Divorce costs in Manhattan can be significant, with costs ranging from a few hundred dollars in court fees to tens of thousands of dollars for contested cases that proceed to trial. According to Manhattan divorce attorney Richard Roman Shum, the standard court filing fees for a New York divorce begin at $335, which includes a $210 index number fee and a $125 uncontested matrimonial calendar fee.
Factors Influencing Divorce Costs
Contested cases may also require a $95 Request for Judicial Intervention and a $30 Note of Issue. The total cost of a divorce depends almost entirely on whether spouses can reach an agreement on the major issues without extended litigation. An uncontested divorce, where both spouses agree on property division, custody, child support, and spousal maintenance, generally costs significantly less than a contested case.
Manhattan attorneys typically handle uncontested matters on a flat-fee basis ranging from $1,500 to $5,500, while contested divorces in the New York Supreme Court generally range from $15,000 to $50,000 and can exceed $100,000 when significant assets, business interests, or custody disputes are involved. Custody disputes are among the most expensive components of any case because they may require forensic evaluators or court-appointed attorneys for the child.
Under New York Domestic Relations Law § 240, courts determine custody based on the best interests of the child, considering factors such as each parent’s ability to provide a stable home and the child’s relationship with each parent. Child support calculations follow the Child Support Standards Act, which applies a statutory formula to combined parental income up to $193,000 as of March 2026.
Property Division and Spousal Maintenance
Property division in New York follows the equitable distribution model under DRL § 236(B), which directs courts to divide marital property fairly based on 15 statutory factors, including the length of the marriage and each spouse’s economic circumstances. Spousal maintenance is calculated under DRL § 236(B)(6), with the statutory formula applied to the payor’s income up to a cap of $241,000 as of March 2026.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
