Divorce Cost & Lawyer Budget Planner

See what an uncontested, mediated or contested divorce could cost you in your own numbers, keep the retainer from surprising you, and plan the budget for two homes.

Cost scenarios: hours per phase × your lawyer's rate, plus outside costs, side by side
Retainer tracker that warns you before a top-up request
Two-household monthly budget with the shortfall calculated for you
Assets and debts inventory (no account numbers) and a document checklist
Divorce filing fee reference for all 50 states, with official sources (checked October 2026)

$27 USD, one-time

Instant download after payment is confirmed
Excel/Google Sheets workbook + fillable PDF
14-day refund, no questions asked
Version 1.0 · October 2026

A planning tool, not legal advice.

What's included

File	Format	What it does
LCG-Divorce-Budget-Planner.xlsx	Excel workbook (10 tabs)	Cost Scenarios, Retainer Tracker, Two Households, Assets & Debts, Documents, State filing fees, plus filled examples
LCG-Divorce-Budget-Planner-Workbook.pdf	Fillable PDF, 5 pages, US Letter	Quick start, questions for each lawyer, monthly budget, document checklist and meeting notes

How it works

Fill in the two-household budget so you know what you can afford monthly.
Ask each lawyer for estimated hours per phase and enter them for each scenario.
Add your state's filing fee and expected outside costs (mediator, appraisals).
Compare the totals; they show what a dispute costs compared with an agreement.
After hiring, log deposits and invoices in the retainer tracker.

Who it's for, and who it isn't

Good fit

People considering or starting a divorce who want a realistic budget
Anyone deciding between mediation and litigation on cost grounds
People already paying a retainer who want to track it

Not a fit

Anyone needing advice on custody, support or property division: speak to a family lawyer
People in danger: contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233) or 911
Anyone expecting the planner to say what they will receive or owe

Compatibility, delivery and support

Compatibility: Excel 365, LibreOffice Calc 7+ and Google Sheets (File → Import; sheet protection is not carried over). PDFs are US Letter and fillable in Adobe Acrobat Reader and most browser PDF viewers.
Delivery: after Stripe confirms your payment you are taken to your download page. Bookmark it: it works for 12 months, and you can recover access with your checkout email and order code.
License: personal use for you, your household or one small business you own. Please don't resell or share the files. Full license and refund policy.
Refunds: 14 days, no questions asked: email [email protected].
Support: [email protected]. We reply within 2 business days.
Privacy: we use your email only to deliver and support your purchase. No mailing list.

What this kit does not do

It does not calculate child support or alimony (each state has its own formula).
It does not decide what is marital or separate property.
It is not legal or financial advice.

Frequently asked questions

Does it include my state's filing fee?

The workbook lists the divorce filing fee we verified for each state, with the official source, as of October 2026. Where a fee varies by county or was not verified, it says so. Always confirm with your court clerk.

Can a divorce lawyer work on contingency?

No. ABA Model Rule 1.5(d), adopted in some form by most states, bars contingency fees that depend on securing a divorce or the amount of support or property. That is why budgeting the hourly fees matters.

Refunds?

Within 14 days, no questions asked: email [email protected].

$27 USD, one-time

Buy now — secure checkout with Stripe

Instant download after payment is confirmed
Excel/Google Sheets workbook + fillable PDF
14-day refund, no questions asked
Version 1.0 · October 2026

A planning tool, not legal advice.