Divorce Cost & Timeline Estimator
Family & Divorce
Estimates a realistic cost and timeline range for a divorce based on how contested it is.
Family & Divorce
Clarity for the hardest decisions.
Divorce is daunting partly because the cost and timeline feel unknowable. This estimator gives an honest, illustrative range based on how contested things are — a calmer first step.
Who it’s for
Anyone facing divorce, custody, or separation who needs a realistic picture.
Why it works
An honest, no-pressure estimate meets people in a hard moment and earns the consultation.
The family & divorce toolkit
4 calculators, one practice area.
Each runs in the visitor’s browser, shows a real answer instantly, then routes a lead to the firm. No sign-up, nothing stored.
Child-Support Estimator
family
Child-Support Estimator (New York CSSA)
Spousal Maintenance Estimator
family
Spousal Maintenance Estimator (New York)
Equitable-Distribution Explainer
family
Equitable-Distribution Explainer (New York)
Try it now — live
See your estimate for yourself.
This is the real tool your visitors would use, recolored to your firm.
This is an illustrative estimate for general informational purposes only. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice, it does not create an attorney–client relationship, and it is not a quote, promise, prediction, or guarantee of any benefit, amount, eligibility, deadline, or outcome. Figures are based on published government sources as of the date shown and change over time; results may not reflect current law or the facts of your situation. Do not rely on this tool — consult a licensed attorney before taking or refraining from any action.
How it works
From curious to qualified, in three steps.
01
Tell us the situation
How contested the divorce is.
02
See the range
A realistic cost and timeline.
03
Take the first step
A calm, no-obligation conversation.
The key numbers
The verified figures behind the math.
Every calculator draws on published government sources, dated and monitored. These are the current ones for family & divorce.
1: 17% · 2: 25% · 3: 29% · 4: 31%
CSSA percentages by # children
As of 2026 · NY DRL §240(1-b)(b)(3) / FCA §413 — Child Support Standards Act percentages
$193,000
2026 combined-income cap
As of 2026 · NY OCA biennial CSSA cap, effective March 1, 2026
$21,546
2026 self-support reserve
As of 2026 · NY CSSA self-support reserve (135% of federal poverty level), 2026
7.65%
FICA deduction
As of 2026 · NY CSSA — Medicare/FICA deducted from gross before applying percentage
$241,000
2026 maintenance income cap (payor)
As of 2026 · NY DRL §236-B(5-a) income cap, effective March 1, 2026
Common questions
Family & Divorce — answered.
How is property divided in a New York divorce?
New York follows equitable distribution, which divides marital property fairly based on a range of factors rather than automatically splitting everything in half. Separate property is generally treated differently from marital property under New York law.
How is child support calculated in New York?
New York uses statutory guidelines that consider parental income and the number of children, among other factors. The specific figures come from applying the state’s formula to your circumstances rather than any fixed number here.
What’s the difference between contested and uncontested divorce?
An uncontested divorce means the spouses agree on the key issues, which is usually faster and less costly, while a contested divorce requires resolving disputes, sometimes in court. Many cases start contested and settle along the way.
How are custody decisions made?
New York courts decide custody based on the best interests of the child, weighing factors like stability, each parent’s involvement, and the child’s needs. The focus is on the child’s well-being rather than a parent’s preference alone.
Can a support or custody order be changed later?
Yes — orders can often be modified when there’s a substantial change in circumstances, such as a significant income change or relocation, under New York law. The existing order stays in effect until a court formally modifies it.
Why it’s built this way
Numbers you can stand behind.
Official sources only
Every figure traces to a federal or state primary source — VA, SSA, IRS, USCIS, the U.S. Trustee — with its effective date shown.
Attorney-reviewed
Tools are reviewed by a licensed attorney and ship as illustrative information, never as advice or a guarantee.
Always current
Monitored on each source’s own cadence — annual COLA, quarterly IRS interest, and so on — so a stale number can’t linger.
Zero retention
The math runs in the visitor’s browser. No claimant data is stored unless they choose to send it to the firm.
Related practice areas
Put the family & divorce toolkit on your firm’s site.
One line of code, or let us build the whole site. It runs itself — no agency, no retainers.
Rules vary by jurisdiction and change; this reflects New York as of 2026 and may be wrong or out of date — confirm with a licensed attorney. This is an illustrative estimate for general informational purposes only. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice, it does not create an attorney–client relationship, and it is not a quote, promise, prediction, or guarantee of any benefit, amount, eligibility, deadline, or outcome. Figures are based on published government sources as of the date shown and change over time; results may not reflect current law or the facts of your situation. Do not rely on this tool — consult a licensed attorney before taking or refraining from any action.