What actually costs money in a divorce
- Court filing fee — unavoidable, but often waivable. This ranges from about $80 (District of Columbia) to about $435 (California). If you can’t afford it, every state lets you ask the court to waive it. See the fee for your state →
- Document preparation — $0 with LawCat. Paid "online divorce" sites charge $137–$499 for the same public forms; LawCat prepares them free. Compare free vs. paid →
- Service of process — usually $0–$75. If your spouse signs an acknowledgment/waiver, service can cost nothing; otherwise a sheriff or process server charges a small fee.
- Attorney fees — only if you hire one. An uncontested divorce prepared by an attorney typically runs $1,500–$5,000+, and a contested divorce far more. For an agreed, uncontested case, most people don’t need one.
The cheapest way to get divorced
For an uncontested divorce, the cheapest path is to prepare your own documents (pro se) and pay only the court filing fee — with a fee waiver if you qualify. That’s exactly what LawCat is built for. See the cheapest states to divorce → · How long it takes →
Plan your next steps. Organize your financial information and check your case workspace for available drafts and official resources. Start your case →
Cost ranges are general estimates (filing fees from official 2026 sources); confirm with your court. Not legal advice. LawCat is not a law firm.