Around 750,000 American couples get divorced every year. While sources place the average cost of divorce fees around $15,000, many other sources estimate the true price to be a lot higher.
In short, your final divorce bill can vary a lot. How much you’ll pay to get divorced depends on many different factors, from whether you have children to your chosen divorce attorney’s fees.
That said, knowing the essential aspects of the fees associated with a divorce can help prepare you for this financial burden. Keep reading to learn three of the most important divorce fee facts.
1. Divorce Filing Fees and Conditions Vary Across States
While many people count on having to pay out divorce lawyer fees, they may not realize how much the divorce filing fee can be, or how much it can vary depending on where you live.
Just as the answer to the question, “who pays lawyer fees in a divorce?” is usually both of you, both parties will need to pay a filing fee. Even if your spouse starts the process by filing the initial divorce petition, you’ll usually have to pay a fee to file your answer.
The divorce filing fee ranges from around $100 to over $400. Some states charge less when you don’t have minor children. And in some states, you and your spouse can save money by filing the divorce petition together if you’ve already reached an agreement about the details of your divorce.
2. There Are Different Divorce Lawyer Options
While couples can divorce without a lawyer, there are some circumstances where hiring a divorce lawyer is necessary or strongly recommended. Without the negotiating skills, legal knowledge, and experience of a lawyer on your side, you may end up paying out more in the long run.
If the full-scope divorce lawyer fees are too steep, you can still seek out legal advice to protect your rights in a settlement. For example, you may be able to hire a consulting lawyer for specific tasks, such as explaining and helping you complete divorce forms, preparing for mediation, reviewing a proposed settlement agreement, or representing you in court appearances.
3. Disputes and a Trial Will Inflate Divorce Lawyer Fees
As you might expect, having to pay divorce court fees will increase the final price of your divorce by a significant amount. Contested issues over child support, child custody, alimony, debts, and assets can complicate matters and lead to long and expensive negotiations. But it’s the number rather than nature of these disputes that drives the price of divorce up, as well as whether couples have to go to trial to resolve those issues rather than resolving them in an out-of-court settlement.
Important Factors to Know About Divorce Fees
As this quick guide shows, divorce fees can be difficult to calculate without knowing the exact terms of your divorce, whether you’ll need to pay full-scope divorce lawyer fees, and even the state you’re filing for divorce.
But, one thing’s for sure, divorce is a necessary and often costly expense if either you or your spouse wish to terminate your marriage.
Want more legal insights? Be sure to check out our other posts for all the latest on everything from family lawyers to personal injury claims.
