How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Pomona, CA? (2026 Guide)

You're sitting in your car outside the Vons on Holt Avenue at midnight, scrolling through divorce costs. Here's what you need to know: Pomona is expensive, but you're in the Inland Empire, not coastal LA. Things cost less here than in Orange County or Santa Monica.

The bad news? California has a 6-month mandatory waiting period. Even if you both agree on everything, you can't finalize for at least 6 months. The good news? If you can work together, you can do this for under $1,500 total.

Let me break down what you'll actually pay.

What You're Looking At

Do it yourself: $475-$600 (filing $435-$450 + service $40-$150)

Divorce.com: $934-$2,449 (service included)

Mediation: $1,800-$4,500 per person

Contested with lawyers: $12,000-$30,000 per person

High-conflict: $35,000-$100,000+ per person

Most Pomona divorces with lawyers cost $15,000-$25,000 per person. That's expensive but moderate for Southern California—less than coastal LA or Orange County.

If you agree on everything, you can do this for under $1,200 total.

Real Pomona Divorces

The affordable one: Maria and Jose, married 5 years, no kids, renting in Phillips Ranch. Used Divorce.com, agreed on everything. Total: $717 each. Done in 7 months (California's 6-month wait plus processing).

The typical one: David and Jennifer, married 12 years, two kids, owned a house in North Pomona worth $585,000. Hired lawyers to negotiate custody and property. David paid $21,400. Jennifer paid $19,800. Settled in 11 months.

The expensive one: Michael owned a medical practice. Lisa wanted half. They fought over the practice, the house ($725,000), retirement accounts, custody of three kids. Michael spent $88,000. Lisa spent $72,000. Plus $28,000 for experts. Took 22 months.

That last one is what happens when you fight about everything in an expensive California county.

The Costs Everyone Pays

Los Angeles County Filing Fee: $435-$450

One of the highest in the country. One spouse pays this to open the case.

Pay online, by mail, or in person at Pomona Courthouse North. They take cash, checks, money orders, cards.

Can't afford it? File Fee Waiver (form FW-001) showing household income below limits. Court might waive entire fee.

Getting Your Spouse Served: $40-$150

California requires official service.

• Sheriff service: $40-$50 (cheapest, reliable, takes 1-2 weeks)

• Private process server: $75-$150 (faster, more flexible)

• Certified mail: Won't work in California (state requires personal service or sheriff)

Most use sheriff ($40-$50).

The 6-Month Wait

California requires 6-month mandatory waiting period from date of service (not filing). This is one of the longest in the country. Even if you both agree immediately, you cannot finalize until 6 months after your spouse is served.

Plan on 7-10 months total for simple divorce:

• 1-2 weeks prep

• 1 week filing

• 1-2 weeks service

• 6 months mandatory wait

• 1-2 weeks final processing

DIY Divorce: $475-$600

If you agree on everything, you can handle it yourself. Total: $475 with sheriff service, $600 with private server.

"Agree on everything" means:

• How to split the house, cars, retirement, bank accounts (50/50 under CA law)

• Who pays which debts

• Custody and child support if you have kids

• Whether anyone pays spousal support

If you disagree on even one major thing, DIY won't work.

About 35% of people who start DIY in LA County finish without help. The rest get stuck on property division or custody.

DIY works when:

• Short marriage (under 10 years)

• No kids or complete custody agreement

• Minimal assets

• No businesses or complex retirement accounts

• Both willing to cooperate

DIY doesn't work when:

• Spouse won't cooperate

• Can't agree on house or custody

• Business ownership

• Significant assets

• Big income gap, spousal support disputed

• Any domestic violence

How It Works

Download California divorce forms from LA County website. Fill them out (Petition, Marital Settlement Agreement, Custody plan if kids, Judgment). File at Pomona Courthouse North ($435-$450). Have spouse served ($40-$150). Wait 6 months. Submit final paperwork. Judge signs. Done.

Most people spend 15-25 hours on DIY. Community property is straightforward (50/50), but figuring out exact values takes work.

Time: 7-10 months minimum.

Divorce.com: $934-$2,449

Middle ground. You answer questions online, they generate your California forms.

What you get:

• All LA County forms prepared

• Marital Settlement Agreement drafted

• Parenting plan if you have kids

• Child support calculations

• Instructions

• Support

What you pay:

• Divorce.com: $499-$1,999

• LA County filing: $435-$450

• Service: $40-$150

Total: $934-$2,449.

You still have to agree on everything. This just helps with paperwork.

Mediation: $1,800-$4,500 Per Person

Hire neutral mediator to help negotiate. Pomona mediators charge $250-$350/hour.

Most couples need:

• Simple case: 5-8 hours = $1,250-$2,800 per person

• Standard case: 10-15 hours = $2,500-$5,250 per person

• Complex case: 15-20 hours = $3,750-$7,000 per person

Average: $1,800-$4,500 each.

Smart combo: Mediate ($1,800-$4,500), then pay lawyer 2 hours ($600-$900) to review agreement. Total: $2,400-$5,400 per person. Way cheaper than full representation.

Mediation works if both willing to compromise. Doesn't work if violence, hidden money, or someone won't negotiate.

Hiring a Lawyer: Where It Gets Expensive

Uncontested With Lawyer: $3,000-$6,000

Some lawyers handle uncontested divorces (you agree on everything) for flat fee. They do paperwork, file everything, finalize it.

Cost: $3,000-$6,000 total.

If you truly agree on everything, Divorce.com ($934-$2,449) or DIY ($475-$600) makes more sense. But if you have significant assets and want professional handling, this works.

Contested Divorce: $12,000-$30,000 Per Person

This is where most Pomona divorces with lawyers end up. You disagree and need lawyers to negotiate.

Pomona lawyers: $300-$450/hour

• Newer lawyers: $300-$350/hour

• Experienced: $350-$400/hour

• Top specialists: $400-$450/hour

Retainer: $5,000-$8,000 upfront. They bill hourly. When low, ask for more.

Where hours go:

• Meetings with you: 15-30 hours

• Paperwork and motions: 15-35 hours

• Negotiating: 8-18 hours

• Court appearances: 10-25 hours

Average: 50-80 hours.

At $300-$450/hour, that's $15,000-$36,000. Most settle around $15,000-$25,000 per person.

What adds cost:

• Custody fight: Add $3,000-$8,000 (evaluator: $6,000-$18,000)

• Complex property: Add $2,500-$6,000

• Spousal support disputes: Add $2,000-$5,000

• Business valuation: Add $8,000-$25,000

• Trial: Add $10,000-$30,000

Many lawyers do payment plans.

High-Conflict: $35,000-$100,000+ Per Person

Serious custody battles, hidden assets, business valuations.

What makes it high-conflict:

• Custody battle: Evaluators ($6,000-$18,000), Guardian ad Litem ($5,000-$12,000), multiple hearings. Add $15,000-$35,000.

• Business valuation: Forensic accountant ($8,000-$30,000), extensive discovery. Add $12,000-$35,000.

• Hidden assets: Forensic accountant ($10,000-$35,000), extensive discovery. Add $15,000-$40,000.

• Trial: Prep and trial time. Add $12,000-$35,000.

Real costs:

• Custody battle: $35,000-$65,000 per person

• Business owner: $40,000-$80,000 per person

• Hidden assets: $45,000-$85,000 per person

• Worst cases: $90,000-$180,000+ per person

How to avoid: Settle early. Every month adds $2,000-$5,000.

Additional Costs

Custody evaluator: $6,000-$18,000 split (so $3,000-$9,000 each). Psychologist evaluates parents, recommends custody.

Guardian ad Litem: $5,000-$12,000 split. Lawyer for kids in high-conflict cases.

Business valuation: $6,000-$25,000. Expert values business for division.

Forensic accountant: $8,000-$35,000. Investigates hidden money.

Home appraisal: $450-$700. Determines house value.

QDRO: $500-$2,500. Legal order to split retirement accounts.

Therapy: $140-$220/session in Pomona. Most do 2-4 sessions/month for 6-12 months. That's $1,700-$10,600 total.

What Determines Your Cost

Can you agree? This is everything. Agree = under $1,500 total. Fight = $30,000-$60,000+.

Do you have kids? Adds $1,500-$5,000 even if you agree. Fight over custody adds $8,000-$25,000+.

Do you own a house? Pomona real estate is expensive. Fighting over a $600k house adds legal costs.

Does someone own a business? Needs valuation ($6,000-$25,000). Fighting over it adds $12,000-$30,000.

Big income difference? You'll fight over spousal support. Add $2,000-$5,000.

How angry are you? Anger costs money.

California Community Property

California is community property state. Everything acquired during marriage automatically splits 50/50 unless there's good reason otherwise.

Community property:

• House bought during marriage (even if one name on deed)

• All retirement contributions during marriage

• All income earned during marriage

• Cars, furniture, accounts acquired during marriage

• Debt from during marriage

Separate property:

• Property owned before marriage

• Gifts or inheritance (kept separate)

• Property acquired after separation

Mixed assets (house owned before but appreciated during marriage) create expensive fights.

50/50 split is pretty clear in California, but valuation and division logistics get complicated.

Spousal Support in Pomona

California has formulas for temporary support, but permanent support is discretionary.

Factors court considers:

• Marriage length (longer = more likely)

• Income gap (bigger gap = more likely)

• Standard of living during marriage

• Age and health

• Earning capacity

• Contributions to marriage (including homemaker)

How much? For temp support, LA County uses formula (roughly 40% of higher earner minus 50% of lower earner). Permanent support varies.

How long?

• Under 10 years: Half the marriage length typically

• Over 10 years: Can be indefinite until remarriage/death

Fighting over spousal support adds $2,000-$5,000 in legal fees.

Child Support

California has strict formula. Use California's online calculator (DissoMaster).

You can't waive child support—it's the child's right. Court won't approve zero support unless both earn similar amounts and have equal time.

Fighting over income adds $1,000-$3,000 in legal fees.

How Long Does It Take?

Uncontested (agree on everything): 7-10 months

• 6-month mandatory wait from service

• 1-2 weeks prep

• 1 week filing/service

• 1-2 weeks final processing

Contested (some disagreements): 12-18 months

• 6-month minimum

• 4-10 months negotiation

• 2-4 hearings

• Settle before trial

High-conflict: 18-30 months

• 6-month minimum

• 10-20 months fighting

• Multiple hearings

• Possibly trial

The longer it takes, the more you pay.

How to Save Money

1. Agree before hiring lawyers: Every issue you resolve saves $1,500-$5,000.

2. Use mediation: $1,800-$4,500 each versus $12,000-$30,000+.

3. Do some work yourself: Gather documents, organize finances.

4. Use email, not calls: Email costs less.

5. Don't use lawyer as therapist: They're $300-$450/hour. Therapists are $140-$220/hour.

6. Be efficient: Ask all questions at once.

7. Settle early: Every month adds $2,000-$4,000.

8. Pick battles: Don't fight over small stuff.

Real Talk: What Most People Pay

Amicable, no kids, minimal assets: $600-$1,200 (DIY or Divorce.com)

Amicable with kids and house: $3,000-$6,000 (uncontested lawyer or Divorce.com + consulting lawyer)

Some disagreements, compromise: $8,000-$18,000 per person (mediation or early settlement)

Significant disputes: $15,000-$30,000 per person (contested with settlement)

High-conflict: $35,000-$90,000+ per person

Median Pomona divorce probably costs $15,000-$23,000 per person. That's the reality for LA County with expensive lawyers and real estate.

The Bottom Line

Divorce in Pomona costs $475 (DIY) to $90,000+ (high-conflict) per person.

You control where you land. Work together = under $2,000 each. Fight = tens of thousands.

The money spent on lawyers doesn't go to your kids or your future. It disappears.

Compromise where you can. Settle early. Your future self will thank you.

Pomona is expensive, but you're in the Inland Empire, not Beverly Hills. You'll get through this.