Divorce Cost Calculator by State

Filing fees range from under $100 to over $400 depending on the state, and the total cost spans from a DIY filing fee to five-figure contested litigation. Pick your state for specifics.

The filing fee is the floor, not the number

The court's fee is fixed, published, and usually the smallest line on the bill. What moves the total by an order of magnitude is representation — whether the case is agreed, mediated, or contested. Our estimate keeps the two apart: the fee you can simply look up, and the range you can only bracket.

The three cost paths

DIY / self-represented: the filing fee plus form-preparation costs — realistic when everything is agreed and finances are simple.

Mediation: a neutral mediator helps you reach agreement, then one attorney (or the court's forms) papers it. Usually thousands, not tens of thousands.

Full attorney representation: national surveys put the average total around $7,000–$13,000 per person, with contested cases involving custody or significant assets commonly exceeding $20,000.