The cost of a Missouri divorce will depend on many factors. This includes whether your divorce is contested or you are able to reach a settlement with your current spouse. An uncontested is much less expensive than a contested proceeding, which greatly adds to the time, complexity, and hours needed to finalize the case. Divorces may range from a few thousand dollars to over $10,000 depending on all of these factors.
At Wegmann Law Firm, we help you understand the average cost of a divorce in Missouri. Our experienced Missouri divorce lawyers provide individualized consultations to help you better understand your unique situation.
Factors That Affect the Price of a Divorce
How much is you divorce going to cost? This is a difficult question to answer exactly, but a number of key factors affect what it will ultimately cost you. These factors typically include:
- Filing Fees: Each court charges filing fees for documents filed with the court in your divorce. Some of these fees are a few hundred dollars while others are much less expensive. The number of filings in your case will dictate the total costs.
- Attorneys’ Fees: Attorneys’ fees will depend on your lawyer’s hourly rate and the amount of time it takes to complete your case.
- Complexity of the Divorce: A more complex divorce will take more time and cost more money. Cases with children, pets, high-value assets, and other factors can make a case more complex and more costly.
- Spousal Relationship: How contentious your divorce will be will also impact its cost. While divorce is never easy, if the couple can work together on most issues the cost is less. Spouses that cannot or refuse to agree can make the process much more expensive.
Speak to a qualified Missouri divorce attorney about your particular situation. They can help guide you through what your case may cost.
Average Cost of a Missouri Divorce
There is no set cost for divorce in most cases, as the factors above ultimately determine what happens. However, there are some things you can know going in.
Uncontested Divorces
First, an uncontested divorce will almost always be cheaper than a contested divorce. An uncontested divorce occurs when you and your spouse are able to agree on all or substantially all of the major issues. You negotiate outside of court with the help of your attorneys and present an agreed resolution to the court.
This significantly reduces the hours it takes to finalize your divorce and the filing fees associated with the process. An uncontested divorce will likely cost a few thousand dollars depending on what steps are involved in finalizing that case.
Contested Divorces
A contested divorce will cost more than most uncontested separations. The total cost can vary widely, starting at around $5,000 but possibly being over $25,000 depending on the complexity of the case.
A general average for contested divorces hovers around $13,000. This assumes an average case that cannot be resolved outside of court. It may or may not involve children, high-value assets, or difficulty agreeing to critical terms.
Contested divorces become more expensive in contentious situations where the parties disagree on most or all issues. Dividing assets and handling child custody matters can add significantly to the hours needed to resolve the case, increasing costs as it gets more complex.
Get Help With Your Missouri Divorce
Knowing the average cost of a divorce is just the first step. In reality, you need a skilled divorce lawyer to analyze your unique situation and give you a better idea of what it will cost in your case.
At the Wegmann Law Firm, we provide personalized meetings to help you better understand what your divorce will cost and the best strategies to resolve it quickly. Request a consultation today to get started.
