In the United States, the average cost of divorce is between $15000 and $40000. This figure has to be taken with a grain of salt.

There are just too many variables in the divorce process that can cause the cost of divorce to be a lot more or a lot less. One such variable is your particular state that you reside in. Another factor has to do with the complexity of your situation. For example, if there are no child custody or support issues, and you have little in the way of assets, then the cost will be low.

One of the biggest factors is the extent of dispute between you and your spouse. If you can agree amicably on the various issues such as how assets and liabilities are to be distributed, child support, etc, then you are way ahead. Remember that dispute and litigation drawn out over time equals money.

Of course, in the real world, divorce usually is not a platonic process that is free of bad feelings. Therefore a divorce mediator acting as a neutral third party to help both of you come up with a settlement can be highly effective. This will allow you to avoid the expenses of hiring lawyers and going to a divorce court.

If litigation is unavoidable and you have substantial assets to protect, then trying to cut the cost of divorce by hiring a cheap lawyer will be more expensive to you in the long run. The saying that you get what you pay for is certainly true with respect to lawyers. Effective lawyers typically have talent and plenty of experience. They won’t be selling their services on the cheap.

There are other costs to think about beyond the immediate expenses of the divorce itself. These are associated with the changes that occur to your life after the divorce. If your spouse also had an income, then the everyday cost of living is no longer shared by two people. This will result in a drop in your standard of living. If you are paying child support or if you have custody over the children, this drop is even more dramatic. Another example of a cost associated with the after effects of divorce would be the cost of relocating to a new place of residence if you are forced to leave your home.

Finally, there is the non-monetary cost of divorce such as the emotional costs to yourself and to your children. Sometimes these emotional costs can translate into money such as the cost of treating stress related medical and/or psychological conditions.