The Most Expensive States to Get Divorced in, Ranked

News 2

May 4

According to an April 2026 report on divorce expenses across the US, Washington, D.C., is the most expensive place to end a marriage…

With 4 out of 10 American couples now divorcing, a new study by multi-practice law firm Bogin, Munns & Munns shows where splitting up costs the most in legal fees and court charges. And, in case you missed it, check out our recent podcast interview with Judge Katie Harrod on what it takes to have an enduring marriage.

Washington, D.C., is the most expensive place to get a divorce, with couples paying over $20K to legally separate.
People in California have to pay $435 just to file for divorce, the highest court fee in America, and nearly double the national average.
The cheapest place to get a divorce is West Virginia, where family lawyers charge under $200 per hour to handle the paperwork, 30% less than in other states.

The research looked at divorce expenses across all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., to find where ending a marriage costs the most. The report examined court filing fees, which are the mandatory charges just to start divorce proceedings. It also calculated attorney costs by taking each state's average billing rate and multiplying it by 42 hours, the typical time lawyers spend on a full divorce case. These two figures were combined to show the complete financial picture. The study also tracked minimum waiting periods between filing and finalization, plus whether states split assets equally or let judges decide.

"One thing people may not realize when looking at such statistics is that these are baseline costs for uncontested divorces where both parties agree,” explains Spencer R. Munns, owner and managing leader of Bogin, Munns & Munns. “If you're fighting over custody or assets, you can easily triple these numbers. A contested divorce in D.C. or New York can go as high as $60K or $80K once you add in depositions, expert witnesses, and multiple court appearances."

1. Washington, D.C.

Attorney billing rate: $492/hour
Court filing fee: $80
Estimated attorney fee: $20.6K
Property Division Rule: Equitable Distribution
Total divorce cost: $20.7K

Washington, D.C., is the most expensive place in America to get divorced. Couples here pay over $20K to legally end their marriage, about $7K more than what people in typical states spend. The district's attorney rates are the highest in the country, charging $492 per hour, which is 54% above the national average. With lawyers typically spending 42 hours on a divorce case, that adds up to $20.6K in legal fees alone. D.C. also uses equitable distribution, where judges decide how to divide assets instead of splitting them 50/50, which can drag out negotiations and push costs higher.

2. Delaware

Delaware comes second with divorce costing over $20K. Attorney rates here reach $475 per hour, nearly matching D.C.'s expensive billing. That translates to close to 20K in legal fees for a standard divorce. Unlike the capital, Delaware also charges one of the highest court filing fees at $165, plus couples have to wait 60 days between filing papers and finalizing the split. Like most states on the East Coast, Delaware uses equitable distribution when dividing property, giving judges discretion on who gets what.

3. New York

New York ranks third, with couples paying around $18K to divorce. Family lawyers here bill at $426 hourly, well above the national rate. That works out to nearly 18K in attorney fees over the course of a case. Court costs add another $335 on top, the second-highest filing fee after California. One thing New York doesn't make couples do is wait: there's no mandatory cooling-off period between filing and getting the final decree. The state splits assets through equitable distribution rather than the automatic 50/50 rule.

4. California

California comes fourth on the list, as getting a divorce there costs over $18K. Local law firms charge $422 per hour to handle the paperwork, which works out to around $17,700 in legal fees. The state also has the highest court filing rate in the country, at $435 just to submit divorce papers. California makes couples wait 180 days, too, before finalizing their split, longer than any other state. But unlike most expensive divorce locations, California follows community property rules, meaning assets get divided 50/50 automatically.

5. Connecticut

Connecticut rounds out the top five with divorce expenses reaching about $17.4K. Lawyers here charge $406 hourly, keeping Connecticut among the pricier states for legal representation. As a result, attorney fees come to roughly $17K for a typical case. Court filing costs another $360, while divorcing couples also face a 90-day waiting period before they can finalize their split. Like New York and Delaware, Connecticut uses equitable distribution to divide the couple's property, which can prolong the process.