⚖️ Your Divorce Situation
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Divorce Type
Basic Info
Children & Custody
Assets & Property
$
0 if no marital home
$
Legal Approach & Alimony
⚖️ Side-by-Side: Uncontested vs Contested Cost Comparison
🤝 Uncontested Divorce
Total (per spouse)
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⚡ Contested Divorce
Total (per spouse)
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📊 Cost Breakdown for Your Situation
💡 Your Personalized Action Plan
Based on your inputs
📅 What to Expect: Process Timeline
How much does a divorce cost in the US in 2026?
The total cost of a divorce in the United States varies enormously based on three main factors: whether it's contested or uncontested, your state, and whether you hire attorneys. Here's the realistic range:
- Uncontested divorce, no attorney: $500–$1,500 (court filing fees only)
- Uncontested divorce, online service: $800–$2,500 (filing fees + document prep)
- Contested divorce, mediation only: $3,000–$8,000
- Contested divorce, attorneys, no children: $8,000–$20,000 per spouse
- Contested divorce with children and asset disputes: $15,000–$50,000+ per spouse
The single biggest driver of cost is attorney hours. Divorce attorneys charge $150–$500/hour depending on location. A contested divorce typically requires 30–100+ attorney hours per spouse.
Divorce filing fees by state (2026)
| State | Filing Fee | Avg Attorney Rate | Waiting Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $435–$450 | $300–$500/hr | 6 months |
| New York | $210–$335 | $300–$500/hr | None |
| Texas | $250–$350 | $200–$400/hr | 60 days |
| Florida | $408 | $200–$350/hr | None |
| Illinois | $215–$388 | $250–$450/hr | None |
| Georgia | $200–$220 | $200–$350/hr | 30 days |
| Ohio | $150–$200 | $150–$300/hr | None |
| Mississippi | $50–$100 | $150–$250/hr | 60 days |
How to dramatically reduce your divorce cost
- Mediation before litigation: A divorce mediator ($100–$300/hr, shared cost) typically costs $2,000–$5,000 total versus $30,000–$100,000 for litigation.
- Online divorce services: If you've agreed on everything, services like HelloDivorce prepare all paperwork for $300–$800. Total cost: under $2,000 in most states.
- Limit attorney communication: Every email your attorney sends costs $50–$150. Communicate directly with your spouse where safe and save attorney time for legal strategy.
- Collaborative divorce: Both spouses hire collaborative attorneys who commit to settling out of court. Typically $15,000–$30,000 total vs $50,000–$100,000+ for litigation.
Does having children make a divorce more expensive?
Yes — significantly. Custody disputes require more attorney time, court appearances, and sometimes a guardian ad litem who charges $1,500–$5,000. A custody evaluation (if ordered by the court) alone can cost $2,500–$10,000.
What is mediation and is it worth it?
Divorce mediation uses a neutral third party to facilitate agreements. Cost: $150–$300/hour split evenly, typically 6–18 total hours = $1,000–$5,000 shared. This is dramatically less than a litigated divorce. Even if mediation only resolves some issues, it reduces the number of contested items your attorney has to argue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the cheapest way to get a divorce?
The cheapest divorce is an uncontested, self-filed divorce where both spouses agree on all terms and file the paperwork themselves. In most states this costs $200–$500 in filing fees only. An online divorce service ($300–$800) can prepare state-specific forms. Total cost: under $1,500. This only works if you genuinely agree on all issues.
Do both spouses need a lawyer?
No — neither spouse is legally required to have an attorney. However, if your divorce involves significant assets, children, or complex finances, a one-time consultation ($200–$500) to review any agreement before signing is strongly recommended. One attorney cannot represent both spouses.
How long does a divorce take?
Uncontested: 3–6 months. Contested, no children: 6–12 months. Contested with children and significant assets: 12–36 months. High-conflict divorces with business assets or intense custody battles can last 3–5 years. Every month of litigation adds $2,000–$10,000 in fees.
What is a retainer and how does attorney billing work?
Most divorce attorneys require an upfront retainer of $2,500–$10,000. This goes into a trust account and is billed against hourly. When depleted, you pay more. Unused amounts are refunded. Always get a written fee agreement specifying hourly rate, retainer amount, billing increment, and payment terms.
Can I get alimony even if I work?
Yes — alimony isn't contingent on unemployment. Courts consider marriage length, income disparity, standard of living, health, homemaker contributions, and fault (in some states). Alimony is most common after long marriages (10+ years) with significant income gaps.
Is this calculator private?
Yes. All calculations happen entirely in your browser — nothing is sent to any server. DivorceCostBreakdown has no backend, no accounts, and no data collection. Your data auto-saves locally in your browser and is cleared with the Reset button.