Vermont Business Magazine A lengthier divorce process of about 450 days and a higher filing fee ($295) make Vermont one of the most expensive states to get a divorce, despite having some of the lowest average attorney fees ($195) in the nation, according to a nationwide survey.California is the most expensive and Wyoming is the cheapest.Although many couples are looking forward to celebrating Valentine's Daythis month, the beginning of the year also tends to be a popular time for Americans to file for divorce. What each couple pays for a divorce, however, will also depend on where they live because divorce laws vary from state to state, and people who live in states with lower fees and shorter divorce timelines pay much less than those who don't.
To find the states where it's easiest to keep divorce costs low, leading personal finance website GOBankingRates.com used the following criteria to generate rankings for all 50 states and theDistrict of Columbia:
- Court fee to file a divorce
- Average attorney hourly rate
- Minimum processing time for a divorce, once filed
- Residency requirements to file
From best to worst for getting a low-cost divorce, here is how each state ranks:
| 1 | Wyoming | 18 | District of Columbia | 35 | Ohio |
| 2 | North Dakota | 19 | Delaware | 36 | Massachusetts |
| 3 | South Dakota | 20 | Arizona | 37 | Oregon |
| 4 | Maine | 21 | New Mexico | 38 | Maryland |
| 5 | Mississippi | 22 | Indiana | 39 | Colorado |
| 6 | Alaska | 23 | Washington | 40 | Nebraska |
| 7 | Montana | 24 | Wisconsin | 41 | Vermont |
| 8 | Iowa | 25 | Alabama | 42 | Texas |
| 9 | Missouri | 26 | West Virginia | 43 | New York |
| 10 | Kentucky | 27 | South Carolina | 44 | New Hampshire |
| 11 | Virginia | 28 | Rhode Island | 45 | Minnesota |
| 12 | North Carolina | 29 | Louisiana | 46 | Illinois |
| 13 | Idaho | 30 | Tennessee | 47 | Pennsylvania |
| 14 | Kansas | 31 | Utah | 48 | Florida |
| 15 | Arkansas | 32 | Georgia | 49 | Connecticut |
| 16 | Michigan | 33 | Nevada | 50 | New Jersey |
| 17 | Oklahoma | 34 | Hawaii | 51 | California |
"Divorce laws will vary greatly from state to state," saidElyssa Kirkham, the GOBankingRates finance writer on the study. "Some states will require a separation period or have a lengthy waiting period before a divorce can be finalized, while others will have fewer requirements and make the process straightforward."
"The range of costs to file for divorce is a$365difference from the state with the cheapest fee to the most expensive," she said. "Divorcees in states with the highest attorney rates will pay double the lawyer fees than residents in cheaper states will face."
Additional Insights:
- ConnecticutandIllinoistie for the highest average attorney fee at$417.
- In addition toNew Jersey'sdivorce costs being some of the highest in the nation, the state also has one of the lengthiest processing times of at least 12 months.
- North Dakotahas the lowest average attorney fee in the U.S. at only$162.
Methodology: These findings are the result of a GOBankingRates study of divorce fees and conditions in all 50 states and theDistrict of Columbia. The study used four criteria to generate rankings for all 50 states and the Districtbased on factors contributing to a low-cost divorce: (1) court fee to file a divorce, collected from local court sites and online fee schedules; (2) average attorney hourly rates as reported in the U.S. Consumer Law Attorney Fee Survey Report 2010-2011 byRonald L. Burdge; and (3) minimum processing time for a divorce, once filed, and (4) residency requirements to file, both as reported by InsideGov.com. GOBankingRates scored states on each factor, favoring those with lower costs and shorter time requirements. These scores were combined to generate a final ranking, with court fees and attorney rates weighted more heavily than processing time minimums and residency requirements.
About GOBankingRates
GOBankingRates.com is a leading portal for personal finance and consumer banking information, offering visitors the latest on everything from finding a good interest rate to strategies for saving money, investing for retirement and getting a loan. Its editors are regularly featured on top-tier media outlets, including U.S. News & World Report,Forbes, Business Insider, Daily Finance, Huffington Post and more. It specializes in connecting consumers with the best financial institutions and banking products nationwide.
LOS ANGELES,Feb. 3, 2016/PRNewswire/ --GOBankingRates.comTo see full details on the study, visit:
http://www.gobankingrates.com/personal-finance/best-worst-states-low-cost-divorce/