How much does it cost

How much does a divorce cost in the United States

Paying big money for a divorce is probably the last thing you want to do, and with good reason divorce can be expensive as it can ruin families and neglect your children’s future. So, it is normal to wonder how much a divorce costs and what are the options to get it.

Understand the things that affect the cost of divorce as it can vary greatly from case to case.

Do-It-Yourself Divorce

In a Do-It-Yourself Divorce, there is no outside professional involvement. Instead, you and your spouse are solely responsible for carrying out all the steps to the divorce.

Do-It-Yourself Divorce is your lowest cost option. The only fees you will pay are those directly related to documenting and filing your divorce.

The average cost of getting divorced using the Do-It-Yourself divorce ranges from $ 300 to $ 1,500, depending on the complexity of your case and the specific court and paperwork fees. Regardless of what happens, you will have to pay court and filing costs of approximately $ 300, with additional costs arising from other paperwork and assessments that may be required by the courts depending on your particular situation.

How much does a divorce cost if both parties agree?

If both parties agree on all the major issues, known as an uncontested divorce, you can keep costs relatively low. If you do your own divorce papers and your divorce is amicable, the costs could be less than $ 500. Of course, there are filing fees in all states such as California or Texas, which adds to the cost. Unless you get an exemption based on your income, you must pay filing fees.

Option 2: Divorce on the Internet

Divorce on the Internet is similar to the “do-it-yourself” divorce option, as the couple is responsible for going through all the steps to get divorced.

But instead of having to identify the relevant legal and financial problems on your own, a website or software program helps identify the basic legal and financial problems facing divorcing couples.

How much does a divorce cost if you use the Internet option?

The cost of registering with an online divorce service is $ 300.

Also, like each of the other divorce options, court fees related to divorce paperwork and filing range from $ 300 to $ 1,500.

So the total cost of a divorce on the Internet is between $ 600 and $ 1,800.

Option 3: Divorce Mediation

Divorce mediation is a cooperative process whereby a neutral third party (the mediator) with knowledge of divorce laws and finances helps and guides the couple through the necessary steps for divorce.

How much will my divorce cost if we mediate?

The cost of divorce mediation can range from $ 3,000 to $ 7,000 depending on the complexity of the case and includes drafting and court fees.

Option 4: Driven by an attorney (includes litigation)

Please note: This is a simplified description of how an attorney-driven divorce works. There are actually many more steps involved and the steps vary from state to state and county to county. Additionally, the process itself can vary significantly from state to state and attorney to attorney.

In an attorney-driven divorce, one or both spouses hire an attorney to help them complete the required steps for the divorce.

But unlike a mediator, who is neutral and works for both spouses, an attorney can only represent one spouse. For this reason, the attorney’s job is to advocate for the spouse who hired them with the goal of achieving the most favorable outcome for their client.

How much will my divorce cost me if I hire a lawyer?

Divorce attorneys charge by time, which means that the client will receive an invoice for each communication the attorney makes on behalf of the client. That includes, but is not limited to: every phone call, email, redacted letter, meeting, court appearance, etc.

The average cost of divorce attorneys ranges from $ 200 / hour to $ 500 / hour.

To start, most attorneys require an initial withholding of $ 3,500 to $ 10,000 per spouse, depending on the complexity of your case and how well you and your spouse are getting along. The retainer is just the beginning for most people.

The costs of a standard attorney-driven divorce can range from $ 15,000 to $ 32,000.

The costs of a divorce going to trial vary, but can range from $ 78,000 to $ 200,000 per couple.

Option 5: Collaboration Law Process

The Collaborative Law Process (also known as Collaborative Divorce) is a hybrid between attorney-driven divorce and divorce mediation.

Each spouse hires their own attorney trained in the collaborative process to represent them. A series of meetings are held between both spouses and attorneys, and possibly other outside professionals, as necessary, to negotiate and try to reach an agreement on the issues.

How Much Does the Average Divorce Cost Using the Collaborative Process?

A collaborative divorce varies in cost depending on the needs of the parties and the other professionals involved.

Fees range from $ 25,000 to $ 50,000 depending on the complexity of the case, the level of cooperation between the parties, and the number of outside experts involved in the process.

How much does the average divorce cost? Depends…

As you learned, the answer to the question, “How much does divorce cost?” It can range from $ 300 to $ 200,000! It all depends on your situation and the method of divorce you choose to obtain your divorce.

After reading this post, you may be tempted to go for the cheapest option. After all, a divorce is a divorce, right?

Not necessarily.

Divorce is very personal for the individuals who experience it. Every situation is different and there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

Just because a particular divorce method worked well for a friend or coworker, there is no guarantee that it will work well for you. Conversely, if a particular option may not have worked for someone else, it does not necessarily mean that it is not a viable option for you.

It is important to take the time to research all the options and how they stack up against each other. And not just to use the cheapest option. There is too much at stake.

4 Factors that affect the average cost of divorce in the USA

While this list doesn’t cover everything, the top four factors that affect divorce costs are:

  • The method of divorce and / or the professional you choose.
    The state and / or county where you live.
    The complexities of your case.
    The level of cooperation or conflict between you and your spouse

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