Legal costs and timelines, in plain numbers. Not a law firm.
The number everyone searches
How much does a divorce cost?
Every figure sourced and dated. Updated 2026-08-31.
The national all-in average is about $15,000, and the average total paid to a divorce lawyer is $11,300. Both numbers are nearly useless until you know which path you are on:
Path
Typical cost
Why
Uncontested, all-in
$500 to $3,500
Agreement exists; the work is paperwork and filing.
Uncontested, attorney flat fee
$750 to $2,500
Full representation on the simple path.
Contested, per spouse
$15,000 to $50,000
Discovery, motions, and hourly billing at $270 to $313.
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The practical takeaway is blunt: every issue you settle before the lawyers argue it is money that stays in the household you are dividing. See also how long each path takes.
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Sources for every figure on this page
$15,000: Divorce.com 2026: national average all-in divorce cost (published estimate, retrieved 2026-08-31).
$11,300: Divorce.com 2026: average total paid to a divorce lawyer (published estimate, retrieved 2026-08-31).
$500 to $3,500: Divorce.com 2026: uncontested, start to finish (published estimate, retrieved 2026-08-31).
$750 to $2,500: FreeNetLaw 2026: typical attorney flat fees for uncontested representation (published estimate, retrieved 2026-08-31).
$15,000 to $50,000: BestLawyers 2026: contested divorce cost per spouse (published estimate, retrieved 2026-08-31).
$270 to $313: AI Lawyer 2026 survey: national average hourly band (published estimate, retrieved 2026-08-31).
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