Divorce, explained with real numbers.

Every figure sourced and dated. Updated 2026-09-05.

Updated 2026-09-05 · 12 sourced figures · 12 named sources · every figure checked against its source at publish

The most searched question in family law is cost, and most answers dodge it. Here it is with sources: the average total paid to a divorce lawyer is $11,300, at national average hourly rates of $270 to $313. That average hides the split that actually decides your bill: an uncontested divorce typically runs $500 to $3,500 all-in and takes 2 to 6 months; a contested one typically costs $15,000 to $50,000 per spouse across 12 to 24 months.

Sources: Divorce.com 2026; AI Lawyer fee survey 2026; BestLawyers 2026; Divorce.law 2026; JP Sherman Law 2026. Retrieved 2026-09-05.

The numbers, at a glance

Every figure this page relies on, with its source and date.

The divorce process, stage by stage

1. Filing and service: one spouse files, the other is served; the state waiting period starts (see the state module below, because this stage alone ranges from zero days to half a year).
2. Disclosure and temporary orders: finances are exchanged; temporary custody/support orders can issue.
3. Agreement or contest: the fork in the road. Agreement leads to a decree in 2 to 6 months total; contested issues lead to discovery, motions, and hourly billing at $270 to $313.
4. Judgment: uncontested cases finish for $500 to $3,500 all-in; contested cases average 12 to 24 months and $15,000 to $50,000 per spouse.

Sources: Divorce.law 2026; AI Lawyer 2026; Divorce.com 2026. Retrieved 2026-09-05.

How your state changes this

The waiting period alone reshapes the timeline: California requires 6 months plus one day before a divorce can finalize; Texas requires 60 days; Florida's cooling-off is 20 days; and 15 states impose no waiting period at all. Child support math is equally state-shaped: Texas uses a flat 20% of net resources for one child, while most states run income-shares formulas that commonly land at 15% to 25% of the paying parent's income for one child. Your state's family code controls.

Sources: HelloDivorce 2026 state guide; California Family Code s.2339; Texas Family Code s.6.702; TalkingParents 2026; CaseValueCalc 2026. Retrieved 2026-09-05.

The decision: settle the issues, or let the court

The most expensive sentence in family law remains "we will let the court decide." Every issue settled before lawyers argue it is money that stays in the household being divided.

Sources: Divorce.com 2026; BestLawyers 2026. Retrieved 2026-09-05.

What people get wrong

"Divorce always costs five figures." Only the contested kind: uncontested cases finish for $500 to $3,500 including filing fees. "Filing first wins the case." Filing starts the waiting-period clock (60 days in Texas) and picks the courthouse; it does not tilt property or custody law. "Child support is negotiable to zero." It is the child's right under state formulas, commonly 15% to 25% of income for one child; courts approve deviations, parents do not.

Sources: Divorce.com 2026; Texas Family Code s.6.702; CaseValueCalc 2026. Retrieved 2026-09-05.

Common questions

How much does a divorce cost? $500 to $3,500 uncontested; $15,000 to $50,000 per spouse contested. Full breakdown: divorce costs. How long does it take? 2 to 6 months vs 12 to 24 months; detail in divorce timelines. How is child support set? By state formula: 20% of net resources in Texas for one child; income-shares math in most other states.

When talking to a lawyer makes sense

The factual triggers: contested custody; a spouse hiding assets or income; family businesses or pensions to divide; any history of abuse (protective orders run on their own fast track); or the other side has counsel and you do not. In those situations the hourly rate buys asymmetry repair, not just paperwork.

In this section

How much a divorce costs · How long a divorce takes