Most divorce lawyers charge $250 to $500 an hour billed against a retainer. An uncontested divorce, where both spouses agree, often totals $2,500 to $5,000. A contested divorce commonly runs $7,000 to $30,000 or more. The single biggest factor isn't the lawyer's rate — it's how much you and your spouse fight, because conflict turns paperwork into hearings, discovery, and billable hours.
We build websites and run marketing for law firms, so this is the buyer's-eye view of what you'll pay — and, if you're a divorce attorney, exactly what prospective clients compare before they call.
Filing yourself or using a mediator when both sides agree and assets are simple. Court filing fees plus a mediator's hourly rate. The cheapest path when there's no real dispute.
A lawyer drafts and files an agreed settlement. Often a flat fee or low retainer because the work is documentation rather than litigation. Worth it for the peace of mind that the agreement is enforceable.
Disputes over property, support, or custody. Hearings, discovery, and sometimes expert witnesses add up fast. A high-conflict case with a custody fight or a business to value can exceed $50,000.
Honest take: not every divorce needs a full attorney.
Prospective clients compare exactly the numbers above before they call — and they decide on your website and reviews, usually late at night, in a stressful moment. If your site is hard to read on a phone or a consultation request sits until morning, they've already booked the firm with the clearer site and faster reply.
That's where we help: Start Getting Leads at $249/mo (site + AI intake) and Grow in Google at $597/mo (adds the SEO engine and attribution). Related: how to choose a divorce lawyer, divorce lawyer website design, divorce lawyer marketing, and more cost guides.
Most charge $250 to $500 an hour against a retainer. Uncontested cases often total $2,500 to $5,000; contested divorces commonly run $7,000 to $30,000 or more, driven by how much the two sides fight.
Conflict is the driver. An agreed divorce is mostly paperwork; disputes over assets, support, or custody add hearings, discovery, and experts that push a case into five figures.
Not always. Amicable, no-children, simple-asset divorces can be done by filing yourself or through mediation. Hire an attorney when children, significant assets, a business, or disagreement are involved, or if your spouse has one.
Send your firm name and city — we'll build a working demo of a site that turns searches into booked consultations, within 48 hours. Free, no card, no commitment.
Prefer email? [email protected]