340,734 people helped
Customer Satisfaction Rating
4.9 star rating (4.9/5)
For media | For professionals | For employers
× Quick exit (ESC)

Blog

How much does it cost to get a divorce or separate?

The answer to this commonly asked question is that it really depends on you and your ex-partner’s existing relationship.

If you are able to work through your separation in a calm and relatively amicable way, the cost will generally be far less and you will likely reach an agreement much faster.

What is the average cost of a divorce or separation in Australia?

According to Money Magazine, the average cost is between $50,000 and $100,000 and can take up to 3 years if going through to Court.

The alternative, done through a fair and equitable pathway such as Guided Separation, can cost as little as $4500 per person (including Court and filing costs).

The cost of divorce and separation can best be explained with this infographic, showing the different paths and timeframes for each outcome. Click on the graphic for a closer look.

It explains the cost and timeframe for:

  • doing it yourselves
  • going through a Guided Separation (with a Mediator)
  • using separate Family Lawyers
  • going to Court, where you need legal advisors and Barristers to represent you

You can see from this cost and time breakdown that there are many benefits if you can remain amicable.

However, this is not possible in every situation — and there’s definitely no one-size-fits-all when it comes to separation.

Settlement in Court

Sometimes it will be necessary to go to Court for a fair and equitable outcome. But we believe this should be a last resort. So do all the Family Lawyers in our Network.

Which process is right for you?

Our 3-minute Q&A is designed to help you figure that out and put you in contact with experts to guide you through the maze.

You can also check out our Pricing page.

How can I pay for my separation?

Do you have property in your asset pool? You may be eligible to release equity in your home or investment property to pay the upfront costs of separation and pay it back when your property settlement is finalised. JustFund is the family law finance provider in our network who can help.

Check eligibility

JustFund is Australia’s only dedicated family law finance provider. What sets the JustFund team apart from other legal finance providers is their expertise in family law and the complexities of separation. They understand separation is stressful and financially challenging, and they take pride in providing quality service and treating clients with respect and support.

Some other JustFund differences:

  • check your eligibility with JustFund before you hire a lawyer
  • apply for funding for unpaid legal fees
  • primary caregiving or part-time employment doesn’t exclude borrowing
  • apply even if you’re not on the property title, or you have already sold a property, and your funds are held in trust
  • pay only from the proceeds you receive from your property settlement
  • apply for a minimum $5,000 and up to 25% of your expected settlement value
  • in-house family lawyers assess your eligibility based on their understanding of the law.

JustFund’s financing options exist so you can focus on achieving a better outcome with the financial resources you need. Get peace of mind to seek legal advice by checking your eligibility.

Enquiring with JustFund won’t affect your credit score, and there’s never any obligation to apply if you receive a pre-approval. Read more in JustFund’s Borrower Guide.

The Separation Guide aims to make separation and divorce simpler, more manageable and less stressful. To find out more about how one of our Network Members could support your separation, take our free 3-minute Q&A.

Disclaimer
The information in our resources is general only. Consider getting in touch with a professional adviser if you need support with your legal, financial or wellbeing needs.

Find out if you can save costs by staying out of court

Complete the 3-minute Q&A to discover which pathway is suitable for your situation.

Start the Q&A