Court filing fee (mostly provincial; federal Central Registry component is $10)
$118-$704, varies by province (e.g. Ontario ~$704, Quebec joint application ~$118)
Marriage certificate copy
$22-$75 (varies by province)
Process server
$50-$200
Court clerk fees
$50-$200
Certificate of divorce
Included in filing
Lawyer Fees
Service
Hourly Rate
Typical Total
Junior lawyer
$200-$350/hour
Varies
Senior family lawyer
$350-$600/hour
Varies
Partner at large firm
$500-$900/hour
Varies
Uncontested divorce (flat fee)
N/A
$2,000-$5,000
Contested divorce (estimate)
$350-$500/hour
$15,000-$50,000+
Retainer (upfront deposit)
N/A
$3,000-$10,000
Mediation Costs
Service
Cost
Mediator (per session)
$200-$500/hour
Typical sessions needed
3-8 sessions
Total mediation cost (shared)
$3,000-$7,000
Each person’s share
$1,500-$3,500
Independent legal advice (recommended)
$500-$1,500 each
Other Professional Fees
Professional
Cost
When Needed
Property appraiser
$300-$500
Valuing the family home
Business valuator
$5,000-$25,000
If a spouse owns a business
Pension valuator
$500-$2,000
Dividing workplace pensions
Forensic accountant
$5,000-$30,000
Hidden assets or complex finances
Child custody assessor
$5,000-$15,000
Contested custody
Parenting coordinator
$200-$350/hour
Ongoing parenting disputes
Uncontested vs Contested Divorce
Factor
Uncontested
Contested
Agreement on division
Both agree
One or both disagree
Cost per person
$2,000-$5,000
$15,000-$200,000+
Timeline
4-6 months
1-4+ years
Court appearances
Minimal/none
Multiple
Emotional toll
Lower
Very high
Children’s impact
Less disruptive
More stressful
Control over outcome
You decide terms
Judge decides
Divorce Process Options
1. Online/DIY Divorce
Feature
Details
Cost
$500-$1,500
Best for
No children, minimal assets, both agree
Services included
Document preparation, filing instructions
Legal advice
Not included (get independent advice)
Risks
Mistakes in forms, missing entitlements
2. Mediation
Feature
Details
Cost
$3,000-$7,000 (shared)
Best for
Couples who can communicate, moderate complexity
Process
Neutral mediator helps negotiate agreement
Binding?
Not until signed and filed with court
Independent lawyers
Each person should also get legal advice
Success rate
~70-80% reach agreement
3. Collaborative Divorce
Feature
Details
Cost
$5,000-$15,000 per person
Best for
Complex finances, desire to avoid court
Process
Each person has a collaborative lawyer; 4-way meetings
Unique feature
If it fails, both lawyers must withdraw
Other professionals
Financial specialist, divorce coach included
4. Litigation (Contested Court)
Feature
Details
Cost
$15,000-$200,000+ per person
Best for
When agreement is impossible, abuse situations
Process
Court hearings, discoveries, trial
Timeline
1-4+ years
Decision-maker
Judge imposes outcome
Appeal possible
Yes, adding further cost
What Gets Divided in Divorce
Property Division
Province Type
Rule
Most provinces
Equal division of net family property
Quebec
Patrimoine familial (family patrimony)
BC
Equal division of family property
Assets Typically Divided
Asset
How Divided
Family home
50/50 equity split (usually)
Savings and investments
50/50 of growth during marriage
Pensions
Divided based on years married
RRSPs/TFSAs
Growth during marriage divided
Vehicles
Value at separation
Business
Value acquired during marriage
Debts
Shared proportionally
Not Typically Divided
Asset
Why
Inheritance (kept separate)
Usually excluded unless commingled
Pre-marriage assets
Value at marriage date excluded
Gifts from third parties
Usually excluded
Personal injury settlements
Often excluded
Child-Related Costs
Child Support (Federal Guidelines)
Payor Income
1 Child
2 Children
3 Children
$40,000
$372/mo
$594/mo
$765/mo
$60,000
$553/mo
$883/mo
$1,131/mo
$80,000
$720/mo
$1,146/mo
$1,429/mo
$100,000
$885/mo
$1,382/mo
$1,720/mo
$150,000
$1,232/mo
$1,840/mo
$2,242/mo
Based on the pre-October 2025 Federal Child Support Guidelines tables. The federal tables were updated effective October 1, 2025 (the first update since 2017, now using 2023 tax rules) — amounts for lower-income payors changed the most (the self-support floor moved from $12,000 to $16,000), while amounts above roughly $45,000 income changed only modestly (about 1–2%). Use the Department of Justice’s Child Support Table Look-up for current figures rather than relying on this table alone. Actual amounts also vary by province and parenting arrangement.
Spousal Support
Factor
Details
Not guaranteed
Based on need, ability to pay, marriage length
Duration
Short marriages: 6 months to 3 years. Long: indefinite
Amount
Typically 30-50% of income difference
Tax treatment
Taxable to recipient, deductible for payor
Modification
Can change if circumstances change
Financial Impact of Divorce
Typical Costs Beyond Legal Fees
Expense
Cost
Moving/new housing deposit
$3,000-$8,000
Furnishing new home
$3,000-$10,000
Real estate fees (if selling home)
4-5% of sale price
Mortgage penalty (if breaking)
$5,000-$25,000
Updated will and estate documents
$500-$2,000
Therapy/counselling
$150-$250/session
Loss of tax benefits
Split pension income, spousal credit lost
How to Minimize Divorce Costs
Strategy
Potential Savings
Agree on major issues before hiring lawyers
$10,000-$50,000+
Use mediation instead of litigation
$10,000-$100,000+
Get organized (gather financial documents early)
$2,000-$5,000 in lawyer time
Use unbundled legal services (lawyer reviews, you draft)
$3,000-$10,000
Avoid using lawyers as therapists
$200-$500/hour saved
Stay out of court for minor disputes
$5,000-$20,000
Agree on an independent appraiser
Avoid dueling appraisals ($600 vs $3,000)
Checklist: Financial Steps During Divorce
Step
Action
1
Open your own bank account
2
Establish your own credit (credit card in your name)
3
Gather all financial documents (tax returns, statements, pensions)
4
Calculate your net family property
5
Get independent legal advice (even if mediating)
6
Update beneficiary designations
7
Understand tax implications of proposed settlement