Divorce in Utah: Costs, Laws, and Calculators (2026)

Everything you need to understand the financial reality of divorce in Utah. State-specific costs, formulas, and free calculators.

Our estimate, uncontested
$1,500 - $4,500
Our estimate, contested
$12,000 - $38,000
Estimated timeline
4 - 12 months
DCE State Score
57 / 100

Utah divorces typically cost 36% less than the national average of $12,900.

On our record Utah requires mediation in contested divorces and applies a 90-day waiting period.

Utah is an equitable distribution state and uses the Income Shares model for child support. One feature sets it apart procedurally on our record: mediation is required in contested cases before they can move toward trial, which keeps more disputes out of the courtroom and can hold down total cost. That is our own record rather than Utah's own court rules. A 90-day waiting period applies after filing, and the residency requirement is 90 days. Attorney rates run $225 to $400 per hour, with contested cases at $12,000 to $38,000.

What this section says about Utah's mediation requirement and property system is a characterisation this site carries rather than a finding. That is our own record rather than Utah's own law.

Key Fact

Our record has Utah requiring mediation in contested divorce cases before they can proceed, which is our own record rather than Utah's own court rules, and its filing fee of $318 is on the high end nationally.

Recent Development

Utah HB 272, known as Om's Law, effective May 1, 2024, directs judges to prioritize child safety in custody decisions and to weigh evidence of domestic violence. It limits court-ordered reunification therapies that separate a child from a bonded parent, requires expert witnesses to be properly credentialed, and mandates child-safety and domestic-violence training for judges and court staff.

Utah Divorce Quick Facts

State law, attorney rates, and procedural rules for Utah.

Property division system, in our record
Equitable Distribution (judicial discretion)
How alimony is decided, in our record
Judicial discretion
Child support formula, in our record
Income Shares Model
Mandatory waiting period
90 days
Residency requirement
90 days
Mediation required, in our record
Yes
Equal parenting presumption, in our record
No
Fault divorce available, in our record
Yes
Collaborative divorce available
Yes, and our record says the same for all fifty states
Filing fee range
$318
Attorney hourly rates, our estimate
$225 - $400/hour
Filing fee last checked
Not independently verified

Where these Utah figures come from, since it is fair to ask. The court filing fee is the one we have gone back to, and even there we are recording what a fee schedule says rather than citing a document we have opened. Everything else on this page that is a cost or a length of time - attorney rates, the mediator's per-session rate, QDRO preparation, the average totals, the typical number of months - came into our data when the site was first built, and nobody has checked any of it against a published source since. Our own value distributions give the game away: attorney rates across all fifty states take seven distinct values at the low end, every one of them a multiple of 25, which is what a set of estimates looks like rather than fifty separate readings. We think they are in the right neighbourhood. We are not going to call them Utah averages. For a real number, a Utah family law attorney will quote you their own rate, and the clerk of court in your county will tell you the filing fee to the dollar.

The waiting period and the residency requirement in that table are in the same position, and they matter more, because a wrong number there is a filing in the wrong place rather than a bad estimate. Both came into our data at the original build and nobody here has read Utah's dissolution statute. Confirm both with the clerk of court in the county where you will file, and ask specifically whether the wait runs from the day you file or from a separation date, because states do it both ways and our records hold one number for both cases.

DCE State Score Breakdown

Our proprietary index ranks every state on cost, complexity, and timeline. Higher is more favorable.

Overall DCE State Score

57/ 100

A score of 57 means Utah is roughly average in terms of divorce cost and complexity.

Cost Score

27/ 40

Based on filing fees, attorney rates, and total typical costs in Utah.

Complexity Score

19/ 30

Reflects judicial discretion, mandatory mediation, and procedural hurdles.

Timeline Score

11/ 30

Driven by waiting periods and average case duration from filing to decree.

Divorce Calculators for Utah

All 15 calculators preconfigured for Utah.

Utah Divorce Laws Overview

Property Division

Our record has Utah as an equitable distribution state. That is our own record rather than Utah's own property division law. Equitable does not mean equal, it means fair, based on the circumstances. Judges consider factors including each spouse's income and earning capacity, contributions to the marriage, length of the marriage, and the economic circumstances of each spouse. Outcomes can vary significantly from case to case.

Spousal Support (Alimony)

Utah judges have broad discretion in setting alimony awards, and our record carries no statutory formula for the state. The factors it lists are: length of the marriage, standard of living during the marriage, each spouse's earning capacity, financial resources of each spouse. Those came into our data at the original build rather than from a reading of the statute. Outcomes can vary significantly depending on the judge and the specific facts of your case.

Child Support

Our record puts Utah among the Income Shares Model states, and nobody here has read Utah's own guideline to check it. In that model both parents' incomes are combined, a total support obligation is set from that combined figure and the number of children, and each parent's share is proportional to their share of the combined income. The paying parent pays their share to the receiving parent.

Custody and Parenting Time

Utah courts determine custody on the best interests of the child. Our record carries no presumption of equal parenting time for the state and puts judicial discretion here in the middle of its three-point scale. That is our own record rather than Utah's own custody law. Courts generally favor arrangements that allow both parents meaningful involvement in the child's life.

Other Notable Factors

  • Our records show Utah requires mediation before a contested divorce case can proceed to trial, from our own state data rather than from a reading of its court rules. Where that holds it adds cost and time, and it often results in settlement without a court hearing.

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.

Recent Law Changes in Utah

All state updates

Notable updates to Utah family law that affect divorce outcomes and costs.

Utah Enacts Om's Law on Child Safety in Custody

Moderate

Our record dates this to May 2024

Utah custody cases now place greater weight on documented safety concerns, and courts face new limits on reunification treatments and new training requirements.

The link goes to the legislature's page for the bill rather than to the enacted text. A bill page carries the same title, synopsis and effective date whether the bill passed or died, so it is not on its own evidence that this became law.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a divorce cost in Utah?
Our working estimate is $1,500 - $4,500 for an uncontested Utah divorce and $12,000 - $38,000 for a contested one, with the spread depending on attorney involvement, custody disputes, and the complexity of the marital estate. Court filing fees alone are $318. Both totals are ours rather than measured averages: they came into our data when this site was built and no survey stands behind them.
How long does a divorce take in Utah?
Our records put Utah's mandatory wait at 90 days, an uncontested case at roughly 4 months, and a contested one at about 12. Treat all three as ours rather than as findings: we have not read Utah's dissolution statute or its court caseload statistics. The clerk of court in the county where you will file can confirm the wait, and whether it runs from filing or from a separation date, which differs by state.
How is property divided in Utah?
Our record has Utah as an equitable distribution state. That is our own record rather than Utah's own property division law. Equitable does not mean equal, it means fair, based on the circumstances. Judges consider factors including each spouse's income and earning capacity, contributions to the marriage, length of the marriage, and the economic circumstances of each spouse. Outcomes can vary significantly from case to case.
How is child support calculated in Utah?
Our record puts Utah among the Income Shares Model states, and nobody here has read Utah's own guideline to check it. In that model both parents' incomes are combined, a total support obligation is set from that combined figure and the number of children, and each parent's share is proportional to their share of the combined income. The paying parent pays their share to the receiving parent.
How is alimony determined in Utah?
Utah judges have broad discretion in setting alimony awards, and our record carries no statutory formula for the state. The factors it lists are: length of the marriage, standard of living during the marriage, each spouse's earning capacity, financial resources of each spouse. Those came into our data at the original build rather than from a reading of the statute. Outcomes can vary significantly depending on the judge and the specific facts of your case.

Divorce Costs in Nearby States

See all 50 states for complete cost breakdowns and calculators.