The cost of a divorce in Kentucky can vary depending on factors such as attorney fees, court fees, and the complexity of the case. According to an analysis by LegalConsumer.com, the average cost of an uncontested divorce in Kentucky ranges from $1,500 to $3,500, while a contested divorce can cost significantly more, potentially exceeding $10,000 or more.
What Affects the Cost of Divorce?
The overall divorce cost in Kentucky consists of mandatory court fees for filing documents and serving a respondent and expenses on additional services such as the involvement of mediators, divorce lawyers, experts on child-related issues, etc.
Here are a few factors that affect the cost of divorce in Kentucky:
- Disagreements on marital assets and debts division. If a couple has a high level of income and an extensive list of properties to distribute, it will be reasonable to involve evaluators to estimate the total value of all assets. Evaluation costs add up to the total divorce price. The assets which are usually divided include real estate, cars, vehicles, dividends, businesses, etc.
- Disputes on child-related issues. When spouses cannot resolve custody and child support issues, it complicates the divorce process and makes it more expensive. It is often necessary to address child custody experts and professionals who will help to calculate support. Also, divorcing couples with kids are often requested by court to attend family counseling or parenting classes. The average cost of classes for parents to prepare their minor children for divorce can start from $30 per session.
- Participation of lawyers or mediators. When a couple is unable to agree on their own, they have to turn to mediation or legal assistance of lawyers. Services of experts on divorce matters can cost from $1,500 to $10,000 and more.
How Much Does It Cost to File for Divorce in Kentucky?
The average cost to file for divorce in KY is between $150 and $300. This amount includes fees for filing documents with the court clerk’s office, making copies, and serving a spouse.
Depending on the county, you will need to pay:
- from $115 to $250 for filing a petition and other documents;
- from $25 to $50 for serving the other party according to the chosen method of service – by hiring a sheriff or a process server or through a certified mail.
It is possible to avoid mandatory court fees if you are in a complicated financial situation. You can prepare and file an AOC-026 form, also known as a Motion for Waiver of Costs and Fees. It contains information about your monthly income and expenses. If the court finds you are eligible for a fee waiver based on your financial status, you will be allowed not to pay the court fees.
Also, you can avoid the service fees if a respondent signs, notarizes, and submits a Waiver of Service to the court.
How Much Does an Uncontested Divorce Cost?
The cost of an uncontested divorce in Kentucky ranges from several hundred dollars to $3,500 and more, depending on whether spouses deal with the case completely on their own or need the assistance of a lawyer or help of online services with paperwork preparation. The main features of uncontested divorce are:
- Such cases are usually much cheaper than contested ones, may be finalized after one court hearing, and do not necessarily require the involvement of lawyers.
- If you agree with your spouse on all divorce-related issues and prepare the divorce forms on your own, the only expenses you will likely need to cover are the mandatory court fees, which differ slightly from county to county.
- If there are minor children involved, the average cost of divorce in Kentucky can increase since the court may require spouses to go through family counseling to prepare themselves and their kids for life after divorce.
- Filing for uncontested and no-fault divorce, spouses may turn to online divorce services to save money on a lawyer’s help with documents. Usually, such services cost around $150. They are a convenient tool for parties who go through a divorce without a lawyer but find it difficult to prepare the necessary paperwork on their own.
How Much Does a Contested Divorce Cost?
A contested divorce in Kentucky is usually more expensive than an uncontested one and costs, on average, from $3,000 to more than $10,000. The final price depends on:
- how complicated the case is
- how many unresolved issues regarding the assets division, custody of children, and maintenance spouses have.
In addition to paying mandatory court fees, parties to contested cases should also cover expenses on legal services:
- Services of a divorce attorney – $300-$500 per hour of work. The more disagreements regarding the divorce terms you have, the more you will need to pay for legal help. The total divorce lawyer costs can easily reach $10,000.
- The involvement of a mediator – $150 to $350 per hour. Many couples prefer mediation instead of hiring lawyers. This negotiation method out of court is usually cheaper than an attorney’s full-scope representation during a trial.
In most cases, it is difficult to avoid the high costs when starting contested marriage dissolutions. The only way to make your divorce cheaper is to resolve all disagreements with your spouse independently and turn the case into an uncontested one.
The Bottom Line
The cost of divorce in Kentucky depends on many circumstances, starts from minimum court fees of $150, and can reach $10,000-$12,000 or more.
The total expenses on the dissolution of marriage are affected by:
- Disagreements between spouses regarding divorce terms.
- Amount of marital assets and debts to divide.
- The complexity of the case and the number of issues to resolve.
- Need for the involvement of mediators, lawyers, and other experts.
- Child-related issues.
It is possible to get a nearly free divorce in Kentucky if your case is uncontested and you deal with the divorce process completely on your own. Or, if filling out complicated legal paperwork is a challenge for you, you may order document preparation from online services. This way, you can obtain the necessary documents for your divorce case at a reasonable cost. To reduce divorce expenses, you can also try to avoid the court fees by filing a fee waiver if you are eligible for it.
Jason Mendez is a respected author and former marriage counselor. With a degree in Counseling Psychology, he practiced as a family therapist for over 15 years, acquiring profound insights into the complexities of marital dissolution. For the last few years, Jason has been an avid writer, advising individuals navigating through divorce. His empathetic yet practical approach shines through his work, helping people face the challenges of divorce with resilience and optimism.
