The short answer
If you and your spouse agree on everything — property, debts, support, and any parenting arrangements — you can typically divorce for the court filing fee (roughly $80–$450 depending on your state) plus a few hundred dollars for document preparation. Do the paperwork yourselves and it's just the filing fee. That's a world away from the $15,000–$30,000 a contested, litigated divorce can cost. The difference isn't luck or location — it's agreement.
You both agree (uncontested)
You fight it out (contested)
Why agreeing collapses the cost
Divorce lawyers bill by the hour. The bulk of a divorce bill isn't the paperwork — it's the fighting: letters between attorneys, negotiation, discovery, mediation, and hearings, each billed hourly by two lawyers at roughly $250–$500 an hour. When you and your spouse have already settled the terms, there's nothing to bill against. No dispute, no hours, no five-figure invoice. You're left paying only for the two things every divorce needs regardless: filing with the court, and preparing correct documents.
What "both agree" actually means
To count as an agreed, uncontested case — and get the cheap price — you and your spouse need to be on the same page about everything a judge would otherwise have to decide for you:
To be "uncontested," you both agree on:
- Property & debts — who keeps the house, cars, and accounts, and who pays what
- Alimony — whether either spouse pays support, and how much
- Children (if any) — the parenting schedule and child support
You don't need matching feelings about the divorce — you need matching terms. If you agree on where the money and the kids land, the paperwork simply records the deal you've made. And if you're aligned on most of it but stuck on one point, that's completely normal: a few hours of mediation is the cheap way to close the gap before it hardens into billable conflict and pushes you onto the contested track.
What you actually pay when you agree
An agreed divorce has just a few line items:
- Court filing fee — paid to the court, unavoidable, roughly $80–$450 by state.
- Document preparation — $0 if you do it yourself, a few hundred dollars for a flat-fee service, or attorney rates if you hire one.
- A few small extras — a parenting course if you have kids, notarization, certified copies (covered below).
That's the whole list. There's no line item for "conflict" because you don't have any. For the full national picture across all case types, see our guide to how much a divorce actually costs.
Your three options for an agreed divorce
Even when you agree, you still choose how the documents get prepared — and that's the only real decision that moves the price:
Do it yourself
Flat-fee done-for-you service
Uncontested with an attorney
DIY is cheapest but you own the accuracy — and courts reject incomplete or incorrect packets, which costs time. A flat-fee service is the sweet spot for most agreeing couples: correct documents, prepared and reviewed, at a fraction of attorney prices. An attorney is rarely necessary for a genuinely agreed case — you'd mostly be paying for peace of mind.
The small costs even agreed divorces have
A few minor costs apply no matter how amicable you are:
- Parenting course — if you have minor children, most states require a short parenting class, commonly $15–$45 per parent.
- Notarization — several documents must be notarized; online notarization is widely available.
- Certified copies — usually about $10, needed later to change a name or update records.
- Service (sometimes) — if your spouse doesn't sign a waiver, there's a small fee to formally deliver the papers.
None of these move the needle much — they're tens of dollars, not thousands.
One dispute flips the price
Here's the catch worth protecting: an agreed divorce stays cheap only while you stay agreed. The moment one issue becomes a real fight — who keeps the house, how much support, the parenting schedule — you're on the contested track, and the hourly billing begins. If you're close but stuck on one point, mediation (a neutral third party, far cheaper than litigation) usually resolves it and keeps you on the inexpensive path. Guard the agreement; it's the most valuable thing you have going into a divorce.
In Florida: a flat $99
If you're in Florida and you both agree, this is exactly what Amicably is built for. We prepare your complete, court-ready uncontested divorce packet — every form for your situation, specialist-reviewed, with online notarization handled for you (the notary's session fee is separate, at cost) — for a flat $99, plus the state's ~$408 court filing fee. No hourly billing, no surprises. See the full Florida cost breakdown, or learn how to file.
Both agree and in Florida? Do it for a flat $99
Check if you qualify in about 3 minutes — we'll prepare your complete uncontested divorce for a flat $99.
Check if you qualifyFrequently asked questions
How much does it cost to get a divorce if both parties agree?
When both parties agree, a divorce usually costs the court filing fee (roughly $80 to $450 depending on the state) plus document preparation — nothing if you do it yourself, or a few hundred dollars for a flat-fee service. That's a fraction of a contested divorce, which can run $15,000 to $30,000 or more.
Is an uncontested divorce cheaper?
Much cheaper. An uncontested (agreed) divorce removes the single biggest expense — attorney hours spent fighting. With nothing to litigate, you pay only for filing and paperwork, which is why agreed divorces cost hundreds rather than thousands.
Do you need a lawyer if you both agree on the divorce?
Usually not. If you agree on the terms, most couples don't need a lawyer — they need correct documents. A flat-fee document service can prepare everything without hourly attorney costs. A lawyer is worth it only if the case becomes contested or involves complex assets.
What is the cheapest way to divorce when you agree?
The cheapest route is to prepare and file the forms yourselves, paying only the court fee. The catch is accuracy — a rejected packet costs time. A flat-fee done-for-you service costs a little more but gets the documents right the first time, which is why most agreeing couples choose it over pure DIY.
Does agreeing make a divorce faster as well as cheaper?
Yes. Agreement removes the negotiation, mediation, and hearings that stretch contested cases over many months. An agreed divorce is limited mainly by the court's mandatory waiting period and processing time, so it's both the cheapest and the fastest route.
What costs are there even in an agreed divorce?
Beyond the filing fee and document preparation, expect a few small costs: a parenting course if you have minor children (about $15 to $45 per parent), notarization, certified copies of the final judgment (around $10), and occasionally a small service fee. None are significant.
How much does an agreed divorce cost in Florida?
In Florida, an agreed divorce costs the ~$408 court filing fee plus document preparation. Doing it yourself costs only the filing fee; Amicably prepares your complete uncontested packet, with online notarization handled for you (notary fee separate), for a flat $99.
Sources
Forbes Advisor — How Much Does a Divorce Cost
Nolo / Martindale — Cost of Divorce (uncontested vs contested)
Hello Divorce — Divorce Filing Fees by State
Reviewed by the Amicably document team
Amicably is a Florida registered legal document preparation service. We help agreeing couples complete an uncontested divorce affordably — the official court-approved forms, prepared and reviewed, for a flat fee with no hourly billing. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice.