A divorce in Utah costs anywhere from about $500 for a do-it-yourself uncontested case to $25,000 or more per spouse for a contested case with custody and financial disputes. The court filing fee is $350. Mandatory classes for parents add about $65. Attorney fees are the variable: a flat-fee uncontested divorce with a lawyer typically runs $1,500 to $4,000, while a contested divorce billed hourly commonly lands between $10,000 and $25,000 per side, and high-conflict custody cases can exceed that.

Those are the 2026 numbers. Here is where the money goes and what you can do to keep the total down.

Court costs: the fixed part

Filing fee: $350. The Utah Courts fee schedule, effective May 6, 2026, sets the fee for a divorce petition at $350. If your spouse files a counterclaim, that is another $130. A motion for temporary orders during separation is $35. A later petition to modify the decree costs $100.

Fee waiver. If you cannot afford the filing fee, you can file an affidavit of indigency. Under Utah Code 78A-2-302, the court must find you indigent if your household income is at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level or you receive SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, or TANF benefits. The judge can waive all, some, or none of the fees. The fee waiver page explains the process. Waivable costs include the filing fee, class fees, and in-state sheriff service. Publication costs and out-of-state service are not waivable.

Mandatory classes: about $65 total per parent. Parents of minor children must complete two courses. The divorce education (parenting) course is $35. The divorce orientation course is $30, or $15 if you attend live within 30 days of filing or being served. The petitioner must finish within 60 days of filing; the respondent within 30 days of being served. Details are on the Utah Courts divorce education page and our own Utah divorce education classes guide.

Service of process. Having a sheriff or process server deliver the papers typically runs $30 to $100. If your spouse signs an acceptance of service, this cost is zero.

Document preparation. The old OCAP system has been retired and replaced by the courts’ MyPaperwork tool, which generates divorce forms online. Check the current fee on the MyPaperwork page; older articles quoting a $20 OCAP fee are out of date.

Attorney fees: the variable part

Attorney fees are the single largest cost in most Utah divorces, and they scale with conflict.

Hourly rates. According to Clio’s 2026 Legal Trends data, the average hourly rate for a Utah family law attorney is about $317, with overall Utah lawyer rates averaging about $337. Experienced divorce litigators in Salt Lake County and Utah County often charge more. Paralegal time is billed at a lower rate.

Retainers. Most firms require an upfront retainer that is billed against. Retainers of $2,500 to $5,000 are common for a standard contested case. Complex cases involving businesses, high assets, or contested custody may require $10,000 or more up front.

Flat fees. For uncontested divorces, many firms, including CoilLaw, offer a flat fee that covers drafting the petition, stipulation, financial declarations, and decree. This is usually the most cost-effective route when both spouses agree on the terms. Expect $1,500 to $4,000 depending on whether there are children and how many assets need to be addressed.

Typical total cost by type of divorce

Uncontested, no attorney: $500 to $800. Filing fee, classes if you have children, and document preparation. Appropriate only for very simple cases with full agreement and no significant assets. Our sister company, SimpleEnding, handles online uncontested divorces for Utah couples in this category.

Uncontested with an attorney: $2,000 to $5,000. Flat-fee representation plus court costs. Recommended whenever there are children, a house, retirement accounts, or any term you want drafted to hold up.

Contested, settled before trial: $8,000 to $20,000 per spouse. Most contested Utah divorces resolve at mediation. Cost depends on how much discovery is done and how many hearings are needed before the parties reach agreement.

Contested through trial: $20,000 to $50,000 or more per spouse. Trials require preparation, expert witnesses, and multiple court days. High-conflict custody trials are the most expensive category.

These ranges are estimates based on what we see in practice and on published industry data. Your actual cost depends on your spouse as much as on you.

What drives the cost up

Custody disputes. A contested custody case may require a custody evaluation under Utah Code of Judicial Administration Rule 4-903, which typically costs $5,000 to $10,000 and is apportioned between the parties. A guardian ad litem for the children adds more. Since May 2026, Utah’s custody evaluation rules have changed; see Utah Custody Evaluations in 2026.

Business and asset valuation. If one spouse owns a business or professional practice, a valuation expert typically charges $5,000 to $25,000. A forensic accountant to trace hidden or commingled assets can cost as much again.

Discovery. Subpoenas, depositions, and document production are billed hourly. A spouse who refuses to disclose finances forces the other side to spend money finding them.

Temporary orders. Fighting over who pays what during the case adds hearings, and each hearing adds fees.

Mediation. Utah requires at least one good-faith mediation session in every contested divorce under Utah Code 81-4-403. Private mediators charge $150 to $300 per hour, split between the parties. The court’s divorce mediation program offers reduced-cost and pro bono mediators for qualifying parties. Mediation costs money, but it almost always saves more than it costs.

How to keep your divorce cost down

Agree on as much as possible before you file. Every issue you resolve yourselves is an issue your lawyers do not bill for. Exchange financial documents voluntarily and completely. Use email rather than phone calls for routine questions to your attorney. Take mediation seriously and come prepared to settle. Avoid filing motions over minor issues. And choose the right process for your case: a couple who agrees on everything does not need a litigator, and a couple fighting over custody should not try to save money with online forms.

For a step-by-step walkthrough of what to do first, read Divorce Advice for Utah: The First Ten Things to Do. If your priority is speed, see How to Get a Quick Divorce in Utah.

Frequently asked questions

Can the court make my spouse pay my attorney fees?

Yes, in some situations. Utah courts can order one spouse to contribute to the other’s fees during the case based on need and ability to pay, and can award fees to a party who has to enforce an order the other spouse violated. A fee award is not guaranteed and rarely covers the full amount.

How much does a divorce lawyer cost for an initial consultation?

It varies by firm. Some offer free consultations, others charge a reduced flat rate for the first meeting. Ask when you call.

Is a flat-fee divorce really cheaper?

For an uncontested case, almost always. A flat fee gives you a known cost and covers the full document set. If the case turns contested, most firms convert to hourly billing.

How long does a Utah divorce take?

The minimum is 30 days after filing because of Utah’s waiting period. Uncontested cases often finish in one to three months. Contested cases commonly take six to eighteen months. Time and cost move together.

Get a realistic estimate for your case

The honest answer to “how much will my divorce cost” is that it depends on how much you and your spouse disagree, and on how efficiently the disagreement gets resolved. CoilLaw offers flat-fee uncontested divorces and hourly representation in contested cases throughout Utah. Contact us for a consultation and we will tell you which path fits your situation and what it is likely to cost.