Naturally, how much a divorce costs is one of the main questions on your mind if you are thinking about getting a divorce. The answer depends in large part on what process you use. A litigated divorce can cost tens of thousands of dollars but a mediated divorce will cost far less.
An average litigated divorce ranges from $15,000 – $30,000, according to Forbes:
–“The average cost of a divorce? “That’s like asking how much a car costs,” says John Crouch, a family law attorney who practices in Arlington, Va. Divorce proceedings can range anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars. Estimates on the average cost of a divorce in the U.S. range from $15,000 to $30,000.” See, “To Have And To Hold On To,” Leah Hoffman, http://www.forbes.com/2006/11/07/divorce-costs-legal-biz-cx_lh_1107legaldivorce.html. —
For a couple with many assets, that number can climb to $100,000! See, “8 Ways To Lower The Cost Of A Divorce,” Brette Sember, https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2019/07/22/8-ways-to-lower-the-cost-of-a-divorce/#21b0fb504a31.
The average cost using mediation ranges between $3,000 and $7,000, which can include fees for “mediation-friendly” attorneys to help in the process. See, “How Much Does a Divorce Cost? – Types & Ways to Save,” Christy Rakoczy, https://www.moneycrashers.com/divorce-costs-types.
If there are no children and both of you are in agreement on many issues, the cost of a mediated divorce will be even lower. If there are some complex issues, high emotion or high conflict, the cost may be higher, but it will never rise to the level of a litigated divorce.
In fact, if you have complexities, high emotion and high conflict, a litigated divorce will become a long, drawn-out war from which you and your children will have to work hard to recover –That is a cost of a litigated divorce that is not shown in the numbers: the toll it will take on your family. Conversely, the great benefit of a mediated divorce is how it affects your family: it is designed to help you and your spouse move on healthfully, civilly, and if you have children, as co-parents. So, the cost is lower and the value is so much higher.