An uncontested DIY divorce could cost $1,500 to $5,000, but the price can be much higher. In 2025, the mean cost of divorce is $7,000, but the average cost of a divorce can be $11,300. However, all kinds of factors, from attorney fees to assets, influence the bottom line. For example, a contested divorce, with issues around alimony, child support, and child custody, can run much higher.
Here are details about types of divorce and what to expect cost-wise with each.
Key Points
• Divorce costs vary widely, with the average cost of a divorce ranging from $7,000 to $11,300 and significantly higher, depending on factors like legal representation and complexity.
• DIY divorces can cost significantly less than those involving an attorney, with prices starting at $99 and running to about $4,000.
• Mediation and collaborative divorce may offer lower-cost alternatives, typically ranging from $2,000 to $8,000 per couple.
• Custody battles, property division, and alimony disputes can significantly increase total expenses.
• Personal loans may offer a more affordable way to cover divorce costs compared to high-interest credit cards.
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Divorce?
The cost of a divorce can depend on which state you live in, how amicable the parting is, and whether you work with a divorce attorney, own property together, and have children, among others.
Most cases settle before going to trial. Here are common costs if you need to prepare for a divorce.
Recommended: How to Prepare Financially for a Divorce
Without an Attorney
A DIY uncontested divorce is the cheapest option. You and your spouse submit paperwork to your local family court, then fill out and file required documents.
There are different packages typically available, starting at as little as $99 and going up into a few thousand dollars if you’d like support with filing and/or need some mediation.
With an Attorney
A lawyer can only work with one client at a time, so two attorneys are required if both spouses want their own representation.
A divorce attorney will usually ask for a retainer, or down payment, toward average costs of $8,000 as of 2025. If the retainer runs out, the lawyer may bill by the hour. Hourly fees average $270 but charges of $500 or more per hour are possible, depending on where you live and other variables.
Of course, the longer it takes to reach a final judgment, the higher your attorney fees will be.
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Mediation
If you’re dealing with a more complex situation and don’t feel comfortable filing yourself, but don’t want to shell out money for a divorce lawyer, you could consider working with a mediator.
In this form of divorce, both spouses work with a neutral third party who has a handle on the financial and legal aspects of divorce and oversees the process.
A non-attorney mediator may charge $1,000 to $4,000 per person, according to Lawful.
Free or low-cost mediation services are often provided by courts, nonprofit organizations, and bar associations.
Collaborative Divorce
In this hybrid of mediation and a traditional divorce using lawyers, each spouse is represented by a collaborative divorce attorney. The goal is to help both parties work toward a mutually satisfactory outcome and, if children are involved, one that keeps their best interests in mind.
Both parties commit, in writing, to using cooperative dispute resolution techniques.
If the process fails, both attorneys must withdraw from the case, and the couple will need to hire new lawyers and continue through family law court proceedings.
Consulting Attorney
If you can’t afford to hire a full-scope divorce attorney, you might be able to hire a consulting attorney for specific tasks. The average total fees for consulting attorneys were $4,600, and the median was $3,000, a Nolo survey found.
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Who Pays for the Divorce?
Most of the time, each spouse pays their own attorney fees and costs.
In select cases involving income disparities or one party unnecessarily complicating the proceedings, a judge may order a spouse to pay his or her partner’s divorce costs.
The following are some of the factors that affect the costs of a divorce.
How Child Custody Impacts Divorce Costs
In a contested divorce, the issue of child custody will likely come up. If the couple is able to agree on a child custody schedule that works for both parents, that is usually the easiest path forward.
For divorces involving children that require an attorney to iron out custody details, costs tend to increase significantly thanks to the additional time spent working with parents to reach an agreement.
A contested divorce involving custody could also include working with a court-assigned professional, who may interview the parents and children, observe each parent at home with the kids, and make an evaluation based on their findings.
A county custody evaluation could cost between $1,000 and $2,500. A private review could run $15,000 or more.
Property Division
Couples who share a property may require the help of real estate attorneys or agents who focus on helping couples ascertain the disposition of their homes.
A home appraisal is an unbiased, third-party estimate of a property’s value. As of 2025, it typically costs between $300 and $450.
Sometimes couples opt to refinance the mortgage on the marital home into one name, releasing the other spouse from obligation. The cost of refinancing can be in the thousands of dollars.
Alimony
Another potential consideration in a divorce may be alimony, or spousal support.
If both individuals can’t agree on the amount of payment and the time payments are to be made, the court may have to step in.
That can involve litigation and a review of debts and finances. Since the process requires legal counsel, alimony decisions can quickly drive up divorce expenses.
Paying for Divorce: Are Payment Plans Available?
Some family lawyers do offer payment plans. The time to ask about that is during an initial consultation so you can be aware of and prepared for the expenses ahead.
In most situations, paying for a divorce can be a major stressor.
If you and your spouse are on amicable terms and have savings, you could consider pooling together as much as you can to put toward divorce costs. You could also ask to borrow money from relatives or friends. In some cases, couples may know that divorce is looming and start saving for it ahead of time, as unpleasant as that may be.
Some people may opt to put their divorce costs on a credit card and pay the debt over time, with interest. An option that may be more cost-effective is a personal loan.
A personal loan has several potential advantages. The interest rate for a personal loan could be lower than a credit card, depending on your credit score. Most personal loans come with a fixed interest rate, which makes budgeting easier.
You might use a personal loan calculator to make crunching numbers a snap.
Typically, you have between two and seven years to repay the principal plus interest. This can allow you to borrow a significant amount of money and have several years to pay it off.
Recommended: How to Apply for a Personal Loan
The Takeaway
Divorce costs typically run well into the thousands, with a median currently being $7,000 and the average being $11,300. There are potentially less expensive options for those who have a simple, uncontested divorce and are willing to bypass lawyers and DIY the process. But if there are issues such as alimony, child support, child custody, and division of property to wrangle, you are likely going to need a considerable sum of money for the costs. Divorce financing options can include credit cards, funding from savings or family members, and personal loans.
Think twice before turning to high-interest credit cards. Consider a SoFi personal loan instead. SoFi offers competitive fixed rates and same-day funding. See your rate in minutes.
FAQ
How much does a divorce cost on average?
On average, as of 2025, a divorce costs $11,300, and the mean is $7,000.
What is the cheapest way to get a divorce?
If you have a simple, uncontested divorce, you may be able to DIY it for as little as $99 up to around $3,800 for situations that require help with mediation and filing.
What factors influence the cost of divorce?
A simple divorce with minimal shared property and children and a couple that is in sync about their needs can be relatively fast and inexpensive. However, in a contested divorce, with issues like child custody, division of property, and alimony, cases can drag on, increase legal fees, and become quite complicated and expensive.
Can I get a divorce without a lawyer?
In some situations, it is possible to DIY a divorce. This usually happens when the couple is in agreement, there are no areas being contested, and there are child custody or division of property issues.
Is mediation cheaper than hiring a divorce attorney?
Yes, mediation is typically cheaper than hiring a divorce attorney, with mediation costing $2,000 to $8,000 per couple, while working with a divorce lawyer often costs in the five figures.
Who typically pays for the divorce?
In many cases, each individual pays their own costs (such as lawyer’s fees) in a divorce. In rare instances, there might be a judgment for one party to pay the other’s divorce costs.
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