Legal costs and timelines, in plain numbers. Not a law firm.
Timelines, sourced
How long does a divorce take?
Every figure sourced and dated. Updated 2026-08-31.
Two paths, two clocks. Uncontested: 2 to 6 months from filing to final judgment. Contested: 12 to 24 months on average, and complex cases that go to trial can stretch to 3 years or longer.
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What actually sets the clock
State waiting periods set the floor (New York uncontested cases average 3 to 6 months); disagreement sets the ceiling. Every contested issue adds motions, discovery, and calendar time. The fast path is also the cheap one: uncontested cases typically finish for $500 to $3,500 all-in, detailed in the cost breakdown.
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Sources for every figure on this page
2 to 6 months: Divorce.law 2026: uncontested divorce, filing to final judgment (published estimate, retrieved 2026-08-31).
12 to 24 months: JP Sherman Law 2026: contested divorce average (published estimate, retrieved 2026-08-31).
3 years: JP Sherman Law 2026: complex contested cases can stretch to this or longer (published estimate, retrieved 2026-08-31).
3 to 6 months: Divorce.law New York guide 2026: uncontested average, filing to judgment (published estimate, retrieved 2026-08-31).
$500 to $3,500: Divorce.com 2026: what the fast (uncontested) path typically costs (published estimate, retrieved 2026-08-31).
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