Family Law Cost Calculators

Child support is calculated using your state's official formula. Most states use the Income Shares model, which combines both parents' incomes and divides responsibility proportionally. Texas and others use Percentage of Income: 20% for one child, 25% for two, up to 40% for five or more. Delaware, Hawaii, and Montana use the Melson Formula. Our calculator applies the correct model automatically based on your state selection.

According to the US Census Bureau, parents who received child support got about $342 a month on average, out of about $533 due. Actual amounts vary significantly by state, income level, and number of children. Texas applies 20% for one child to net resources up to $11,700 a month. New York applies 17% for one child to combined parental income up to $193,000 a year.

Alimony duration depends on your state and the length of the marriage. Massachusetts caps alimony at 50% of marriage length for marriages under 5 years, up to permanent for marriages over 20 years. Texas limits spousal maintenance to 5 years for marriages of 10 to 20 years. Florida abolished permanent alimony in 2023; durational alimony is limited to 50% of the marriage length under 10 years, 60% for 10 to 20 years and 75% for 20 years or more.

The average US divorce costs $15,000 to $30,000 when contested, or $1,500 to $5,000 for an uncontested divorce. Court filing fees alone range from $100 to $500 depending on state. Attorney fees typically run $250 to $500 per hour. Mediation costs $3,000 to $8,000 on average and is often significantly less expensive than full litigation.

No state requires an attorney for divorce. You can file a pro se (self-represented) divorce, especially for uncontested cases with no minor children or complex assets. For cases involving child custody, significant assets, retirement accounts, or disagreements on support, an attorney helps protect your rights and avoid costly mistakes that are difficult to undo later.

Yes, in every state. Either parent can request modification when there is a substantial change in circumstances, typically defined as an income change of 10 to 15 percent or more, a change in custody arrangement, or a child becoming ineligible for support through age or emancipation. The parent requesting the change must file a formal motion with the court. Informal agreements between parents do not change the legal obligation.

Remarriage of the recipient typically terminates alimony in most states, either automatically or upon the payer's motion. Remarriage of the paying spouse generally does not reduce alimony, though it may be considered in modification hearings. Child support is not affected by either parent's remarriage, though a new spouse's income may be considered indirectly in some states when calculating parental resources.

Legal separation allows a court to divide assets, establish support, and set custody arrangements while the marriage remains legally intact. Couples may choose separation for religious reasons, to maintain health insurance coverage through a spouse's employer, or to satisfy residency requirements before filing for divorce. In most states, all financial and custody agreements reached during legal separation can be incorporated directly into a divorce decree later.

Custody arrangement directly affects child support calculations in most states. The more overnights the paying parent has, the lower the support obligation, because that parent is directly providing housing and care during those nights. In Income Shares states, a parenting time adjustment typically applies once the paying parent has more than 92 overnights per year. Equal 50/50 custody can significantly reduce or even eliminate support if incomes are similar.

A Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) is a court order that divides retirement accounts such as 401(k) plans and pensions between divorcing spouses without triggering early withdrawal penalties or taxes. A 401(k) or pension cannot be split without one; IRAs are divided by a simpler transfer under the divorce decree. QDROs must be drafted by a specialist and approved by both the court and the plan administrator. They add $500 to $1,500 to divorce costs but are essential when significant retirement assets are involved.