05/12/2026
WHY ARE DIVORCES SO EXPENSIVE??
In case you ever wondered why divorces cost so much, depending on the county, filing fees and service can cost up to $500 or more. That is money that does not go to your attorney. Your first step past filing is a temporary orders hearing, generally an hour or two waiting for the Judge to order you to mediation. Mediation 4 hours plus a fee of $300 to $750. If you don't agree, then back to court for temporary orders 2-4 hours. Discovery takes 3-5 hours to send and 3-5 hours to respond to (at minimum).
Another required mediation 4 hours prior to final trial plus a fee of $300 to $750 again. And then finally final trial 4-8 hours. Up to $2,000 in fees plus at least 20 hours of attorney time at $300 or more an hour for $7000 means an average divorce with no agreements is $9,000.
And that is the minimum, if you are fighting over kids you can double, triple, or quadruple that amount. Fighting over a business can be ten times that amount. Just something to think about when you think about divorce.