The Cost of Divorce

The Cost of Divorce.

Divorce costs a lot. The average cost of divorce is around $15,000. But what does that mean for you? Will your divorce be average? Will your divorce cost more?  

In Connecticut, a couple without children, who don’t hire attorneys to represent them, will only have to pay $360 in court filing fees. That’s it. Well below the average. If they hire attorneys (which I recommend) they will pay less than $10,000, easy. So, that means there must be a fair amount of high-cost divorces that bring the average up. Right?

So, what contributes to the cost of divorce? In my experience, couples who have kids, a house, or shared finances have divorces that cost more than the average. Let me get specific. In my 20 years of experience as a divorce attorney and mediator, I have found the following factors contribute to the high cost divorce: 

• Wanting a parenting plan customized to the specific needs of your children.

• Lingering pain or lack of trust between you and your spouse.

• Combined income of more than $150,000.

• Complex family dynamics (I believe there was a movie called Monster-In-Law for a reason).

• Cases involving alimony or spousal support.

• Cases where one party does not want the divorce.

So, if you are part of the first group I described, without kids, shared assets and a short-term marriage, you can skip my Root-to-Rise program. Just hire an inexpensive attorney and a good therapist, and you will be in pretty good shape. But, if your situation is more complicated, If you have kids, a house or shared finances, this program is right for you.