A simpler, faster way to get divorced in New York.
When you and your spouse agree, getting divorced shouldn’t be complicated.
Express Divorce makes the uncontested divorce process easier — with straightforward steps, clear pricing, and the experience of a New York matrimonial law firm behind you.
See if you qualify in just a few minutes.
Estimate the potential cost of your New York divorce based on the process you choose, the level of support you need, court filing fees, and additional professional services.
Start with the process that best describes where your case stands today.
From guided document preparation to full attorney representation, choose the level of support that fits your uncontested divorce.
For mediation-assisted and contested matters, the calculator uses editable planning assumptions rather than an Express Divorce package price.
Certain circumstances may require additional professional time, review, or coordination. Select any that apply.
Add any professional services you expect may be needed.
Important: This calculator provides planning estimates only and is not a fee quote or legal advice. Express Divorce package prices apply to qualifying matters within the stated scope. Court fees, attorney fees, process service, QDROs, valuations, experts, contested proceedings, and other third-party costs may be additional. Estimates for contested matters and professional services are assumptions only, and actual costs may be higher or lower.
What Will Your Divorce Really Cost?
There is no single price for divorce in New York.
The total cost depends primarily on how much work the case requires.
A couple who has already reached agreement and needs help completing an uncontested divorce will usually face a very different cost structure from spouses who are litigating custody, property, support, or financial disclosure.
Our Divorce Cost Calculator is designed to help you identify the expenses that may apply to your particular New York divorce and understand which costs are fixed, which are optional, and which can increase when a case becomes contested.
WHAT THE DIVORCE COST CALCULATOR INCLUDES
New York Court Filing Fees
For a standard uncontested New York matrimonial action, basic court filing fees are generally at least $335.
That ordinarily includes:
Additional court charges may apply depending on what your case requires.
For example:
Court fees are separate from Express Divorce service fees.
Divorce Document Preparation
Document-preparation costs depend on how much assistance you want.
For qualifying New York uncontested divorces, Express Divorce offers several levels of support.
Express Divorce — $799
Document preparation for spouses who are comfortable handling the filing process themselves.
Express Divorce Plus — $1,999
Document preparation plus filing assistance, signature coordination, case support, and status tracking.
Attorney Review — $2,999
For qualifying uncontested divorces without minor children where attorney review and legal guidance are desired.
Family Package — $4,999
For qualifying uncontested matters involving children, including review of parenting and child-support provisions.
Full Attorney-Led Uncontested Divorce — $7,999
Attorney-led handling of a qualifying uncontested divorce through the final judgment process.
Court fees and third-party expenses are separate unless expressly stated otherwise.
ATTORNEY FEES
Why Attorney Costs Vary So Much
Attorney fees usually depend on the amount of legal work required rather than simply the fact that a divorce has been filed.
Billable work in a contested matrimonial case can include:
An uncontested matter with a clearly defined scope may be handled through a flat-fee arrangement.
A contested case is more commonly billed hourly because the amount of work cannot reliably be predicted at the beginning.
SERVICE OF PROCESS
If formal service is necessary, there may be an additional cost for a process server.
The amount varies based on factors such as:
In cooperative uncontested cases, formal service may sometimes be avoided through the Defendant’s voluntary participation in the appropriate manner.
REAL ESTATE AND PROPERTY VALUATIONS
Not every divorce requires an appraisal.
Valuation expenses become more relevant when spouses disagree about the value of property or a professional opinion is necessary to negotiate or litigate the issue.
Potential examples include:
These costs are generally more common in contested or financially complex divorces.
EXPERT FEES
Some contested cases require professionals beyond the attorneys.
Depending on the issues, that may include:
Expert costs can materially increase the expense of litigation.
An uncontested divorce generally avoids many of these expenses because the spouses have already resolved the underlying issues.
COST BY TYPE OF NEW YORK DIVORCE
DIY UNCONTESTED DIVORCE
The spouses prepare and file the documents themselves.
Typical Costs May Include:
This is usually the lowest-cost route, but it requires the parties to take responsibility for document preparation and procedure.
EXPRESS DIVORCE — PAPERWORK ONLY
$799 + Court and Third-Party Fees
Designed for spouses who have already reached agreement and want their New York uncontested divorce documents prepared while handling the filing themselves.
EXPRESS DIVORCE PLUS
$1,999 + Court and Third-Party Fees
Adds filing assistance, signature coordination, case support, and status tracking.
This can be appropriate for spouses who want more procedural help without moving into full traditional attorney representation.
ATTORNEY-ASSISTED UNCONTESTED DIVORCE
Where the divorce remains uncontested but the parties want legal review or broader attorney involvement, the cost depends on the level of service selected.
Express Divorce attorney-assisted options currently range from:
$2,999 to $7,999
depending on the case and scope.
CONTESTED DIVORCE
Once spouses disagree about major issues, the economics change.
Potentially contested issues include:
A contested case may involve extensive attorney time, court appearances, discovery, motions, and experts.
For that reason, there is no responsible universal estimate for what a contested New York divorce will cost.
The cost depends on the work the dispute creates.
HIGH-CONFLICT OR COMPLEX LITIGATION
Some matrimonial cases become substantially more expensive because they require:
In those cases, the professional fees can far exceed the cost of obtaining the divorce paperwork itself.
That is why the distinction between uncontested and contested is often more important than any advertised “average divorce cost.”
ADDITIONAL COSTS PEOPLE SOMETIMES OVERLOOK
Certified Copies
You may need certified copies of the Judgment of Divorce for financial institutions, government agencies, retirement plans, or other purposes.
Notarization
Certain documents may require notarized signatures.
Costs depend on where and how notarization is obtained.
Retirement Orders
Dividing certain retirement benefits may require a Qualified Domestic Relations Order or another specialized retirement instrument.
Preparation and implementation of those orders can be a separate expense.
Real Estate Transactions
If one spouse keeps the marital residence, there may be costs associated with:
These are not technically divorce filing fees, but they may be part of implementing the settlement.
Tax and Financial Advice
A divorce involving significant assets, support, investments, or business interests may benefit from tax or financial advice.
The divorce lawyer or online platform should not automatically be treated as a substitute for an accountant or financial adviser.
Moving and Establishing a Second Household
Divorce may also create practical costs that do not appear on a court invoice.
Examples include:
These costs should be considered when planning the overall financial transition.
Time Away From Work
Contested proceedings can require:
For hourly employees, business owners, and independent professionals, lost work time can itself become a meaningful cost.
WHAT THE CALCULATOR SHOULD HELP YOU UNDERSTAND
A useful divorce-cost calculator should not simply produce one dramatic number.
It should help you identify:
The most important cost question is not:
“What does divorce cost?”
It is:
“What level of work will my divorce require?”
For spouses who have already reached agreement, Express Divorce offers a way to match the level of professional support to the needs of the case without automatically paying for full-scale matrimonial litigation.
CALCULATE YOUR DIVORCE COST
HOW TO REDUCE DIVORCE COSTS
Be Organized
The more organized you are, the less time professionals need to spend locating information, correcting inconsistencies, or asking for documents repeatedly.
Before beginning, gather:
Organization does not just save time. It makes it easier to identify what actually needs to be resolved.
Resolve What You Can Before Involving Professionals
If communication is safe and productive, spouses may be able to resolve straightforward logistical issues directly.
Every issue that can be settled by agreement is one less issue that may require:
Professional help should be used where it adds value, not simply because a divorce has been filed.
Pick the Issues That Actually Matter
Not every disagreement deserves the same amount of time and money.
Before litigating a relatively small financial issue, compare:
The value of the issue
with
The likely cost of fighting about it.
The principle may feel important, but the legal fees can quickly exceed the amount actually in dispute.
Choose the Right Level of Support
Not every uncontested divorce requires full traditional attorney representation.
For qualifying New York cases, different levels of assistance may be appropriate.
Express Divorce — $799
Document preparation for people who want to handle the filing themselves.
Express Divorce Plus — $1,999
Document preparation, filing assistance, signature coordination, support, and status tracking.
Attorney Review — $2,999
For qualifying uncontested divorces without minor children where attorney review is desired.
Family Package — $4,999
For qualifying uncontested divorces involving children.
Full Attorney-Led Uncontested Divorce — $7,999
For qualifying clients who want attorney oversight through the uncontested process.
Selecting the appropriate level of help can avoid paying for services you do not need while still providing professional support where it matters.
Limit Attorney Involvement When Appropriate
Some spouses do not need a lawyer for every aspect of the divorce but still benefit from legal review of particular issues.
Examples include:
A defined scope can sometimes be more efficient than open-ended hourly representation.
Avoid Unnecessary Court Proceedings
Court becomes expensive because each additional proceeding can generate preparation, attorney appearances, follow-up work, and further disputes.
Where settlement is realistic, resolving issues through negotiation may be more efficient than asking the court to decide them.
That does not mean avoiding court when judicial intervention is necessary.
It means distinguishing between disputes that genuinely require a judge and disputes that can be resolved another way.
Respond Promptly
Delays can create additional work.
Promptly answering requests for information, reviewing drafts, signing documents, and providing records helps reduce:
NEW YORK COURT FILING FEES
There is no need for a 50-state filing-fee comparison when the divorce is being filed in New York.
For a standard New York uncontested matrimonial action:
Index Number
$210
Later Uncontested Matrimonial Filing Fees
$125
Basic Court Filing Total
At least $335
Additional fees may apply depending on the case.
Examples may include:
Fee-waiver procedures may be available for qualifying individuals who cannot afford court costs.
WHICH DIVORCE SERVICE IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
DIY DIVORCE
Best suited to someone who:
DIY is generally the lowest-cost route, but it places responsibility for accuracy and procedure on the parties.
EXPRESS DIVORCE — $799
Best suited to someone who:
Best For:
Paperwork help without full-service filing assistance
EXPRESS DIVORCE PLUS — $1,999
Best suited to someone who:
Best For:
People who want help managing the uncontested process without full attorney representation
ATTORNEY REVIEW — $2,999
Best suited to qualifying uncontested matters without minor children where the spouses are generally agreed but one client wants attorney review and legal guidance before finalizing the divorce.
Best For:
Agreement reached, but legal review desired
FAMILY PACKAGE — $4,999
Best suited to qualifying uncontested matters involving children.
The service may include review of:
Best For:
Parents who are agreed but want attorney-assisted review
FULL ATTORNEY-LED UNCONTESTED DIVORCE — $7,999
Best suited to qualifying clients who want an attorney to oversee the uncontested process from beginning through final judgment.
Best For:
People who want full professional involvement without contested litigation
TRADITIONAL ATTORNEY REPRESENTATION
Best suited to cases involving:
Traditional representation is more expensive because the attorney is managing disputed legal issues rather than simply completing an uncontested divorce.
REALISTIC NEW YORK COST EXAMPLES
Example 1 — Straightforward Uncontested Divorce
Situation
The spouses:
Possible Express Divorce Cost
Express Divorce: $799
Basic court filing fees: $335
Estimated Starting Cost:
$1,134, plus any applicable third-party expenses.
This example assumes the parties remain uncontested and no additional legal work becomes necessary.
Example 2 — Uncontested Divorce With Filing Support
The spouses:
Possible Express Divorce Cost
Express Divorce Plus: $1,999
Basic court filing fees: $335
Estimated Starting Cost:
$2,334, plus applicable third-party expenses.
Example 3 — Uncontested Divorce With Children
Situation
The parents:
Possible Express Divorce Cost
Family Package: $4,999
Basic court filing fees: $335
Estimated Starting Cost:
$5,334, plus applicable third-party expenses.
This assumes the matter remains uncontested and does not require litigation or extraordinary court involvement.
Example 4 — Attorney-Led Uncontested Divorce
Situation
The parties are agreed, but one client wants an attorney to oversee the uncontested process.
Possible Express Divorce Cost
Full Attorney-Led Uncontested Divorce: $7,999
Basic court filing fees: $335
Estimated Starting Cost:
$8,334, plus applicable third-party expenses.
This is fundamentally different from contested hourly litigation because the parties have already resolved the major issues.
WHY WE DO NOT PROMISE A SPECIFIC “SAVINGS” NUMBER
A meaningful comparison should not claim that every client will save a specific percentage or dollar amount.
Traditional attorney costs vary enormously depending on:
A $799 or $1,999 uncontested service should therefore not be compared to an arbitrary national litigation number as though every case would otherwise cost the same.
The more useful comparison is simple:
If your case is already uncontested, you may not need to pay for a litigation model designed to resolve disputes you do not have.
THE MOST IMPORTANT COST SAVING
The greatest financial advantage often comes from preserving agreement.
Once a case becomes contested, costs can expand because additional work becomes necessary.
That may include:
The most predictable divorce is usually the one with the clearest agreement and the right level of professional support.
CALCULATE YOUR NEW YORK DIVORCE COST
PAYMENT OPTIONS AND TIMING
Attorney Retainers
Traditional matrimonial attorneys often require an advance retainer before beginning work.
The retainer is generally deposited and then applied against fees as legal work is performed. If the matter requires more work than the initial retainer covers, the attorney may require the account to be replenished.
The retainer is not necessarily the total cost of the case.
Before signing an engagement agreement, ask:
Flat-Fee Divorce Services
Flat-fee arrangements can provide greater cost predictability for qualifying uncontested matters.
A flat fee usually covers a defined scope of work rather than every possible event that could arise during the divorce.
It is important to understand exactly what is included.
Court filing fees, process service, experts, retirement orders, contested proceedings, and unusual court requirements may be separate.
Payment Plans
Some legal practices and divorce services may offer installment arrangements or other payment options.
Availability depends on the provider and the particular service selected.
Before relying on a payment plan, confirm:
Borrowing to Pay Divorce Costs
Some people use personal loans, lines of credit, or other borrowing to fund legal expenses.
Borrowing can increase the overall cost because of interest and repayment obligations.
If financing is necessary, consider:
Divorce financing should be evaluated as part of the broader financial picture, not simply as a way to cover an immediate legal bill.
Family Assistance
Family members sometimes help with legal or court expenses.
If money is being advanced as a loan rather than a gift, documenting the arrangement can help avoid later disagreement about whether repayment is expected.
USE THE NEW YORK DIVORCE COST CALCULATOR
Our Divorce Cost Calculator is designed to give you a clearer picture of the expenses that may apply to your case.
Instead of relying on a national average, the calculator focuses on factors that actually affect the cost of a New York divorce.
You may be asked about:
The calculator can then identify likely cost categories such as:
The purpose is not to promise an exact final number.
It is to help you understand what may drive the cost of your particular divorce and which level of service is likely to fit the case.
CALCULATE YOUR NEW YORK DIVORCE COST
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How Much Does a Divorce Cost in New York?
There is no single average that accurately predicts what every divorce will cost.
A fully agreed uncontested divorce may involve primarily court fees and document-preparation costs.
A contested divorce can become substantially more expensive because it may require attorney negotiations, discovery, motions, court appearances, experts, or trial.
The most important cost factor is usually the amount of unresolved work.
What Are the Basic New York Court Filing Fees?
For a standard uncontested matrimonial action, basic court filing fees are generally at least $335.
That ordinarily consists of:
Additional costs may apply depending on the case.
How Much Does Express Divorce Cost?
Current qualifying New York uncontested-divorce options include:
Court fees and third-party expenses are separate unless expressly included.
What Is the Least Expensive Way to Get Divorced?
The lowest-cost approach is generally a fully DIY uncontested divorce where the spouses have already resolved every necessary issue and are comfortable preparing and filing the documents themselves.
For people who want help with the paperwork but do not need full traditional representation, a document-preparation service may provide a middle ground.
The lowest initial price is not always the best choice if the case involves issues that require legal advice.
Can an Online Divorce Service Save Money?
Potentially, yes.
If the case is genuinely uncontested, an online or guided service can reduce the amount of attorney time needed for routine document preparation and filing.
But savings vary by case.
It is more accurate to compare the services actually needed than to promise a fixed dollar or percentage savings.
What Additional Costs Should I Expect?
Depending on the case, additional expenses may include:
Not every divorce involves all of these costs.
Can I Get a Court-Fee Waiver in New York?
Possibly.
New York provides procedures for individuals who cannot afford court fees to request permission to proceed without paying some or all of those costs.
Eligibility depends on the applicant’s financial circumstances and the court’s determination.
How Can I Reduce Divorce Costs?
The most effective ways are generally to:
When Should I Hire an Attorney?
Attorney involvement is particularly important when:
THE BOTTOM LINE
The cost of divorce is not determined by one number on a price list.
It depends on:
The clearest way to control divorce costs is to understand the scope of the case before choosing the level of help.
CALCULATE YOUR NEW YORK DIVORCE COST
When spouses disagree, attorney time, negotiations, discovery, motions, and court appearances can make legal costs difficult to predict.
When spouses have already reached agreement, the work can be more clearly defined.
$25k-$30k
EXPRESS DIVORCE
$799 – $7,999
Express Divorce was created to make New York uncontested divorce easier to understand and easier to complete.
From preparing your paperwork to helping with filing and signatures, our team provides the level of support you choose — with attorney review and attorney-led options available when you want more guidance.
We prepare your New York uncontested-divorce paperwork and provide clear filing instructions. You handle the filing with the court.
Get help with your New York divorce paperwork, court filing, spouse signatures, and the steps needed to move your uncontested divorce forward.
We handle your entire uncontested divorce process from start to finish, including paperwork preparation, filing, and court coordination so you don’t have to manage any steps on your own.
Express Divorce helps New Yorkers move through an uncontested divorce with clear steps, professional document preparation, and the level of support that fits their needs.
From filing assistance to attorney-reviewed and attorney-led options, the goal is simple: make the legal process easier when you and your spouse have already reached agreement.
