An uncontested divorce in Louisiana will cost approximately from $350 to $1000 dollars. If your divorce is contested and there are many issues to resolve, you can expect a cost ranging from $14,700 to $22,000 or more. The cost can vary based on factors such as attorney fees, court filing fees, and individual circumstances.
Divorce Prices in Louisiana
The average price for a divorce in Louisiana is about $5,000. The total expenses a couple needs to cover during the dissolution of marriage usually consist of court fees, payment for the services of specialists involved, parenting classes, if applicable, etc. To answer the question “How much is a divorce in Louisiana?” it is necessary to consider several factors, particularly whether the case is contested or not.
How Much Does an Uncontested Divorce Cost in Louisiana
Uncontested divorce in Louisiana can cost spouses from $300-$400 to $1,500, on average. If you and your spouse have decided on all issues before initiating the divorce process, you are not required to hire lawyers to represent you in court, mediators to help resolve disputes, or other experts.
Most often, if you file for an uncontested no-fault divorce in Louisiana, you will need to pay only court fees. If you wonder, “How much is court cost in Louisiana?”, mind that it will depend on the parish where you submit the forms to the clerk’s office and the method you choose to serve the other party; on average, it is from $200 to $400.
If you decide to hire an attorney to deal with the divorce paperwork, the expenses can significantly increase. Alternatively, using the online service to prepare your documents for an uncontested case is a more cost-effective solution.
How Much Does a Contested Divorce Cost in Louisiana
The average cost of a contested divorce in Louisiana is from $10,000 to $20,000; in complicated cases with long court litigation, it can even reach $50,000. The exact answer to the question “How much does it cost to get a divorce in Louisiana if the case is contested?” will depend on which specialists will be involved in the proceedings and when a couple will reach an agreement or the court will make a final decision for them.
Filing for a contested fault divorce in Louisiana is the most expensive way to end a marriage since:
- Spouses will have to hire an attorney to prepare the papers, represent them during court hearings, collect and present to the court the evidence that the actions of one spouse led to the breakup of marital relations, etc.
- If a couple has many assets and liabilities to divide, they usually need to involve appraisers to determine the property’s actual value and ensure its fair distribution.
- If spouses cannot agree on child custody, visitation, and support, they may have to hire experts in child-related issues, which will also increase expenses on divorce.
How Much Does a Divorce Lawyer Cost in Louisiana
The average cost of a divorce lawyer in Louisiana is from $200 to $350 per hour. Since legal services are most often paid on an hourly basis, it is difficult to predict how much the divorce attorney’s help will cost in your particular case.
It depends on the number of unresolved issues between spouses, the specialist’s experience in the field, their location of practice, the scope of representation required, etc.
If you hire a lawyer only to prepare the divorce papers, the total expenses will be several thousand dollars on average. However, if the case is very complicated and you need legal help throughout the divorce process, it will likely result in high overall costs.
How Much Does It Cost to File for Divorce in Louisiana
To file for divorce in Louisiana, you must pay between $200 and $400. Divorce filing fees in Louisiana vary depending on the parish. For example, if you reside in St. Tammany Parish, it’s necessary to spend approximately $220 when submitting the documents to the county clerk’s office. In Orleans Parish, the cost to file divorce papers will be more than $300.
It is possible to reduce court costs, particularly for serving a respondent, if the other party cooperates and signs an Acceptance of Service. If you cannot afford the court expenses, you can file In Forma Pauperis Affidavit, which may allow you to avoid paying the filing fee. To show the court that you face financial hardship, you will need to provide information about your income, expenses, assets, etc.
What Affects the Cost of Divorce?
Divorce cost in Louisiana is affected by several factors, such as:
- the way you prepare the forms. Completing forms on your own is the cheapest but risky option due to potential mistakes in the paperwork. Hiring lawyers, on the other hand, can be expensive, and their busy schedules can delay the document preparation process. If your case is uncontested, you can also use an online divorce service, which will provide a set of filled-out forms for your specific case at a fixed price and within short deadlines.
- the parish where you file for divorce. Court filing fees usually range from $200 to $400.
- the method of serving your spouse. Certified mail services cost $30 on average, while private process servers charge from $50 for their work.
- whether you hire lawyers or additional experts, such as evaluators, mediators, specialists in children’s issues, etc. Most often, they are needed in contested cases when a couple cannot agree on divorce terms.
- whether you have children. If your kids are under 18, you will likely need to pay for parenting classes.
To understand how expensive a divorce will be, you need to analyze all the circumstances of your case. You can get a cheap divorce in Louisiana if you file for an uncontested dissolution of marriage and do not involve lawyers. If you and your spouse have resolved all issues on child custody, maintenance, and property division, you can act completely independently.
You can prepare the necessary forms on your own, which may be quite time-consuming, or by using our online service. It is a budget-friendly tool that will save you time and help you get a set of ready-to-file documents in a few days after you complete an online questionnaire about your divorce case.
Toby Releya is a seasoned family law expert, who has written hundreds of articles about divorce. As an avid researcher with experience in law analysis, Toby offers readers a unique perspective on legal matters surrounding the divorce process. When not delving into the intricacies of family law, Toby enjoys exploring the great outdoors, visiting national parks across the US, and photographing his adventures on the go.
