Utah • Uncontested • No minor children
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Divorce Cost Estimate
Utah Divorce Cost Calculator
Estimate divorce costs in Utah using state-specific filing fee, attorney rate, mediation, children, property, and case complexity assumptions.
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Filing fee$130
Service of process$75
Attorney range$2,400 - $4,800
Mediation$400
These estimates are for planning only. They use the existing state-specific filing, attorney, and mediation assumptions and are not legal advice.
Utah Divorce Cost Snapshot
Use this 2026 Utah divorce cost guide to understand filing fees, attorney expenses, Utah's 30-day waiting period, residency requirements, mediation rules, and the cost difference between agreed and contested cases.
CategoryTypical range
Divorce filing fee$350
Attorney planning rate$250–$450+/hr
Uncontested planning range$3,000–$8,000
Contested planning range$15,000–$50,000+
Residency before filingGenerally 90 days in one county
Minimum after filing30 days
How Much Does Divorce Cost in Utah?
Utah's court fee schedule effective May 6, 2026 lists $350 to file a divorce or separate-maintenance action. Service, required parent courses, and other court or professional expenses may be additional.
The filing fee is usually a small part of the total once professional help is involved. A home, property and debt, retirement accounts, a business, alimony, custody, parent-time, child support, and valuation disputes can add substantial work.
Utah is not a community-property state and does not automatically split every individual asset exactly in half. These figures are planning ranges—not statewide averages, legal advice, or attorney quotes.
Local court charges are only the starting point in Utah; attorney involvement, property issues, mediation, and contested proceedings can have a much larger effect on the final budget. See our national guide to divorce costs for a deeper explanation of how those expenses fit together.
How Much Does It Cost to File for Divorce in Utah?
Utah uses a statewide court filing schedule, giving filers a clearer starting amount than states with county-specific divorce fees.
Filing or courseCurrent feeWhat to know
Divorce or separate maintenance$350Statewide filing fee under the schedule effective May 6, 2026. Court source
Mandatory Parenting Course$35 per parentRequired in covered divorces involving children under 18 unless waived. Court source
Divorce Orientation Course$15–$30 per parentThe lower fee applies when the petitioner attends within 30 days of filing or the respondent attends within 30 days of service; otherwise the listed fee is $30. Court source
- Service, motions, copies, mediation, appraisals, business valuation, retirement orders, custody professionals, and experts may add cost.
- A qualifying filer can ask the court to waive filing and applicable course fees.
- Utah Courts provides MyPaperwork and self-help materials for petitions, answers, stipulations, and final documents.
How Long Must You Live in Utah Before Filing?
Generally 90 days in the filing county
Either spouse generally must have been an actual and bona fide resident of the county where the petition is filed for at least 90 days immediately before filing.
Military-stationing alternative
A member of the United States armed forces stationed in Utah under military orders for at least 90 days can satisfy a separate statutory route.
Custody jurisdiction is a separate issue
When custody is requested, the child usually must have lived in Utah with a parent for at least six months, subject to statutory exceptions. Adult residency alone does not resolve child-custody jurisdiction.
How Long Must You Wait for a Utah Divorce?
Utah generally requires at least 30 days between filing the divorce petition and entry of the final decree. This is a statutory minimum, not the expected duration of every case.
The court may waive the period when extraordinary circumstances exist. A waiver requires a request and judicial approval; an agreed case does not bypass the rule automatically.
Is Mediation Required in a Utah Divorce?
When an answer is filed and contested issues remain, the parties generally must participate in good faith in at least one mediation session before the case moves forward toward trial.
The parties select and pay a court-qualified divorce mediator, with the cost generally divided equally unless they agree otherwise or the court orders a different arrangement. A party may request to be excused for good cause.
- Mediation is mandatory; settlement remains voluntary
- Temporary orders can still be entered before mediation
- The mediator must be qualified for the Utah court roster
- Safety or inability to participate fully may support an excuse request
Utah Requires Divorce Education for Many Parents
In a divorce involving children under 18, both parents generally must complete a Mandatory Parenting Course and a Divorce Orientation Course—or obtain a waiver—before the final order is entered.
The courses are available through court-approved providers. A case may also need to resolve legal custody, physical custody, parent-time, child support, health coverage, transportation, and a parenting plan.
Utah Requires Detailed Domestic-Relations Disclosures
Under Utah Rule of Civil Procedure 26.1, both parties generally must serve required disclosures and a completed Financial Declaration within 14 days after the first answer is filed.
The declaration includes supporting records for income, taxes, accounts, real estate, debt, and other financial interests. Failure to disclose can lead to sanctions, attorney fees, or even an award of an undisclosed asset to the other spouse.
- Two years of tax returns and supporting forms
- Twelve months of pay stubs or other income evidence
- Recent loan applications and financial statements
- Real-estate valuation records
- Three months of statements for bank, investment, and retirement accounts
Is Utah a 50/50 Divorce State?
Utah is not a community-property state, and divorce should not be described as an automatic equal split of every individual asset. Courts address marital property and debt under equitable principles.
The practical cost depends heavily on whether the spouses agree about ownership, value, and allocation. Real estate, retirement benefits, businesses, debt, and premarital or separately claimed interests can require substantial evidence and drafting.
- Home equity, mortgages, refinancing, buyouts, and sale timing
- Bank, investment, and retirement accounts
- Vehicles and valuable personal property
- Business interests and professional practices
- Marital debts and separately claimed property
Uncontested vs. Contested Divorce Costs in Utah
Agreed Utah divorce
- The spouses have resolved property, debt, real estate, alimony, custody, parent-time, and child support.
- Complete records and a stipulation generally reduce attorney hours, discovery, mediation, and hearings.
- The divorce still generally cannot be finalized until Utah's 30-day minimum has passed.
Contested Utah divorce
- One or more significant property, alimony, custody, parenting, or support issues remain unresolved.
- Mandatory mediation, financial disclosure, temporary orders, appraisal, business valuation, custody proceedings, experts, depositions, and trial preparation add cost.
- A substantial estate, closely held business, prolonged custody dispute, or trial can exceed the range.
Attorney time often becomes the largest variable when a Utah case remains disputed. Our divorce lawyer cost guide explains retainers, hourly billing, and why total legal fees vary.
What Can Make a Utah Divorce More Expensive?
The $350 filing fee matters initially, but unresolved property, support, and parenting questions usually determine the eventual total.
- A contested answer triggering mediation and case management
- Home valuation, mortgage debt, refinancing, buyout, or sale
- Children, required courses, custody, parent-time, and support
- Business ownership, self-employment, disputed income, or valuation
- Retirement benefits and specialized division orders
- Alimony, temporary orders, disclosure disputes, experts, depositions, or trial
How Long Does Divorce Take in Utah?
Residency before filing
Generally 90 daysEither spouse generally must have lived in the Utah county where the petition is filed for this period.
Minimum after filing
30 daysThe court generally cannot enter the decree before this statutory period, absent an extraordinary-circumstances waiver.
Response when served in Utah
21 daysA respondent served inside Utah generally has this period to answer; service outside Utah generally allows 30 days.
Straightforward agreed divorce
Often 1–3 monthsA complete agreement and accurate paperwork can permit completion relatively soon after the minimum.
Agreed case with children or substantial property
Often 2–6 monthsRequired education, parenting terms, support, real estate, and detailed drafting can add time.
Moderately contested divorce
Often 6–12 monthsMediation, disclosure, temporary orders, financial negotiation, and parenting disputes can extend the case.
Complex contested divorce
Often 12–24+ monthsBusiness valuation, extensive discovery, custody litigation, experts, or trial can keep the case open longer.
Example Utah Divorce Scenarios
These examples illustrate how different facts can change a planning range. They are not predictions or legal quotes.
Agreed Utah divorce without children
- No minor children
- No real estate
- Limited property and debt
- Complete agreement
Uses Utah's $350 filing fee plus approximately $3,000–$6,500 in professional help. Service and other charges may be additional.
Salt Lake County divorce with children and a home
- Two minor children
- Parenting plan needed
- Child support
- Jointly owned home
- Settlement expected
Parent courses, parenting arrangements, support, home equity, financial disclosure, and professional help are likely to matter much more than the filing fee.
Contested Utah divorce with significant assets
- High-value home
- Retirement accounts
- Business ownership
- Alimony disputed
- Custody unresolved
Mediation, financial discovery, business valuation, appraisal, depositions, custody proceedings, experts, and trial preparation may be required.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Utah?
Utah's filing fee for divorce or separate maintenance is currently $350.
How long must you live in Utah before filing?
Generally, either spouse must have lived in the Utah county where the case is filed for at least 90 days immediately before filing.
Does Utah have a divorce waiting period?
Yes. A divorce generally cannot be finalized until at least 30 days after the petition is filed.
Can the 30-day waiting period be waived?
A Utah court may waive it when extraordinary circumstances exist.
Is mediation required?
When an answer is filed and contested issues remain, the parties generally must attend at least one mediation session unless excused for good cause.
How soon are financial disclosures due?
The disclosures and Financial Declaration are generally due within 14 days after the first answer is filed.
Is Utah a 50/50 divorce state?
Not automatically. Utah is an equitable-distribution state rather than a community-property state.
Is Utah a community-property state?
No.
Must parents take divorce classes?
Parents with children under 18 generally must complete the Mandatory Parenting and Divorce Orientation courses or receive a waiver before the final order.
Can court and course fees be waived?
A qualifying filer may request a court fee waiver that can include applicable course fees.
Can I file without a lawyer?
Yes. Utah Courts provides MyPaperwork and extensive self-help information for divorce cases.
Utah Sources and Further Reading
- Utah Courts: Filing and record fees
- Utah Courts: Divorce self-help
- Utah Code § 81-4-402: Residency and divorce procedure
- Utah Code § 81-4-105: Divorce orientation course
- Utah Courts: Divorce Mediation Program
- Utah Courts: Motion to Excuse Mediation
- Utah Courts: Required Classes for Parents
- Utah Rule of Civil Procedure 26.1
- Utah Rule of Civil Procedure 100A
- Utah Code of Judicial Administration Rule 4-907