What Does it Cost to Get Divorced in the United States?

One of the most common concerns people have entering a potential divorce scenario, beyond just how the divorce will uproot their lives, is how much they can expect the entire divorce process to cost.

The costs of a divorce will vary widely from case to case, so it can be difficult to come up with an average figure. For example, you can expect the costs to hinge heavily on whether or not you have children, where you live, the kind (and amount) of property you own together (particularly real estate) and other such factors. In addition, the longer the process takes and the more contentious the relationship, the more likely it is you’re going to end up with an extremely expensive divorce.

What does the research say?

A recent study by Bankrate indicates the cost of an average divorce in the United States comes out to around $15,000 per person. This takes into account all expenses associated with getting a divorce, including the costs of filing, attorney fees, mediation fees, counseling or psychiatric evaluation fees, parent education classes, guardian ad litem fees and anything else that is likely to arise during the divorce.

The costs of divorce Bankrate looked at also included refinancing costs for owned properties, government recording fees and additional hourly attorney fees that commonly arise in these cases.

The financial hit of divorce goes beyond just these costs—you also have to consider the fact that you’ll now be living on just one income, and might have to pay alimony or child support, depending on the circumstances of your case.

For more information about the costs associated with American divorces, contact an experienced Long Island divorce lawyer at Bryan L. Salamone & Associates.