Below are some categories of expenses in contested cases, and some possible costs. You can easily see how a case can easily cost more than $10,000. By the time you get a case started, go through initial financial discovery, and maybe file and respond to a few motions, you could be looking at $15,000, or more. It depends on the case. But I think you get the point - fighting in court is not cheap. In fact, the lease expensive case I've had that resulted in a trial cost my client more than $17,000.
Initial financial discovery = $2,000+
When a divorce is contested, people have to exchange financial documents. Just the first stage of this process could cost in excess of $2,000.
Filing a very simply motion = $3,000+
Motions are documents used to ask the court to order something before a divorce is finalized. For example, a motion for child support, a motion to sell a house, etc. If you want to file a motion, then you will probably have to pay a lawyer to gather evidence for the motion, write the motion, review the other side's response to the motion, and argue the motion in court. The cost can become much more than $2,000 depending on a variety of factors that are way beyond the scope of this article. In many contested cases, people have to file 3 or more motions. . . that's at least $9,000.
Costs of guardian ad litem, or child representative = $6,000+
If people fight about kids as part of a divorce, the court might appoint a guardian ad litem (a person who acts as a witness for the child), or a child representative (a lawyer for the child). This person, who is always a lawyer, bills like a lawyer, and that can be expensive. If the case goes on fore a couple months, the costs could very easily be in excess of $10,000.
Cost of trial = $10,000+
Even the smallest trial is a lot of work. Some trials can cost several multiples of $10,000. There is more work than you might think, and certain steps are required that surprise most people.