The cost of divorce mediation in Virginia is largely dependent on the the complexity of the case and the level of cooperation between the parties, making the actual cost of divorce mediation slightly different for each case.
The average cost of divorce mediation in Virginia is between $5,000-$9,000, including the cost to file and process the divorce in Virginia.
This estimated amount includes analysis of the case, calculation of support, from 1-4 mediation sessions, the preparation of a Marital Settlement Agreement and, if applicable, a Parenting Plan, and the cost to prepare and file the paperwork for a divorce. The estimated range is also inclusive of all costs and expenses (including filing fees) to get your divorce finalized through the court.
The exact cost of mediation in any particular case, however, depends on many factors, including the complexity of the parties’ finances, whether custody of children is involved, the animosity of the parties, whether the parties’ have already reached any agreements, and the ability of the parties to compromise.
However, not all cases that are resolved or processed by a divorce mediator actually involve or require mediation. The cost to process a “simple divorce” in Virginia, meaning a divorce with no other issues (financial, custody or otherwise), is around $1,300, which includes court fees of approximately $90 (depending on the county). Similarly, if the parties have already reached an agreement on all the issues in their divorce, including (if applicable) distribution of property, alimony/spousal support, child custody, and child support, and just need a properly drafted Marital Settlement Agreement to memorialize their agreement, as well as their divorce filed and processed, then the divorce can usually be completed for around $4,000-5,000.
In contrast to a mediated divorce, the average total cost of a litigated divorce in Virginia, in which each side retains his or her own attorney, is more than $50,000. That is more than $25,000 for each party. On the higher end of the spectrum, in cases with contentious parties who approach their divorce as adversaries and/or have complex financial child custody and support issues that cannot be resolved between the parties without significant court intervention, litigation costs can quickly and easily exceed $100,000.
