The cost of your divorce will largely depend on whether or not you and your spouse agree on things. Uncontested divorces can cost just a few thousand dollars, with the average divorce costing $15,000 per person when you add in court fees and attorney costs, and when evaluators and advisers need to be hired to look at custody or financials.
Trust me when I say that the money can add up fast when you aren’t agreeing on things. I recall thinking that I could have put a down payment on a house when my divorce costs crossed $40,000 thanks to contesting financial data and custody. While I don’t regret fighting for what I believed was right, it can be a tough pill to swallow when you see how much money the system takes from you.
Contested or uncontested
The DIY divorce
For those who agree on things, or can’t afford representation, a DIY divorce will cost you what the divorce courts charge for filing fees and hearings. According to Olencho, “the filing fees can cost anywhere from $200 to $1,000.” This is considerable savings, but be wary of your own situation to make sure you can handle the negotiations if there are any. Most DIY cases will work with a court mediator to finalize agreements and save both parties money.
Olechno warns that there are situations where you should have an attorney rather than a mediator. “It would also be inappropriate for parties to work with a mediator if there have been incidents of domestic violence and one party has more power over the other party, whether financially or emotionally,” he advised.
Remember that even if you can’t afford an attorney because you’re a stay-at-home mom or if your spouse makes more money, they may be ordered to pay for some of your legal costs. It’s always worth having a 30-minute free consultation with an attorney to be certain about your rights.
To hear experienced insight from divorce attorney Jonna Spilbor on what a divorce can cost you, check out these episodes of Divorce Tips:
