How much does a divorce cost on average in the United States?

The average divorce in the United States costs between $7,000 and $23,000 total. Uncontested divorces where both spouses agree on all terms typically cost $1,500 to $5,000. Contested divorces involving custody disputes or complex assets can exceed $50,000 per spouse.

Which states have the cheapest divorce costs?

Arkansas, Kentucky, South Dakota, Missouri, and Wyoming consistently have the lowest average divorce costs, with uncontested divorces typically ranging from $1,000 to $3,500. These states combine low court filing fees, lower attorney hourly rates, and shorter mandatory waiting periods.

Which states have the most expensive divorces?

California, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Connecticut have the highest average divorce costs. California divorces average $17,000 to $75,000 for contested cases, driven by high attorney rates ($300 to $650 per hour), a 6-month mandatory waiting period, and complex community property rules.

What is the biggest factor in how much a divorce costs?

Whether the divorce is contested is the single largest cost driver. An uncontested divorce where both spouses agree on all terms can cost $1,500 to $5,000 total. The same divorce becomes contested, and attorney fees alone can reach $20,000 to $50,000 per spouse. Custody disputes and complex asset division each add significant cost on top of that.

How much are divorce attorney fees by state?

Attorney hourly rates vary significantly by state. Rates range from $150 to $350 per hour in lower-cost states like Arkansas, Kentucky, and Mississippi. In high-cost states like California, New York, and Massachusetts, rates run $300 to $700 per hour. Most contested divorces require 40 to 200 attorney hours, making the choice of state and attorney a major financial decision.

Complete Divorce Cost Guide by State (2026)

If you are starting to research what your divorce will cost, you have probably already learned the hardest lesson: the answer depends on a lot of variables, and most online estimates are too vague to be useful. This guide cuts through that. It covers the five real cost drivers, what people pay nationally, what to expect in fifteen of the largest states, and the hidden expenses that catch almost everyone off guard.

The numbers below are drawn from state court filing schedules, published bar association surveys, and the consumer survey data behind our Divorce Cost Estimator. They reflect typical 2026 ranges. Your situation may land anywhere inside (or outside) those ranges, so use them as a planning baseline, not a quote.

The five factors that drive divorce costs

Almost every dollar you spend on divorce traces back to one of these:

How much you and your spouse disagree. Disagreement is the single biggest cost lever. An uncontested divorce, where both sides sign one settlement, typically costs $1,500 to $4,500 total. Once any issue becomes contested, the number can multiply by ten.
Whether children are involved. Custody adds parenting plans, child support calculations, and (in disputed cases) custody evaluations or guardians ad litem. Even cooperative parents add roughly $500 to $2,000 in attorney time.
The size and complexity of your assets. A retirement account that needs a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO), a small business, rental properties, or stock options each add specialist costs.
Your state's filing fees and procedural requirements. Filing fees range from about $80 (Mississippi) to over $450 (California), and some states require waiting periods, parenting classes, or mandatory disclosures that add time and paperwork.
Whether you hire an attorney, mediator, or use a self-help platform. Attorney hourly rates run from $200 in lower-cost markets to $650+ in major metros. Mediators charge $150 to $400 per hour. Online services charge $150 to $1,500 flat.

If you can keep your case uncontested and use a flat-fee or limited-scope arrangement, you can finish for under $2,000. If you fight over custody and significant assets, $50,000 to $100,000 is common in metro markets.

National cost overview

Here are realistic 2026 national averages, broken out by path:

Uncontested divorce, no children, no significant assets: $1,200 to $3,500 total, including filing fees.
Uncontested divorce with children or modest assets: $2,500 to $7,000.
Mediated divorce (cooperative, with mediator drafting documents): $4,000 to $9,000 split between spouses.
Contested divorce, average complexity: $15,000 to $35,000 per spouse.
Contested divorce with custody dispute or business valuation: $40,000 to $100,000+ per spouse.

The U.S. average across all divorces sits near $11,300 per spouse, but the median is closer to $7,500 because uncontested cases pull the distribution down. If your case is contested, ignore the national average and focus on the contested ranges instead.

State-by-state cost summary

The table below covers fifteen of the most populous states. "Filing fee" is the cost to start a case in the most common county; some counties charge more. "Property system" is community property (each spouse owns half of marital property by default) or equitable distribution (a judge divides property fairly, which is not necessarily 50/50).

| State | Uncontested range | Contested range | Filing fee | Property system | |---|---|---|---|---| | California | $2,500 - $7,000 | $25,000 - $80,000 | $435 | Community | | Texas | $1,500 - $4,500 | $15,000 - $50,000 | $300 - $350 | Community | | Florida | $1,800 - $5,500 | $15,000 - $45,000 | $409 | Equitable | | New York | $2,800 - $7,500 | $20,000 - $60,000 | $335 | Equitable | | Illinois | $2,500 - $6,000 | $18,000 - $50,000 | $337 - $388 | Equitable | | Pennsylvania | $1,800 - $5,000 | $14,000 - $40,000 | $300 - $400 | Equitable | | Ohio | $1,500 - $4,500 | $12,000 - $35,000 | $200 - $400 | Equitable | | Georgia | $1,500 - $4,500 | $12,000 - $35,000 | $200 - $400 | Equitable | | North Carolina | $1,500 - $4,500 | $12,000 - $35,000 | $225 | Equitable | | Michigan | $1,500 - $4,500 | $12,000 - $30,000 | $175 - $260 | Equitable | | New Jersey | $2,500 - $6,500 | $18,000 - $55,000 | $300 | Equitable | | Washington | $2,000 - $5,500 | $15,000 - $45,000 | $254 - $314 | Community | | Arizona | $1,800 - $4,500 | $13,000 - $35,000 | $349 | Community | | Tennessee | $1,500 - $4,000 | $11,000 - $32,000 | $175 - $250 | Equitable | | Colorado | $2,000 - $5,500 | $14,000 - $40,000 | $230 | Equitable |

For state-specific calculator results that account for local rates and fees, see your state hub page (for example, California or Texas).

How to reduce your divorce costs

You have more control over divorce costs than most people realize. Three approaches consistently produce the lowest totals:

Mediation. A neutral mediator helps you and your spouse reach an agreement on the disputed issues. Mediators in most markets charge $150 to $400 per hour, and most cooperative cases finish in two to five sessions. A mediated settlement typically costs $1,500 to $4,000 total, plus a few hundred dollars for an attorney to review the agreement before signing. Our Mediation Cost Calculator gives a custom estimate.

Collaborative divorce. Both spouses hire collaboratively trained attorneys who agree in writing not to litigate. If the case fails, both attorneys must withdraw, which gives everyone a strong incentive to settle. Costs typically run $7,000 to $20,000 per spouse, lower than litigation but higher than mediation.

Uncontested filing. If you and your spouse already agree on everything (custody, support, assets, debts), you can file uncontested. Many states have simplified forms for these cases. With an online service like Hello Divorce or LegalZoom, the document prep runs $150 to $1,500. If you add a flat-fee attorney to review the paperwork, expect another $500 to $1,500. Total cost can be under $2,000 in most states.

The fastest path to a cheap divorce is usually some combination of these: agree on as much as you can directly, mediate the rest, and use an attorney only for review.

Hidden costs people forget

Most divorce cost estimates focus on attorney fees and filing fees. Here are the costs that catch people off guard:

Process server fees: $50 to $150 to formally serve divorce papers, plus mileage in rural areas.
Court reporter and transcript fees: Required in many contested cases. Transcripts run $4 to $7 per page; a single deposition transcript can be $400 to $1,200.
Parenting class: Many states require a court-approved parenting course before granting custody orders. Cost is typically $25 to $75 per parent.
QDRO drafting: A Qualified Domestic Relations Order is required to split most retirement plans. A QDRO attorney or specialist charges $400 to $1,200 per order.
Mediator fees beyond the first session: People budget for the first session and forget that complex agreements often take three to five.
Real estate appraisal: $400 to $700 if the home value is disputed.
Business valuation: $5,000 to $25,000 if either spouse owns a business.
Custody evaluation: $2,500 to $10,000 in disputed cases.
Tax preparation in the year of divorce: Filing status, alimony rules, and asset transfers all create new tax issues. Budget an extra $300 to $1,000 for a CPA.
Refinancing or buyout costs: If one spouse keeps the home, expect $2,500 to $5,000 in refinancing fees.

Bundled together, these items often add $2,000 to $8,000 on top of attorney costs.

When attorney fees skyrocket

Attorney fees in contested cases follow a fairly predictable pattern. Costs spike when one of these happens:

Discovery becomes contentious. Depositions, subpoenas, and forensic accountants all bill quickly. A single deposition day can run $3,000 to $8,000 in attorney fees alone.
Custody is disputed and a custody evaluation is ordered. This adds the evaluator's fee plus 20 to 60 hours of additional attorney work.
Business valuation is required. The valuation itself is a fixed cost, but the resulting fights over methodology can add $20,000 or more in attorney fees.
One spouse is hiding assets. Forensic accounting and asset tracing typically run $5,000 to $25,000.
The case goes to trial. Trial preparation and the trial itself often double or triple the case total. A two-day trial can run $20,000 to $60,000 in attorney time.

If your case is heading toward any of these, ask your attorney to map out the full likely cost in writing before you authorize the next phase. Most experienced family law attorneys will give you a candid range if you ask.

Run the numbers for your situation

A general guide can only get you so far. For a custom estimate based on your state, your case complexity, and whether you have children, run our free Divorce Cost Estimator. If child support or alimony are part of your concerns, the Child Support Calculator and Alimony Calculator will give you state-specific numbers in under two minutes.

This estimate is for planning purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult a licensed family law attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.