How much does a divorce cost? It can be hard to say for sure, as costs vary widely depending on your situation. On average, getting divorced with the help of a legal professional can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000. In a more straightforward case, you can handle your divorce yourself for an average of $200 to $1,500. Factors such as your assets, children, and location can impact how much you pay.
What Is the Cost of Divorce if Both Parties Agree?
The cost of divorce can be significantly lower if both parties agree to the terms of the settlement. This mutual agreement allows you to use do-it-yourself methods and templates with straightforward information and processes. Legal Templates offers easy-to-use and lawyer-approved divorce agreement templates that work for you. Start your 7-day free trial to get access to the documents you need and potentially reduce the cost of your divorce.
If you’re finding it difficult to reach an agreement that works for everyone, it may be time to hire a lawyer. A legal professional can guide you through more complex negotiations, court hearings, and custody decisions.
Divorce Cost Breakdown
The divorce process includes a variety of steps and elements that come with their own costs and considerations. Whether you go the do-it-yourself route or hire a lawyer to help you through, consider the following fees associated with getting a divorce, such as lawyer fees, filing charges, and custody hearing costs.
| Method | Estimated Costs | Key Expenses |
|---|---|---|
| Divorce Attorney | $10,000 - $30,000+ | Retainer fees Court hearings Custody trials Property transfers |
| Do-It-Yourself | $200 - $1,500 | Divorce agreement templates Online legal service costs State or county filling fees Court proceedings |
Lawyer Fees
The lawyer fees associated with a divorce come in a few different forms, and the overall costs vary depending on location, experience, and the complexity of your case. The most common lawyer costs include:
- Hourly rates: On average, divorce attorneys charge between $100 to $300 per hour.
- Flat rates: Some legal offices offer flat-rate divorce services, which are often used for straightforward or uncontested divorces and average from $1,000 to $3,000.
- Consultation fees: Some lawyers offer no-cost consultations, while others charge between $150 and $500, depending on the length and complexity of the meeting.
- Retainer fees: A retainer fee, averaging between $2,000 to $5,000, secures your use of the attorney’s services and usually gets applied as a credit toward the final costs.
Arrive at your legal meetings prepared and organized to reduce the amount of billable hours.
Divorce Filing Fees
Regardless of whether you use a lawyer or pursue a divorce on your own, you will have to pay filing fees. This money goes to the court to cover the costs of handling your case. The person who initiates the divorce motion holds the responsibility to pay these costs. Filing fees typically range from $100 to $350 and vary depending on your state or county.
Additional Divorce Costs to Consider
The divorce process itself can be costly, and it’s important to understand the long term financial changes as well. Consider the following associated costs of a divorce:
- Loss of assets: Depending on your circumstances and existing arrangements, such as a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement, you may lose assets and property in a divorce.
- Alimony payments: In a divorce proceeding, the judge may require one party to provide alimony payments to support their spouse.
- Custody hearing costs: If your divorce involves children, you may end up paying for custody evaluators or court hearings to create a parenting plan.
- Tax changes: Getting divorced changes your tax filing status from joint to single, which reduces your benefits and may increase your tax rates.
- Insurance changes: If you depend on a spouse for insurance coverage, a divorce disqualifies you from their plan and can increase your insurance costs.
Time and Emotional Considerations
When considering how much a divorce costs, it’s important to note that it may cost more than just money. It also takes your time and energy and can stir up emotional costs. The timeline for a divorce varies on a case-by-case basis, and court hearings, lawyer meetings, and negotiations may require you to take time away from work or household responsibilities.
These meetings can also cause emotional disputes with your spouse, family members, friends, or children. Custody hearings and court proceedings require you to confront emotional challenges.
Check your state or county regulations to determine whether there’s a required waiting period for divorce and determine the most likely timeline for your case.
How Much Does It Cost to File for Divorce?
If you choose to file your divorce motion on your own, the cost can vary according to your location. Each state may charge a different filing fee. You can view costs across each state to find the average fees in your location.
| State | Estimated Filing Fees |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $200 - $400 |
| Alaska | $150 - $250 |
| Arizona | $160 - $350 |
| Arkansas | $130 - $170 |
| California | $430 - $450 |
DIY vs. Hiring a Lawyer for a Divorce
If you’re getting a divorce, it can be difficult to know when to handle it on your own and when to give control to a legal professional. Hiring a lawyer works best for complicated cases, such as when there’s a contested divorce or a case with additional considerations for large assets or children. While hiring a professional often entails extra costs and meetings, the expertise of a divorce attorney helps you navigate tricky legal negotiations.
Doing it yourself provides the benefits of a cheaper option, and with the use of templates or online divorce settlement checklist, you can often navigate the process easily. However, DIY documents and services don’t offer the same security and legal assurance as hiring a lawyer. The DIY option typically works best for straightforward and uncontested divorce situations with simple terms and mutual agreements.
Legal Templates can help with your divorce by providing DIY divorce settlement templates and other customizable templates you may need.
How to Save Money on a Divorce
Divorce costs easily add up and can become overwhelming. Thankfully, there are some ways you can reduce costs. Try using the following methods to save money on a divorce:
- Income waivers: In some states, individuals with a low income may qualify for waivers that cover the court filing fees for their divorce.
- Flat rates: Specialized divorce lawyers or online legal services can offer flat-rate services that provide up-front and predictable pricing.
- DIY templates: If you and your partner agree on the terms of your divorce, you can use DIY templates to create your divorce agreement and avoid the costs of legal services.
- Hybrid methods: You can use a combination of DIY and legal services by drafting your letter yourself and using a lawyer for a final review and added layer of security.
- Mediation: Meet with a neutral third-party mediator to work out disputes and reach an agreement and save money since mediators have a lower hourly rate than lawyers.
Is It Cheaper to Divorce or Stay Married?
When your marriage encounters a problem, divorce may not be the only option, and sometimes it can prove cheaper to stay married. You can consider the benefits and cost of a legal separation before divorce. Separating rather than divorcing requires less lawyer involvement and allows you to maintain joint tax benefits and shared insurance plans, making it a more affordable option.
A separation allows time for couples to reflect, but it can also end in an eventual divorce, which comes with the extra costs and considerations. However, separating first provides a way to delay the costs of divorce and can make the negotiations and coparenting processes easier for many couples.
Check to see if your state requires a separation period before they grant a divorce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Depending on your income and situation, you may qualify for aid through a non-profit, pro bono service, or by asking a judge to appoint legal aid for you. The timeline for a divorce varies widely. The fastest uncontested divorces in states with no waiting period can take one to three months, while contested divorces can take anywhere from six months to two or more years. You can get a divorce without going to court when both partners agree to all terms of the agreement, making it an uncontested or mutual consent divorce, typically achieved through mediation or collaborative divorce processes.Can I get legal aid for a divorce?
How long does the divorce process take?
Can I get a divorce without court appearances?
