Divorce in NJ—Cost, Preparation, and Execution
Getting divorced in New Jersey can be stressful and expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Find out about the filing procedure, necessary divorce papers, divorce types, and potential duration to handle the process smoothly and affordably.
How much does a divorce in NJ cost? It depends on the choices you make. Stick around and let DoNotPay provide detailed explanations in this article!
How Much Does a Divorce Cost in NJ?
The cost of a divorce in NJ depends on the criteria presented in the table below:
| Factors Affecting a Divorce in NJ Cost | Consider This |
|---|---|
| Type of divorce | File for an uncontested divorce with the court to lower the total cost of divorce. It means that you and your spouse should:
|
| Use of services | While hiring a lawyer to handle your divorce case from the beginning might be the easiest option, it’s likely the most expensive one. If you’d like to keep your legal expenses in check, you might consider:
|
| Use of additional assistance | You might also need to hire the following experts to deal with certain problems:
Using these services will drive up the cost of divorce |
How Much Do Divorce Lawyers in NJ Charge?
The average hourly rate of a divorce lawyer in New Jersey goes from $200 to $500. The price may vary depending on the lawyer’s experience and the location of the legal office.
Keep in mind that most attorneys require you to pay a retainer between $2,500 to $15,000 upfront. This requested sum is based on:
- The hourly rate—Some lawyers charge different hourly rates for different services they provide
- The number of hours spent on your case—A lawyer estimates how many hours they’ll have to put in for your divorce case and multiplies that number by their hourly rate
- Additional necessary costs—While some attorneys include administrative expenses and court filing fees in their retainers, others might bill these costs separately
On average, you could expect to pay $12,000 for a divorce lawyer in NJ. The total cost of services depends on:
- How complicated your case is—The cost will be higher if you and your spouse:
- Have significant property, income, or debts
- Argue about different divorce aspects
- What matters you authorize your attorney to negotiate—Since a lawyer charges you per hour, make sure they represent you only regarding aspects you cannot deal with alone and that are of great value
The Average Cost of Divorce in NJ
If you hire an attorney, the average cost of divorce in NJ is:
- $4,500–$5,000 when there are no contested—i.e., argued over—issues
- $6,500–$7,500 for one contested issue or dispute
- $11,000–$13,000 if you and your spouse argue about two and more issues
- $15,000–$24,500 if the case goes to trial
Keep in mind that you don’t need to appoint an attorney if you and your spouse agree on everything. You can complete and file the required paperwork alone and thus save lots of money.
How Much Are NJ Divorce Filing Fees?
Regardless of whether you apply for a low-cost divorce alone or consult a lawyer or some other expert, you’ll need to settle the following required court fees:
- $300 when filing for a divorce without children
- $325 if the divorce involves minor children
If you cannot afford to pay the above-listed fees, you should apply for a fee waiver.
Keep in mind that you might also need to pay extra for the sheriff’s office to serve the papers to your spouse.
You can reduce additional divorce costs by choosing pocket-friendly yet efficient ways to prepare part of the necessary documentation.
to get help with a divorce settlement agreement. The document needs to be presented to the judge for approval, so you need to make sure that it’s created correctly!
DoNotPay Creates Reliable Divorce Settlement Agreements
We know state laws and local requirements and can help you generate a divorce settlement agreement tailored to your needs. You won’t need to spend:
- Lots of money on having a lawyer draw up the document
- Precious hours looking for, adjusting, and correcting unreliable online templates
and:
- Go for our Divorce Settlement Agreement product
- Enter info about the terms you and your spouse settled upon
- Choose whether you want to get the agreement notarized
Get Familiar With Crucial Divorce Aspects To Know What To Expect
To protect yourself in a divorce, you should collect as much information in advance as possible.
DoNotPay can assist you as we keep publishing helpful articles and providing useful solutions. Take a look at some of the questions we offer answers to:
- What’s alimony?
- What’s a friendly divorce?
- Can I get a quickie divorce?
- What can I expect in a divorce?
- Do I need mediation in divorce?
- What’s the waiting period for divorce?
- Can I get a divorce without any money?
- What’s the easiest state to get divorced in?
- What’s a divorce from bed and board in NJ?
- How can I tell our kids we’re getting divorced?
- What reasons should I state when filing for divorce?
- Can I get divorced online and without going to court?
- How can I file for divorce if my spouse is out of state?
- What should I do to avoid upsetting my children in a divorce?
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