10 States Where Getting Divorced Will Completely Ruin You

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Getting divorced is not only an emotional hardship, but it is also a financial one, too. It can be expensive to get divorced, especially if you live in one of these ten states. After learning about the hefty price tags of divorce in these places, you may want to stay married if that helps. Then, at least, you won’t be broke! After all, the cost of divorce can be more than just money.

This article was inspired by the ‘The Most And Least Expensive States To Get A Divorce In 2024’ on Forbes.

California

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Getting divorced in California will cost you quite a bit of money. To begin, the filing fee alone will cost $435. Then you need to add to that the fact that lawyers in California make, on average, $84.46 per hour. According to research by FormRush, the median divorce is $10,159. Considering that this is about 8% of the household income in California, divorce in this state is pretty pricey.

New York

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If you plan to divorce in New York, you better be prepared to pay a hefty bill. The fee to file for divorce in New York is $335, according to Forbes. If you need a lawyer, that will cost you another $83.12 per hour on average. So, what will a New York Divorce cost? On average, it is about $9,206. And remember, this doesn’t even cover additional costs like mediation, court fees, or child custody evaluations. Yikes!

Oregon

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If you reside in Oregon, consider a prenup to help you save on some divorce fees later on. According to FormRush, on average, you need $8,405 for an Oregon divorce. It starts with the $301 filing fee and goes up from there. Divorce in Oregon could be more pretty, and it can be a financial burden, making it a costly and stressful process.

Massachusetts

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With an average lawyer wage of $77.66 an hour and a $200 divorce filing fee, a Massachusetts divorce will cost quite a bit of money. According to Forbes, the median divorce in this northern state is $10,406, making it higher than almost every other state. This huge fee is about 7.15% of the median married household income, which is enough for couples to reconsider divorce altogether.

Alaska

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Who would have thought that this northern state would be so pricey? Well, it is. The median cost for divorce in Alaska is $9,111. That is about 7.68% of the household income. The high cost of living in Alaska is partly to blame for the price of a legal breakup, as everything in this faraway state costs more. Plus, the limited availability of legal professionals can drive up costs even further, adding to the overall expense.

Hawaii

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According to Forbes, Hawaii has the highest median divorce cost out of all the states. How much does it cost to get divorced in Hawaii? About $13,198.70. While the filing fee may cost less than in other states, coming in at just $265, the lawyer fees add up quickly. If you plan on marrying and living in Hawaii, keep this steep number in mind.

Arizona

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If you reside in Arizona, making your separation legal will be costly. The average divorce lawyer’s wage is about $58.18 per hour, and you must also pay a $280 filing fee. The process will cost about $7,788, which is about 7.55% of the household income. Will you be happier after paying these high fees and being legally single? That is the big question!

Nevada

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Forbes says in Nevada, a divorce will set you back about $7395.63. You may want to reconsider that Las Vegas quickie wedding! If you choose to get divorced in Nevada, you will face a $299 divorce filing fee and legal bills of around $62.89 per hour. It’s essential to factor in these costs and plan accordingly to avoid financial strain during a difficult time.

Washington

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Washington state has a high cost of living, which is one of the reasons why residents pay more for divorce. They pay more for nearly everything in that upper Northwest corner of the US! Getting a legal divorce in Washington costs around $8,399.17, which is 6.76% of the median married household income. Divorce proceedings in Washington are not cheap! Especially when you are looking at paying a lawyer an average of $63.09 per hour to help you.

Florida

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Many Americans consider Florida a place where you can escape the high cost of living. This is just not true when it comes to divorce, as Florida ranks as one of the most expensive places to get legally separated. Florida’s divorce filing fee starts at $409, with the average lawyer charging $50.17 per hour. Floridians will spend about 7.53% of their household income getting divorced, which equates to about $7,410.

The Cheapest Divorce is in Kansas

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You can get divorced in Kansas for an average of $6,341.19. This is below the country average and only about 6.21% of the household income. That is much less than in other states, making us reconsider where we live! The filing fee to get divorced in Kansans is still pretty high, at $402, but the average lawyer rate is only $46.45, which is much better than in other US states.

Lowest Divorce Filing Fee

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Head to North Dakota if you are looking for the lowest divorce filing fee. For just $80, you can get all of your legal divorce paperwork filed! You will need to pay a lawyer as well, but the average divorce lawyer charges only $48.51 an hour. North Dakota is the place to live if you ever think you will need to be legally divorced and still financially happy.

This article was inspired by Forbes and originally published on WMNLives.