Average costs of a divorce in CA?

Question

I know it depends of the attorney, length of marriage....a lot of things, but what's an average cost?

Answer 1

It ain't cheap...

Answer 2

Is it contested? Uncontested? That can all make the cost of the divorce vary. It can be cheap if both parties agree on a settlement (almost free - minus the filings fees of the divorce) and can be under $500. If both parties are contentious and custody is an issue (nothing is agreed upon) divorce can cost upwards of $5,000, $10,000 - even $30,000 and drag on for years. So the best bet would be to be civil - work things out before your divorce hearing and move on like adults!

On average I would say between $3,000-$7,000 (contested) -- and that doesn't include the $1,000-$2,000 retainer you need to give the lawyer before they will even look at you in some cases. Uncontested I'd say $1,000-$2,000 if that.