Legal paperwork is nobody's idea of healing, but handling it well protects you for years. The good news: you have a range of options, and not every split needs a $300-an-hour lawyer. The right choice mostly comes down to two things — how amicable it is, and how complicated (kids, a house, retirement accounts, a business). Here's how to find your path, plus the tools for each.
Please read first
This page is information, not legal advice, and divorce law varies a lot by state. If there's any abuse, threats, or you feel unsafe, do not attempt a DIY divorce — talk to a family-law attorney and reach out for support. In the US, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233 (call/text), free and confidential, 24/7.
An honest heads-up: a few of the links below may be affiliate links, so we might earn a small commission if you sign up — never at any cost to you. Anything that earns us something is clearly labeled, and our recommendations never change because of it. See our
disclosure.
Which path is yours?
- Amicable & simple (you agree on everything, few or no shared assets) → an online / DIY divorce is often enough.
- Mostly agree, a few sticking points → consider mediation (a neutral third party helps you settle), then file.
- Kids, real assets, or conflict → hire a family-law attorney. This is not the place to cut corners.
Online & DIY divorce (amicable, simpler cases)
Hello Divorce
Best of both worlds
A guided online divorce with flat-fee plans — and the option to add a lawyer, mediator, or financial expert à la carte only when you need one.
Best for: amicable + some guidance
Flat-fee plans
Add pros as needed
Honest note: a nice middle ground between fully DIY and a full attorney — you get structure without paying lawyer rates for everything. It's for uncontested divorces, and availability varies by state; check that yours is covered.
LegalZoom
Documents & name change
Well-known help with divorce paperwork, plus the name change so many people need afterward and a broad library of other legal documents.
Best for: paperwork + name change
Established brand
Add-on attorney advice
Honest note: convenient and trusted for documents, but it's not a law firm, so it can't give real legal advice. For anything contested, treat it as a starting point and see an attorney.
OnlineDivorce.com
Lowest-cost DIY
Fills out your state's uncontested-divorce forms for you at a low flat fee — you review, print, sign, and file with the court yourself.
Best for: fully amicable, simple cases
Cheapest option
You file the paperwork
Honest note: genuinely cheap, but strictly for uncontested divorces where you agree on everything and there's little to divide. You do the court filing yourself. Not for disputes, meaningful assets, or contested custody.
Find a family-law attorney (kids, assets, or conflict)
Avvo
Directory + reviews
Search local family-law attorneys by area, read client reviews and ratings, and even ask legal questions for free before you commit.
Best for: browsing & vetting lawyers
Free to search
Free Q&A
Honest note: a solid free starting point. The star ratings are partly algorithmic, so use them as a filter, not gospel — always do a consult and trust your read of the person.
Other legal documents you may need
Rocket Lawyer
Wills & agreements
Create and update legal documents — a new will, updated power of attorney, or a cohabitation/prenup agreement — with optional attorney consultations.
Best for: updating your will after a split
Subscription
Attorney Q&A
Honest note: genuinely worth doing — after a breakup you'll likely want to update your will, beneficiaries, and power of attorney so an ex isn't still listed. Watch that the subscription doesn't quietly auto-renew if you only need it once.
LawDepot
DIY templates
Low-cost, fill-in-the-blank legal document templates — separation agreements, wills, and more — if you just need the paperwork.
Best for: cheap document templates
Pay per doc or subscribe
Honest note: fine for simple, standard documents on a budget. Templates aren't legal advice — for anything important, have a lawyer confirm it's valid and right for your state.
Free & low-cost legal help — no commission, just important
If money is tight, start here
- Legal Aid — free civil legal help if you qualify by income. Find your local office at LawHelp.org or LSC.gov.
- Court self-help centers & family-law facilitators — most courthouses have free help completing divorce and custody forms.
- Law school legal clinics — free or low-cost help from supervised law students.
- State/local bar referral services — a vetted local attorney for a low-cost (often ~$25–35) initial consultation.
- Fee waivers — if you can't afford court filing fees, you can usually apply to have them waived.
Questions people ask
Do I actually need a lawyer, or can I DIY?
If your split is fully amicable, you were together a short time, and there's little to divide, a DIY or online divorce is often fine. Hire a lawyer if you have children, significant or complicated assets (a house, retirement, a business), a big income gap, or any conflict or safety concern. When in doubt, a single paid consultation is cheap insurance.
How much does a divorce cost?
Wildly variable. A DIY/online uncontested divorce can run a few hundred dollars plus court filing fees; a contested divorce with attorneys commonly reaches many thousands. The single biggest cost driver isn't the lawyer's rate — it's how much you fight. Agreeing where you can, or using mediation, saves the most.
What is mediation?
A neutral third party helps the two of you negotiate an agreement you both accept, instead of a judge deciding for you. It's usually faster, cheaper, and less bruising than a courtroom fight — a great option when you mostly agree but need help over a few sticking points.
We weren't married — do any of these apply?
Some do. You won't need a divorce, but if you share children, a lease, property, or pets, you may still want legal help with custody, support, or a separation/cohabitation agreement. The lawyer-finding and document tools above still apply.