There is no simple answer to this question! If you handle your divorce yourself, you may be able to keep costs down. You must pay a filing fee at the courthouse to begin your divorce proceedings. This can range from about $250 to $350 depending on the province. You will have to arrange to have your Statement of Claim for Divorce served on your spouse. There will be a fee if you hire someone to do it rather than doing it yourself. (Some provinces require you to have someone else serve your spouse with legal documents starting a divorce.) If you retain a lawyer, the lawyer may charge you a flat fee or may charge you an hourly rate. Make sure you understand how your lawyer will be charging you. Costs can go up if the divorce stretches out over time because you and your spouse cannot agree on things, or if you must go to court several times. Even if you do not have a lawyer, you may incur costs if you must take time off work or travel to another city. Last updated: March 2021