Divorce Cost Calculator

Divorce costs vary widely, but you shouldn’t have to guess. Use the calculator above for a fast range based on your facts (uncontested vs. contested, kids, assets, location). Then review real court filing fees (NJ/NY), typical attorney billing patterns, mediation, and smart ways to reduce spend.

Ziegler Law Group’s free Divorce Cost Calculator will get you an instant cost range for your situation. No payment reqired. Then, if you want a detailed line-item estimate + our “Divorce Process Made Easy” guide, book a Paid Strategy Session and we’ll send it right away, no spam, ever. Key ranges are based on ZLG’s client-facing process guide and real case experience. Typical NJ retainers run $5,000 – $10,000, simple cases can be as little as $5,000, and high-conflict/high-net-worth matters can reach $100,000+ overall.

How much does a divorce cost? (New Jersey &
New York)

A divorce can be as streamlined, or as complex, as the lives it’s untangling. In New Jersey, typical initial retainers are $5,000 – $7,500. Simple uncontested cases can come in around $5,000 total, while high-conflict or high-net-worth cases may ultimately reach $100,000+, depending on discovery, motions, experts, and trial time. After a retainer is used, attorneys generally bill hourly (~$300–$600+ per hour), and there are court filing fees (NJ complaint filing is ~$300). Mediation is common; many court-approved mediators offer the first two hours free and then charge an hourly rate (~$100–$500/hr).

Quick ranges & fees (fast glance)

Court filing (filing only)

New Jersey

$300 complaint (plaintiff) + ~$175 appearance (defendant). If custody/parenting time is requested, some courts assign a Parent Education Program at ~$25 per parent.

New York (uncontested)

At least ~$335 in court fees.

Attorney billing pattern

After the retainer, most matters are billed hourly; metro NJ/NY often ~$300–$600+ depending on counsel and complexity.

Mediation

NJ’s court-rostered economic mediation commonly includes the first two hours free (prep + session); after that, standard private rates (often ~$100–$500/hr) apply, usually shared equally by the parties unless the court orders otherwise.

Other drivers

Service, transcripts, motion fees; experts (valuation/forensic, vocational, custody, psychological, lifestyle) can run $2,000s–$10,000+ per expert.

Timeline context

Agreed cases often resolve in ~2–6 months; contested matters may take ~6–18+ months.

Tip: Your calculator result will show a total range plus a typical initial retainer. For a precise quote, book a Paid Strategy Session and we’ll tailor scope, staffing, and timeline to your facts.

All amounts and practices are (*) subject to change based on county rules, court calendars, and attorney policies.

How are divorce costs calculated?

Our calculator considers the same levers attorneys and courts work with:

Case posture: uncontested vs. contested

Uncontested (agreement reached) limits discovery, motions, and court time → lower cost. Contested (active disputes) expands attorney time, filings, and hearings → higher cost.

Case type & conflict level

Number and intensity of disputed issues (support, equitable distribution, parenting) directly scale attorney hours and appearances.

Children & custody

Parenting time, legal vs. physical custody, and any evaluations ordered add steps. Some courts require a Parent Education Program (~$25 per parent; subject to change).

Assets & finances

Home, retirement, businesses, equity compensation, tracing of marital assets and any alleged dissipation drive discovery and, often, experts.

Discovery, motions & experts

Interrogatories, notices to produce/document exchange, depositions, subpoenas, and motion practice increase billed time.

Experts, business valuation/forensic accounting, vocational, custody, psychological, and lifestyle/support analyses, typically run $2,000s – $10,000+ per expert (subject to change); multiple experts multiply cost.

ADR vs. trial

Early Settlement Panel (ESP), mediation, or arbitration/mutual consent can narrow or resolve issues and control spend. If unresolved, trial prep and trial days add significant cost.

Market effects (location & counsel rates)

Manhattan/inner-ring suburbs often bill at higher hourly bands than many New Jersey counties; experience level also affects rates.

Timeline

Agreed cases can finish in ~2–6 months; contested matters commonly take ~6–18+ months depending on issues and court calendars.

Bottom line: Fewer disputed issues + earlier ADR = fewer hours and lower total cost. More disputes + heavy discovery/experts + trial = higher cost.

Additional costs you should know about (court fees, mediation, experts & more in NJ and NY)

Court fees & service

New Jersey

~$300 to file the complaint (plaintiff) + ~$175 appearance fee (defendant). Fee waivers are available for qualifying low-income litigants. (Subject to change.)

New York

Uncontested filings total at least ~$335 in court fees; fee waivers may be available by motion to the court. (Subject to change.)

Parenting programs (NJ & NY)

Some courts assign a Parent Education workshop (~$25 per parent) when custody/parenting time is at issue. (Subject to change.)

Other court costs

Service of process (process server/sheriff), transcripts (billed per page), and motion filing or copy fees are separate and vary by county and vendor.

Why it matters: these are paid in addition to attorney time.

Attorney fees & retainers (how it’s billed)

• Common model: upfront retainer, then hourly billing with an evergreen minimum to avoid stalls.
• Costs grow with discovery/motions, multiple court conferences, experts, and trial days.

Why it matters: once the retainer is used, you’ll fund ongoing work month-to-month and replenish to the agreed threshold.

Mediation beyond free hours & ADR

• ESP → Economic Mediation (New Jersey): court-rostered mediators typically provide the first two hours free (1 hr prep + 1 hr session); private time beyond that is billed hourly (often ~$100–$500/hr) and usually shared equally unless the court orders otherwise.
• Arbitration / mutual-consent processes can also narrow issues and reduce court time.

Why it matters: ADR often cuts total hours versus litigating to trial.

Experts & evaluations

• Property/business valuation & forensic accounting, cash-flow/lifestyle analyses for support, vocational evaluations, custody/psychological evaluations: expect $2,000s–$10,000+ per expert depending on scope and reports.

Why it matters: even one expert can materially increase cost; multiple experts multiply it.

Timeline & milestones (time = money)

• Uncontested matters can wrap in ~months; contested cases commonly run ~1 year or more, with added events like CMC, discovery, ESP, mediation, ISC, and trial driving additional attorney time.

Why it matters: more steps = more billable hours.

All amounts and practices are subject to change by county rules, court calendars, mediator/attorney policies, and case complexity.

How to lower your divorce costs

• Get organized early. Gather financials (bank, account statements file for 3 years, taxes, retirement statement, mortgage statements, social security earnings) and a clean chronology to reduce discovery time.
• Pick your battles. Focus on outcomes that truly matter (kids, home, business continuity).
• Leverage mediation. Many cases settle post-ESP or in economic mediation; often, far cheaper than trial.
• Use the right team. Attorneys for strategy, associates/paralegals for efficiency, a team of experts.
• Communicate smart. Batch questions, avoid impulsive filings, and keep emotions from driving motions.
  

How to use our Divorce Cost Calculator

1. Select your case details. Case type, kids, assets complexity, conflict level, likelihood of mediation/trial, and (optionally) county.
2. Review your estimate. You’ll see a total range, a typical initial retainer, and an anticipated illustrative breakdown (attorney time, filing, experts, mediation).
3. Get the full breakdown. By entering your name, email, and phone number, you agree to receive a detailed estimate for your divorce process over a call or email.

Book your Paid Strategy Session. If you prefer, you can call us and we’ll translate your estimate into a concrete plan, timeline, and engagement agreement

Area notes: New York & New Jersey cost context

Our calculator adjusts ranges based on complexity, note that location-driven factors will be addressed over a paid strategy session. Here are general market notes to orient you:

Manhattan & NYC (all boroughs)

Counsel rates and case complexity often trend higher than many NJ counties. Expect initial retainers at the upper end of typical bands for contested matters, with greater variance in high-asset cases.

Brooklyn

Broad spread of case types; similar directional trend as Manhattan, but individual counsel rates vary.

Westchester County

Higher incidence of asset valuation (homes, businesses, equity); discovery and experts frequently drive cost.

Rockland County

Mix of suburban matters; procedures and pace vary by docket; costs often comparable to North Jersey peer matters.

New Jersey (e.g., Essex, Bergen, Alpine, Livingston, Morris, Union, Millburn, West Caldwell, Monmouth):

Typical NJ retainers of $5,000 – $10,000 are a solid starting point; filing fee ~$300 + parenting program fee ~$25 (if applicable); mediation frequently used after ESP.

Final pricing always depends on your facts and attorney review. Use the calculator to set expectations, then confirm in a Strategy Session.

Steps to hiring the right divorce lawyer

1. Prepare your facts. Assets, debts, income, parenting issues, and your goals.
2. Get a structured estimate. Use this calculator; request our guidance + detailed breakdown.
3. Schedule a Paid Strategy Session. We’ll map phases (filing → CMC → discovery → ESP → mediation → ISC/trial) and budget checkpoints.
4. Engage with clarity. Sign an engagement agreement, fund the initial retainer, and set an evergreen threshold to avoid delays.
   

Why trust our calculator

It aligns with the actual NJ/NY process and ranges we walk clients through daily. The model reflects NJ filing fees (~$300), typical retainer norms ($5k–$10k), hourly billing after retainers, mediation structure (first two hours free, then hourly), and expert fee realities; not wishful thinking.