- Divorce rates in the US could spike following the coronavirus pandemic for a variety of reasons, including the amplification of incompatibilities due to months in lockdown.
- For many, divorce can be costly.
- GOBankingRates rounded up the average divorce filing fees and attorneys’ fees in all 50 US states.
- California is the most expensive state to file for divorce in, followed by Connecticut and Florida. The least expensive state to get a divorce in is North Dakota.
- The average cost of getting divorced varies from state to state, but the majority have averages hovering above $10,000.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Even though the divorce rate in the US overall is down, divorce filings may see an uptick following the coronavirus pandemic. China already saw a spike in divorce filings in March after weeks of strict lockdowns lifted.
One family and divorce lawyer, Valerie H. Tocci, wrote that there are a number of factors that could play into filing for divorce following the pandemic. Couples spending more time together due to lockdowns could shed light on previously unnoticed incompatibilities or infidelities and ultimately lead to increased conflict.
While there are many concerns to take into account when it comes to divorce, one significant concern is the financial burden accompanying it. The final cost is known to be staggering and is determined by a number of factors including where the divorce is filed and who is hired to handle it.
GOBankingRates analyzed data from DivorceWriter.com and Lawyers.com to determine the average divorce attorneys’ fees and filing fees in all 50 states. California, perhaps unsurprisingly, is the most expensive state to file for divorce in, while North Dakota is the least expensive. Most states have a cost above $10,000.
Many states charge a flat fee, but for those that do not, GOBankingRates used the average of local divorce filing fees. The fees delineated below are basic - other factors like shared children or property can raise the total cost of a divorce. In addition to cost information, the latest available divorce rates for each state are included below; this information was sourced from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Here is the average cost of divorce in each state, arranged in alphabetical order.
Alabama
Average divorce filing fee: $225
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $9,900
State divorce rate in 2018: 3.7 divorces per 1,000 people
Alaska
Average divorce filing fee: $150
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $10,300
State divorce rate in 2018: 3.7 divorces per 1,000 people
Arizona
Average divorce filing fee: $256
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $10,300
State divorce rate in 2018: 3 divorces per 1,000 people
Arkansas
Average divorce filing fee: $150
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $8,800
State divorce rate in 2018: 4.1 divorces per 1,000 people
California
Average divorce filing fee: $435
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $13,800
State divorce rate in 2018: Data not available
Colorado
Average divorce filing fee: $230
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $11,400
State divorce rate in 2018: 3.3 divorces per 1,000 people
Connecticut
Average divorce filing fee: $360
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $12,200
State divorce rate in 2018: 2.9 divorces per 1,000 people
Delaware
Average divorce filing fee: $155
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $12,800
State divorce rate in 2018: 2.8 divorces per 1,000 people
Florida
Average divorce filing fee: $380
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $10,700
State divorce rate in 2018: 3.6 divorces per 1,000 people
Georgia
Average divorce filing fee: $200
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $11,600
State divorce rate in 2018: 2.5 divorces per 1,000 people
Hawaii
Average divorce filing fee: $240
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $9,200
State divorce rate in 2018: Data not available
Idaho
Average divorce filing fee: $207
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $8,800
State divorce rate in 2018: 3.8 divorces per 1,000 people
Illinois
Average divorce filing fee: $289
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $10,900
State divorce rate in 2018: 1.5 divorces per 1,000 people
Indiana
Average divorce filing fee: $153
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $9,000
State divorce rate in 2018: Data not available
Iowa
Average divorce filing fee: $185
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $9,300
State divorce rate in 2018: 2.2 divorces per 1,000 people
Kansas
Average divorce filing fee: $177
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $8,600
State divorce rate in 2018: 2.3 divorces per 1,000 people
Kentucky
Average divorce filing fee: $150
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $8,100
State divorce rate in 2018: 3.5 divorces per 1,000 people
Louisiana
Average divorce filing fee: $325
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $10,000
State divorce rate in 2018: 1.7 divorces per 1,000 people
Maine
Average divorce filing fee: $120
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $8,800
State divorce rate in 2018: 3.2 divorces per 1,000 people
Maryland
Average divorce filing fee: $165
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $11,000
State divorce rate in 2018: 2.4 divorces per 1,000 people
Massachusetts
Average divorce filing fee: $200
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $12,600
State divorce rate in 2018: 2.1 divorces per 1,000 people
Michigan
Average divorce filing fee: $203
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $10,200
State divorce rate in 2018: 2.8 divorces per 1,000 people
Minnesota
Average divorce filing fee: $405
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $9,000
State divorce rate in 2018: Data not available
Mississippi
Average divorce filing fee: $63
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $8,700
State divorce rate in 2018: 2.7 divorces per 1,000 people
Missouri
Average divorce filing fee: $170
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $10,600
State divorce rate in 2018: 3 divorces per 1,000 people
Montana
Average divorce filing fee: $238
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $6,600
State divorce rate in 2018: 3 divorces per 1,000 people
Nebraska
Average divorce filing fee: $158
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $8,200
State divorce rate in 2018: 2.9 divorces per 1,000 people
Nevada
Average divorce filing fee: $225
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $10,800
State divorce rate in 2018: 4.4 divorces per 1,000 people
New Hampshire
Average divorce filing fee: $251
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $9,700
State divorce rate in 2018: 3.1 divorces per 1,000 people
New Jersey
Average divorce filing fee: $300
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $12,300
State divorce rate in 2018: 2.7 divorces per 1,000 people
New Mexico
Average divorce filing fee: $238
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $6,600
State divorce rate in 2018: Data not available
New York
Average divorce filing fee: $210
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $13,500
State divorce rate in 2018: 2.8 divorces per 1,000 people
North Carolina
Average divorce filing fee: $230
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $10,300
State divorce rate in 2018: 3.1 divorces per 1,000 people
North Dakota
Average divorce filing fee: $80
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $8,200
State divorce rate in 2018: 2.6 divorces per 1,000 people
Ohio
Average divorce filing fee: $263
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $9,900
State divorce rate in 2018: 2.9 divorces per 1,000 people
Oklahoma
Average divorce filing fee: $213
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $9,800
State divorce rate in 2018: 3.8 divorces per 1,000 people
Oregon
Average divorce filing fee: $325
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $10,000
State divorce rate in 2018: 3.4 divorces per 1,000 people
Pennsylvania
Average divorce filing fee: $250
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $11,300
State divorce rate in 2018: 2.6 divorces per 1,000 people
Rhode Island
Average divorce filing fee: $160
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $10,400
State divorce rate in 2018: 2.9 divorces per 1,000 people
South Carolina
Average divorce filing fee: $150
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $10,000
State divorce rate in 2018: 2.5 divorces per 1,000 people
South Dakota
Average divorce filing fee: $95
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $8,600
State divorce rate in 2018: 2.6 divorces per 1,000 people
Tennessee
Average divorce filing fee: $264
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $9,900
State divorce rate in 2018: 3.5 divorces per 1,000 people
Texas
Average divorce filing fee: $300
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $12,400
State divorce rate in 2018: 2.6 divorces per 1,000 people
Utah
Average divorce filing fee: $320
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $10,400
State divorce rate in 2018: 3.8 divorces per 1,000 people
Vermont
Average divorce filing fee: $193
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $8,900
State divorce rate in 2018: 3.1 divorces per 1,000 people
Virginia
Average divorce filing fee: $150
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $11,500
State divorce rate in 2018: 3.1 divorces per 1,000 people
Washington
Average divorce filing fee: $314
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $10,600
State divorce rate in 2018: 3.3 divorces per 1,000 people
West Virginia
Average divorce filing fee: $160
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $8,200
State divorce rate in 2018: 3.3 divorces per 1,000 people
Wisconsin
Average divorce filing fee: $200
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $8,900
State divorce rate in 2018: 2.5 divorces per 1,000 people
Wyoming
Average divorce filing fee: $70
Average divorce attorneys' fees: $9,000
State divorce rate in 2018: 3.8 divorces per 1,000 people
