You’ve no doubt heard a lot of stories about how expensive getting a divorce can be, especially in California. But if you’re thinking about ending your marriage, or you’ve already started the process, you probably want specifics. Just how expensive is a typical divorce in California? What are the factors that can make it cost more or less? And how long does the process take?
The Cost of Divorce in California
In 2015, and again in 2019, we surveyed our readers in California who had recently been through a divorce. We also reviewed information reported by California divorce lawyers about their fees and billing practices.
About 7 in 10 Californians in our survey hired a divorce lawyer. If you choose to hire a divorce lawyer, your lawyer’s bill will likely be your biggest divorce expense. The total amount of your bill will depend on your lawyer’s hourly rate and the number of hours needed for your case.
Hourly Rates for Divorce Lawyers in California
Because every divorce case is unique—and because it’s nearly impossible to predict how difficult it will be for a particular couple to resolve their issues—nearly all divorce lawyers charge by the hour billed in increments of six minutes (one-tenth of an hour).
The California lawyers in our 2019 study reported their minimum and maximum hourly rates. Across the state, the average minimum was $300 per hour, while the average maximum was $365 an hour.
Average hourly rates are likely to be higher now. According to Clio, a legal technology company, the average hourly rate for a California lawyer practicing family law in 2023 was $384, which is substantially higher than the national average for family law lawyers ($312).
Your divorce lawyer might charge more or less than the average based on many factors, especially:
- Location and firm size. Lawyers working in big cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco tend to charge more than their suburban and rural counterparts. And lawyers who work at large, prestigious firms typically charge more than lawyers at smaller firms and solo practitioners.
- Expertise in family law. Attorneys with extensive, specialized experience in family law usually charge more per hour than average, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll end up with a higher bill. Experienced lawyers might charge more per hour, but require fewer hours overall to resolve your divorce.
- The cost of paralegals and support staff. Lawyers often rely on paralegals and other support staff for help with legal research and document preparation, which can potentially save you money. Support staff can bill for substantive work, but typically at much lower rates than attorneys. As reported by Clio, the average hourly rate for nonlawyers working on cases in California in 2023 was $166.
Total Typical Cost of a Divorce Lawyer in California
Around 80% of the readers we surveyed with legal representation hired “full scope” attorneys to handle everything in their divorce cases from start to finish. Our analysis of the data from our 2019 survey and attorney-fee study showed that the total cost of a full-scope attorney in a typical California divorce ranges from $12,500 to $15,300.
It’s important to remember that averages don’t reflect the individual circumstances that could make your divorce cost more or less. Also, costs were lower for those who hired consulting attorneys to help them with a clearly defined part of their case—such as reviewing or preparing a separation agreement or assisting with divorce mediation. This arrangement isn’t for everyone (only 11% of California readers went this route), but it can bring costs down if you feel confident about representing yourself with limited legal assistance.
How Much Does a DIY or Online Divorce Cost in California?
Of course, not everyone wants (or can afford) to hire a divorce attorney. You can choose to do it yourself or file for divorce online.
DIY Divorce
You can represent yourself in your divorce, but you’ll have to:
- follow the California Family Code (the law)
- follow the local family rules of court in your county
- find and complete all the necessary court forms
- properly serve your spouse with the divorce forms
- go to court if you and your spouse don’t have a divorce settlement agreement, and
- finalize your divorce.
California courts offer free legal help in family law cases, including family law facilitators in every county who can answer your questions about forms and court procedures. There is no attorney-client relationship between you and a family law facilitator or any court staff member, but they can help you represent yourself more efficiently and effectively.
You can find the most current California forms on the Judicial Council website. The California Courts self-help guide can help get you started.
If you have a lot at stake in your divorce—child custody, alimony, property, debt—it’s important to know your rights before your divorce is finalized or you may lose those rights forever. Consult with a lawyer if at all possible.
Online Divorce
If you're representing yourself, but would like to save yourself some time and aggravation, you might want to consider an online divorce. An online divorce service guides you through the paperwork you need for your situation, and then tells you how to file it. The cost of online divorce services varies, but it's typically in the $150 to $750 range, with extra charges for additional services (such as filing the paperwork with the court for you).
Online divorce services aren't appropriate in all situations. You might be a good candidate if:
- you're involved in a no-fault divorce
- you and your spouse agree on all of the important issues in your divorce
- you're aware of all of your marital assets and have access to your financial records
- your spouse isn't represented by a lawyer, and
- a power imbalance or domestic violence hasn't been a part of the relationship.
How Disputes and Trial Affect Divorce Costs in California
Many divorcing couples fight over one or more important issues, including:
- child custody and support
- alimony (known as spousal support in California), and
- dividing marital property and debts.
These disputes are the main drivers of divorce costs. If you and your spouse can’t agree on these issues, your lawyer will have to spend a lot of time on tasks like discovery (gathering financial documents and other information), filing motions, and attending court hearings on issues like temporary support. It also takes time to negotiate a settlement agreement, and even more time if settlement talks fail and you have to go to trial. The more time your lawyer spends on your case the more your divorce will cost you.
We looked at the impact of disputes involving important issues on divorce costs in 2019 and learned the following:
- The average total cost of a divorce with no contested issues in California was $4,500-$5,500.
- Divorces involving one dispute that settled before trial cost between $6,500 and $8,000.
- Cases involving two disputes but no trial cost more—$11,500 to $14,000.
- Costs skyrocket when couples go to trial to resolve their disputes. The average total cost range is $15,500 to $19,000 for California couples who go to trial on one issue and $21,000 to $26,000 for those who take two or more issues to trial.
Filing Fees and Other Divorce Costs in California
Attorneys’ fees aren’t the only cost in a divorce. You’ll have to pay a fee to file your divorce paperwork with the court, unless you request and qualify for a fee waiver. As of 2024, the filing fee for a divorce in California is $435, but it’s always subject to change.
Other potential divorce expenses include:
- mediation costs
- a child custody evaluation
- fees for other experts like certified accountants and investigators.
Given the relatively high pay scales for professionals in California, it’s not surprising that some of these expenses can be higher in this state than elsewhere in the country. In our survey, California readers reported paying an average of $2,000 in expenses other than attorneys’ fees, compared to the national average of $1,600. Your actual costs might be much more—or less—depending on the complexity of your case.
Beyond the legal costs directly associated with a divorce, you’ll also have to budget for the so-called “soft” costs of divorce, such as moving, setting up and maintaining a separate household, therapy, and changes in your insurance and tax status.
How Long Does Divorce Take in California?
To file for divorce in California, either you or your spouse has to have lived in the state for the past six months and in your current county for the past three months. (Cal. Fam. Code § 2320 (2024).)
California has an expedited divorce process for getting an uncontested divorce called “summary dissolution” that allows couples who have been married for less than five years to quickly finalize their divorce if they meet all of the legal requirements, which include having limited debts and assets and no minor children.
Other couples have to wait longer. After you've formally served your spouse (or been served with divorce papers), California has a minimum six-month waiting period before your divorce will be final. (Cal. Fam. Code § 2339 (2024).)
In reality, few couples can wrap up their divorce in six months. As with cost, the actual amount of time your divorce will take depends on your circumstances. Our 2019 survey showed that California couples who had no contested issues took an average of eight months to finalize their divorce. That average doubled (to 16 months) for those who went to trial on at least one issue.
The amount of time your divorce will take depends on the number of issues you and your spouse are fighting about, how many court hearings you need to resolve your disputes, and the backlog of cases in your county.
More Information and Resources on California Divorce
Divorce in California can be expensive and time-consuming—not to mention emotionally draining. If your situation involves a custody dispute, complicated financial issues, or significant conflict, talk to a divorce lawyer.
But not everyone needs (or can afford) a divorce lawyer. Other options include representing yourself, using an online service, and going to mediation. For help choosing the right path for your divorce, you can check out Divorcenet’s quiz.
And here are more resources on divorce in California:
