Cost of Divorce by State 2026

Last reviewed: March 2026

The cost of divorce varies significantly by state. Filing fees range from as low as $50 in Mississippi to $435 in California. Attorney hourly rates can range from $150/hr in lower-cost states to $600/hr or more in major metropolitan areas. The table below shows filing fee ranges and typical attorney hourly rates for all 50 states and D.C.

Important: These are baseline costs. An uncontested divorce with agreement on all terms can cost as little as the filing fee plus a few hundred dollars for document preparation. A contested divorce with custody disputes, complex assets, or trial can cost $30,000 to $100,000 or more per spouse.

State	Filing fee	Attorney rate (/hr)	Estimator
Alabama	$200–$280	$200–$350	Estimate →
Alaska	$250–$300	$200–$350	Estimate →
Arizona	$280–$350	$250–$400	Estimate →
Arkansas	$150–$200	$175–$300	Estimate →
California	$435	$300–$550	Estimate →
Colorado	$195–$230	$250–$400	Estimate →
Connecticut	$350–$400	$300–$500	Estimate →
Delaware	$150–$175	$250–$400	Estimate →
District of Columbia	$120	$350–$600	Estimate →
Florida	$400–$410	$250–$450	Estimate →
Georgia	$200–$250	$200–$375	Estimate →
Hawaii	$200–$265	$250–$400	Estimate →
Idaho	$150–$190	$175–$300	Estimate →
Illinois	$289–$337	$250–$450	Estimate →
Indiana	$150–$185	$200–$350	Estimate →
Iowa	$185–$215	$175–$300	Estimate →
Kansas	$160–$200	$175–$325	Estimate →
Kentucky	$148–$175	$175–$300	Estimate →
Louisiana	$200–$350	$200–$350	Estimate →
Maine	$120–$180	$200–$325	Estimate →
Maryland	$165–$215	$275–$450	Estimate →
Massachusetts	$200–$220	$300–$500	Estimate →
Michigan	$175–$260	$200–$375	Estimate →
Minnesota	$365–$400	$225–$400	Estimate →
Mississippi	$50–$100	$150–$275	Estimate →
Missouri	$130–$200	$200–$350	Estimate →
Montana	$170–$225	$175–$300	Estimate →
Nebraska	$155–$175	$175–$300	Estimate →
Nevada	$250–$325	$225–$400	Estimate →
New Hampshire	$250–$280	$225–$375	Estimate →
New Jersey	$275–$325	$300–$500	Estimate →
New Mexico	$135–$170	$175–$300	Estimate →
New York	$210–$335	$300–$550	Estimate →
North Carolina	$200–$225	$200–$350	Estimate →
North Dakota	$80–$100	$175–$275	Estimate →
Ohio	$175–$300	$200–$375	Estimate →
Oklahoma	$175–$225	$175–$300	Estimate →
Oregon	$250–$310	$225–$375	Estimate →
Pennsylvania	$200–$350	$250–$400	Estimate →
Rhode Island	$120–$160	$225–$375	Estimate →
South Carolina	$150–$175	$200–$325	Estimate →
South Dakota	$70–$95	$175–$275	Estimate →
Tennessee	$180–$300	$200–$350	Estimate →
Texas	$250–$350	$225–$400	Estimate →
Utah	$310–$330	$200–$350	Estimate →
Vermont	$79–$262	$200–$325	Estimate →
Virginia	$85–$150	$250–$425	Estimate →
Washington	$250–$315	$250–$425	Estimate →
West Virginia	$134–$175	$175–$275	Estimate →
Wisconsin	$175–$200	$200–$350	Estimate →
Wyoming	$70–$85	$175–$275	Estimate →

What drives the cost of divorce?

The biggest cost driver is whether the divorce is contested or uncontested. In an uncontested divorce where both spouses agree on all terms (property division, custody, support), the total cost can be as low as the filing fee plus $500–$2,000 for document preparation or a flat-fee attorney.

A contested divorce that goes to trial typically requires 20–60+ attorney hours per spouse, which at $250–$500/hr adds up quickly. Add in expert witnesses (appraisers, forensic accountants, child custody evaluators) and the costs can exceed $50,000 per spouse.

Mediation is generally 40–60% less expensive than litigation. The total cost for a mediated divorce typically ranges from $3,000 to $8,000 split between both parties.

Related resources

→ Divorce Cost Estimator → How Much Does Divorce Really Cost?→ Mediation vs. Litigation: Cost, Timeline, and Which Is Right for You

Disclaimer: Filing fees and attorney rates are approximate ranges based on publicly available data as of early 2026. Actual costs vary by county, attorney, and case complexity. This is not legal advice.

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