a new bill by the country’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament in late June.  Lawmakers voted in favor of increasing the state fees for divorce proceedings, both through civil registry offices (ZAGS) and a court.

The amendments to the Law “On State Duties” will significantly raise the financial cost of dissolving a marriage, a move authorities say is aimed at curbing the high divorce rate in the country.

New divorce fee structure

According to the bill, the revised fees will be:

• 150 somonis for divorce based on a unilateral application from one spouse (equivalent to 2 calculation indicators, or estimates); previously it was 75 somonis or 1 estimate);
• 750 somonis for divorce based on a joint application from both spouses (10 estimates, up from 375 somonis or 5 estimates);
• 1,050 somonis for divorce through a court (14 estimates, up from 525 somonis or 7 estimates).

The bill was approved by the Majlisi Namoyandagon on June 25 and is pending final approval by the Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan’s upper chamber of parliament) and signature by the President of Tajikistan.  Once officially published, the law will enter into force.

This marks the second time in less than a year that divorce fees have been raised. In December 2024, similar increases were introduced, with lawmakers arguing the changes would help discourage casual divorces.

How divorce works in Tajikistan

There are two legal pathways for divorce:

• Through the Civil Registry Office (ZAGS) — This is available when both spouses consent to divorce and have no underage children or unresolved claims.  A certificate of divorce is issued one month after filing a joint application.
• Through a court — required when: one party does not consent to divorce; there are underage children; there are property or personal disputes.

Court proceedings begin with a formal application, including copies of passports, the marriage certificate, and proof of fee payment.  When minor children are involved, courts are required to attempt reconciliation and may postpone hearings for up to six months.

A marriage is officially dissolved on the date the court ruling takes legal effect, or, in civil registry cases, after one month from the application.

A socially sensitive issue

Family breakdown is a persistent concern in Tajik society.  Each year, more than 10,000 marriages end in divorce, with over 9,000 reported in 2024 alone.

Although authorities claim divorce rates are gradually declining, public officials admit that numbers remain troubling.  Justice Minister Muzaffar Ashouriyon recently remarked that the government is still “unsatisfied with the high number of divorces.”

The head of the Committee for Women and Family Affairs, Bunafsha Faiziddinzoda, identified early marriages and the lack of preparedness among young women as major contributing factors to family disintegration.

With divorce becoming more costly, Tajikistan is signaling its intent to address what many view as a growing social issue — but whether higher fees will lead to stronger families remains an open question.