What is the total cost of a mediated divorce/legal separation?
Although the total cost can vary, most parties can expect to pay anywhere from $1,400-$2,500 for the mediation, plus any legal fees for mediation consultation, document preparation and filing of documents, which are not included. If you are wanting ongoing legal consultation from an outside attorney before, during and/or after the mediation process, expect to pay an hourly consultation rate of approximately $200-400 dollars. Divorces obtained through traditional representation where each party hires their own attorney, will expect to pay a large initial retainer fee (usually $1,000 and up), along with the hourly rate most attorneys will charge of anywhere between $250-400 dollars. In traditional representation, it is not unusual for each party to pay between $30,000 and $50,000 to finalize a divorce.
