Almost every divorce in Ireland is heard in the Circuit Court. A small number go to the High Court instead, and the difference is mostly about the value of what is being divided.
If you are wondering whether your case belongs there, the short answer is that it probably does not, and that is good news, because the Circuit Court is faster and considerably cheaper.
The €3 million threshold
The Circuit Court's jurisdiction is limited by the market value of the land involved. The Courts Service states the limit as claims not exceeding €75,000 and market value not exceeding €3,000,000.
In family law the Circuit Court and the High Court have concurrent jurisdiction - both can hear a divorce. Where the value of the property exceeds €3 million, the case moves to the High Court.
The €3 million figure is about the market value of land, not the total value of the marriage. A couple with a €2 million house, substantial pensions and a business can still be well inside the Circuit Court's jurisdiction.
What actually sends a case to the High Court
In practice, value alone is rarely the whole story. Cases end up in the High Court where:
- The property is worth more than €3 million. The clearest trigger.
- The assets are complex rather than merely large. A business that needs valuing, shareholdings, assets held through companies, or wealth held abroad.
- There is a dispute about what the assets even are. Where one spouse believes assets have been moved, understated or held through a structure, the case needs a forum with the time and machinery to trace them.
What it costs, and why it is different
The Irish Times, surveying family law practitioners in April 2026, reported most putting the minimum cost of an uncontested divorce at €5,000, with contested cases running €10,000 to €20,000 or more. Against that, it reported one businessman whose total bill covering both sides came to €200,000, and a company director billed €230,000 in a case involving assets above €5 million.
The difference is not the court's fee - there is no court fee for family law proceedings in Ireland at any court level. It is the work. High Court cases involve forensic accountants, which the same survey put at €10,000 to €30,000, senior counsel, longer hearings and far more preparation. Our guide to how much a divorce costs in Ireland sets out the ordinary ranges.
If your case might be near the line
Two things are worth knowing.
Get the property valued properly and early. The threshold turns on market value, so an assumption about what the house is worth is not good enough if you are near €3 million.
Being in the High Court is not a win. It is slower, dearer and more public in its procedures. Where a case can properly be dealt with in the Circuit Court, that is almost always the better outcome for both people.
How the family home and other assets are divided is covered in our guide to property and assets, and pensions in our guide to pensions in an Irish divorce.
One change coming
The Family Courts Act 2024 creates dedicated family court divisions, a Family High Court, a Family Circuit Court and a Family District Court. The first of them begin operating in January 2027, initially in three locations, with further phases in January 2028 and January 2029.
It does not change the €3 million threshold, but it does change where and how family cases are heard. We will update this page as each phase commences.
Talk to us
If you are not sure which court your case belongs in, that is exactly the sort of question we answer for free. It usually takes one conversation.