Divorce Mediation vs. Attorney: Which Saves More?

Divorce mediation costs $3,000–$8,000 on average for the full process — compared to $15,000–$30,000 for a contested attorney-driven divorce.

A mediator is a neutral third party who helps both spouses reach agreement.

Mediation works best when both parties are willing to negotiate in good faith. It does not work well in cases involving domestic abuse or extreme power imbalances. Even if mediation fails, the process often narrows the disputed issues, reducing attorney time..