The simple answer is that a divorce in Utah will cost as much as you and your spouse make it cost.
However, I can give you a better idea of what you will spend depending on your situation.
Summary of Utah Divorce Costs
- Filing fee – The Court’s filing fee is $318.
- Uncontested divorce – On average firms will charge $999 - $2000, but it can be as low as $850.
- Contested divorce – These divorces are billed at an hourly rate. The average cost is $2000 - $6,000.
The Cost of an Uncontested Divorce in Utah
The cheapest route is what we call an uncontested divorce. This means that both spouses are in agreement as to how to divide the property and the custody of the children if any.
Basically, you are just hiring an attorney to prepare the paperwork.
As far as I know, our rates are the lowest at $450.
Additionally, you will pay $318 to the Court for the filing fee.
Most law firms charge $999 for uncontested divorces but I have seen some charge as much as $2,000. There is no reason to pay more than $450. It takes about 2.5 hours for a good divorce attorney to meet with the client and prepare and file all of the necessary paperwork.
At $200 per hour, that’s $500.
So you can see why anyone who pays more than $500 to his or her attorney for an uncontested divorce has overpaid. Of course, there are some exceptions.
For example, your attorney may have spent a lot of time negotiating the final settlement. To keep your fees as low as possible, try to reach an agreement with your spouse before you hire an attorney.
The Cost of a Contested Divorce in Utah
A contested divorce is billed at an hourly rate.
The hourly rates for the attorneys in our law firm range from $180 to $250 per hour, depending on the level of experience for the particular attorney.
Even at $180, you can see how the bill would get very expensive very fast.
The average contested divorce costs between $2,000 and $6,000. In most cases, each spouse should expect to spend about $3,000 in attorney fees.
Carr | Woodall is Affordable
If you are looking for a divorce lawyer in South Jordan, or anywhere along the Wasatch front, you have come to the right place.
We work with each of our clients to keep the bills as low as possible.
You have enough to worry about as it is.
Furthermore, in addition to attorney fees, we understand that in most divorces, the couple has separated. Now, there are two households to support on the same income that used to support only one household. This puts a substantial strain on finances.
The rule of thumb is that the faster you can get divorced, the cheaper it will be.