What does divorce cost in Ohio?
Compare contested litigation, traditional mediation, and SerenityNow — updated with Ohio specific estimates.
Contested / Litigated
$21,000
$12,000 – $30,000Two attorneys billing by the hour. Retainers, motions, and court dates compound quickly.
Traditional Mediation
$5,000
$3,000 – $8,000One neutral mediator at $150–$300 per hour. Multiple sessions are usually required.
SerenityNow
$500
$500 flat feeAI-guided process for both parties. No hourly billing, no surprise invoices.
Cost comparison — Ohio
Where the money goes
| Category | Contested | Trad. Med. | SerenityNow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney fees | $13,650 | — | — |
| Mediator / facilitator | — | $4,200 | — |
| SerenityNow flat fee | — | — | $500 |
| Court & filing fees | $2,520 | $350 | $350 |
| Expert witnesses | $3,150 | — | — |
| Miscellaneous | $1,680 | $450 | — |
| Total | $21,000 | $5,000 | $850 |
Children involved?
Custody disputes are the single biggest driver of litigation costs — every disagreement means another motion, another hearing, another bill.
Marital bank
Complex asset division (real estate, retirement accounts, businesses) usually requires appraisals and forensic accounting.
Filing fee
The court filing fee in Ohio is $350 regardless of which path you choose.
Time matters
Contested divorces drag out for months of stress, legal bills, and uncertainty for the whole family.
SerenityNow: $500 flat fee
10x less than a mediator. Court ready agreements you can trust.
Both parties guided through a calm, structured process from start to finish.
SerenityNow is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Cost estimates are educational and based on publicly available state averages — actual costs vary by county, complexity, and the attorneys or mediators involved.