What a divorce costs, line by line

Court and paperwork costs

• Filing fee: roughly $80 to $450 depending on state and county. Every state offers a fee waiver if you cannot afford it.
• Service: free with an acceptance of service, or about $50 to $150 for a sheriff or process server.
• Parenting class: often $20 to $70 per parent where required.
• Certified copies and recording: small fees for copies of your decree and recording deeds.

Professional costs

• Mediation: often a few thousand dollars in total, shared.
• Lawyers: commonly a few hundred dollars an hour, with retainers of several thousand. Contested cases with full representation often cost tens of thousands of dollars per spouse.
• Financial analysts and appraisers: hundreds to a few thousand dollars.
• Retirement orders: preparing a QDRO can cost several hundred to a few thousand dollars per plan.

The costs no one mentions

• Running two households: rent, deposits, furniture, a second set of children's things.
• Higher individual insurance premiums, and health coverage through COBRA or a new plan.
• Refinancing, selling costs and moving.

Use the cost estimator to price your path. The biggest saving almost always comes from agreeing on more issues, sooner.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws differ by state and change over time. For advice about your situation, talk to a licensed attorney in your state.