The cost of a divorce can be one of the biggest barriers for couples making the break from their marriage. With any divorce, it’s possible fees can accumulate easily, with various court and legal advice costs to pay. Depending on where you live, the prices and process will differ. We look at the sometimes surprising divorce costs and facts in a cross-section of countries…
USA
The USA stands as one of the countries with highest divorce rates in the world. Fees for filing for a divorce in the US vary from state to state but the average cost is around $15,000 per person. These fees can escalate significantly, with contributing factors such as whether you settle in court, if you have children and how long it takes for the divorce to be processed. Court filing costs are around $300, lawyer fees start at $1000 and when a divorce is contested this can move to $2,500. As the cost is so high, you should click here to learn what you need to know before you hire a divorce attorney.
France
In France, the typical amount you will pay for divorce is around £535 at a minimum, but this can rise to around £10,715 with legal fees on top. If assets are involved, the solicitor’s fees are 1% of the overall value of these assets. Non-resident parents will have to make a contribution to the living costs of a child until he or she is 18 years old, even if they don’t earn as much as the parent who lives with the child.
UK
In the UK, you can expect to pay a court application fee for a divorce which is around £593, along with legal expert fees of around £2,679. If your divorce includes various properties, or if there’s a business to consider in the spitting or financial needs, fees will rise concurrently with these factors.
Mexico
In Mexico, getting a divorce means you will have to have been married for at least a year beforehand. Average costs are approximately $1,044, inclusive of legal fees. The most common approach is to gain a ‘mutual content’ costing up to 15,000 pesos.
Australia
The average cost for a divorce in Australia is around £509, shifting to £5,631 when other legal costs are added on. According to the Separation Guide, the cost of an average divorce in Australia ranges from $50,000 and $100,000. An alternative route is a Guided Separation which costs approximately $4000 per person.
India
The cost of a divorce in India varies depending on which area you are in. For example, legal divorce specialists in Bangalore, Mumbai will typically charge a higher rate than those on Kochi and Chennai. If you are seeking a mutual consent divorce in India, then you expect to pay in the region of 1INR 5,000 and INR 30,000. Some highly experienced lawyers can set their fees at INR 30,000 per hearing.
Japan
In Japan, the least expensive option is to gain a mutual consent divorce which can be obtained if one of the parties is Japanese. In these cases, there is no charge for the divorce but you will have to pay around 300- 350 yen each for a copy of the divorce certificate. Some couples even opt for a divorce ceremony, paying around 55,000 yen to celebrate the end of their marriage.
Conclusion
There are some commonalities in how divorce operates in various countries across the world. The key takeaway is that with all countries, the longer and more complex a case is, the higher the fees will probably be. Sometimes, there is little you can do about your circumstances, but the more you can agree on with your ex-spouse, the less likely you are to have to pay the high end of divorce costs.
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