Divorce Cost Calculator
See what people in a 2019 survey paid, by how their divorce was resolved.
In Martindale-Nolo Research's 2019 divorce survey, people who hired a lawyer for the whole case paid an average of $11,300 in attorney's fees, with a median of $7,000. Average total costs were $4,100 when the spouses agreed on all major issues, $10,600 when they settled their disputes without a trial, and $20,400 with a trial on at least one issue. Hourly rates have risen since 2019. This is general information, not legal advice; consult a licensed attorney about your situation.
What the 2019 survey found
The calculator looks up the survey average that matches your answers. It doesn't add, scale or adjust anything. Here is every figure it draws on. Unless a row says otherwise, amounts are average total costs for one spouse, attorney's fees included.
| Situation | Average (2019) | Reported by |
|---|---|---|
| No lawyer (costs, not counting mediation) | $925 | Nolo |
| Lawyer for specific tasks only (attorney's fees) | $4,600 | Nolo |
| Lawyer, spouses agreed on all major issues | $4,100 | Nolo |
| Lawyer, disputes all settled without a trial | $10,600 | Nolo |
| Lawyer, trial on at least one issue | $20,400 | Nolo |
| Lawyer, trial on two or more issues | $23,300 | Nolo |
| Custody or child support dispute, settled out of court | $10,500 | Lawyers.com |
| Custody or child support dispute, trial on one of them | $17,000 | Lawyers.com |
| Custody and child support dispute, trial on both | $25,400 | Lawyers.com |
| No minor children or no child-related dispute | $10,100 | Lawyers.com |
Nolo reported that the kind of dispute made little difference to the average. Cost rose with the number of contested issues and with going to trial. For hours times a current hourly rate, use the Lawyer Cost Estimator.
What these figures can't tell you
- Today's prices. The survey is from 2019. Clio's US average lawyer rate was $279 an hour in July 2019 and $366 in July 2026, and its 2026 average for family lawyers is $357. We show the survey's totals as reported and don't adjust them.
- Costs in your state. The survey figures aren't broken out by state, so the state you pick only adds that state's average hourly rate. It doesn't change the totals.
- How representative the answers are. The people surveyed were readers who had recently divorced and had given their email while researching a lawyer, and the articles don't say how many answered.
- What a typical person paid. A few very expensive cases pull an average up. Where the survey gives a median, the result shows it: for attorney's fees with a full-scope lawyer it was $7,000, against an average of $11,300.
- Your court's filing fee. Each state or county sets its own, so check your court's fee schedule, and ask about a fee waiver if you can't afford it.
- Combinations the survey didn't report, such as a trial in a divorce with no custody or support dispute. Where that happens the result says so and shows the closest figure the survey did publish.
Sources
- How Much Will My Divorce Cost? (Nolo, 2019 survey; article updated June 5, 2024). Reports Martindale-Nolo Research's 2019 divorce survey of readers who had recently been through a divorce and had given their email while researching a lawyer. The article doesn't say how many people answered.
- Divorce With Children: How Much Does It Cost and How Long Does It Take? (Lawyers.com, 2019 survey). The same Martindale-Nolo Research 2019 divorce study, broken out for divorces with a custody or child support dispute. Its totals don't include what the other spouse paid.
- Compare Average Lawyer Hourly Rate by State (2026 Data) (Clio, Legal Trends, 2026). Average hourly rates by state and by practice area, updated October 2026. Clio, a legal technology company, calculates them from aggregated, anonymized data from tens of thousands of US legal professionals and publishes the research each year in its Legal Trends Report.
- Economics of Law: 2026 Survey Results, Attorney Income and Billing Rate Summary (State Bar of Michigan, 2026). A survey of Michigan lawyers run in early 2026 with the American Bar Association Center for Bar Leadership: 4,652 usable responses from 32,816 members invited (14.2%). Hourly rates are reported as percentiles by field of practice.
Figures last checked against these sources on November 9, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a divorce cost?
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In Martindale-Nolo Research's 2019 divorce survey, people who hired a lawyer for the whole case paid an average of $11,300 in attorney's fees, with a median of $7,000. Average total costs were $4,100 when the spouses agreed on all major issues, $10,600 when they settled their disputes without a trial, and $20,400 with a trial on at least one issue. People with no lawyer averaged $925 in costs. These are 2019 figures, and hourly rates have risen since.
How can I lower my divorce costs?
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Settle what you can. In the 2019 survey, people who settled every disputed issue paid an average of $10,600 in total, about half the $20,400 average for those who went to trial on at least one issue. Hiring a lawyer for specific tasks only averaged $4,600 in attorney's fees (median $3,000). Some family lawyers also offer flat fees for uncontested divorces.
Where do these divorce cost figures come from?
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From Martindale-Nolo Research's 2019 divorce survey, as reported by Nolo and Lawyers.com. The people surveyed were readers who had recently divorced, and the articles don't say how many answered. The survey isn't broken out by state, so the state you pick only adds that state's average lawyer hourly rate from Clio's 2026 Legal Trends data.
Is this tool legal advice?
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No. This tool provides general information only and is not legal advice. Results are estimates and every case is different — always consult a licensed attorney in your state about your specific situation.
Talk to a Family Law attorney near you
This tool gives general estimates. For guidance on your specific situation, connect with a licensed family law attorney. Many offer a free or low-cost first consultation.
Find Family Law Lawyers Near YouThis tool provides general information only and is not legal advice. Results are estimates and outcomes vary by state and the facts of your case. Lawyers Near Me is not a law firm. Always consult a licensed attorney in your state about your specific situation.