How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Tacoma, WA? (2025 Guide)

It's 2am and you're sitting in your car outside the Safeway on 6th Avenue, scrolling through divorce costs on your phone. The numbers look terrifying.

Here's the reality: divorce in Tacoma can cost anywhere from $332 to $80,000+ per person. Where you land on that spectrum depends almost entirely on one thing—whether you and your spouse can agree.

If you can work together? You're looking at under $1,000 total. If you fight about everything? Tens of thousands each. Let me break down what you'll actually pay.

What You're Actually Looking At

Here's the range, from cheapest to most expensive:

If you do it yourself and your spouse cooperates: $332-$432 total. That's filing fees and having the sheriff serve papers.

If you want help with forms but still agree on everything: $813-$2,313 using Divorce.com.

If you need a mediator to help you negotiate: $1,500-$4,050 per person.

If you hire lawyers but settle without a big fight: $8,000-$25,000 per person.

If you go to war over everything: $30,000-$80,000+ per person.

Most Tacoma divorces end up in that middle range—around $10,000-$20,000 per person. That's more than Spokane, less than Bellevue. And yeah, it's a lot of money. But if you can agree on the big stuff, you can do this for under $2,000 total.

Real Tacoma Divorces: What People Actually Paid

The easy one: Marcus and Jennifer were married 5 years, no kids, renting in Stadium District. They both wanted out, agreed on everything. Used Divorce.com to file together. Total: $406.50 each. Done in 92 days (Washington makes you wait 90 days minimum, plus a couple days for processing).

The typical one: Ryan and Ashley, married 9 years, two kids, owned a house in North End worth $485,000. They needed lawyers to negotiate custody and figure out the house. Ryan paid $14,200 total. Ashley paid $14,150. They settled after 7 months. Both thought it would cost more, but they were reasonable with each other.

The nightmare: David owned a construction company. Jennifer wanted half. They fought over the business value, the North End house ($725,000), retirement accounts, and custody of three kids. David spent $68,000. Jennifer spent $52,000. Plus they split $20,500 for a custody evaluator and business valuator. Took 18 months and nearly destroyed them both financially.

That last one? That's what happens when you fight about everything. The money you spend on lawyers doesn't go to your kids or your new life. It just disappears.

The Costs Everyone Pays

Pierce County Filing Fee: $314

One of you pays this to open the case. The other spouse pays nothing to the court unless they file their own paperwork with counter-claims.

You can pay online, by mail, or in person at Pierce County Superior Court (930 Tacoma Avenue South, Room 110). They take cash, checks, money orders, and cards.

Can't afford it? If your household income is below 125% of federal poverty level (about $39,750/year for a family of four), you can request a fee waiver. Fill out the forms, show your income, and the court might waive the whole $314.

Getting Your Spouse Served: $18-$100

Washington says you can't just hand your spouse the divorce papers yourself. Someone else has to do it officially.

Your options:

• Sheriff delivers them: $18 (cheapest, most reliable, takes 1-2 weeks)

• Private process server: $75-$100 (faster, tries harder if your spouse is avoiding)

• Certified mail: $8 (only works if your spouse will cooperate and sign that they got the papers)

Most people use the sheriff. It's cheap and it works.

The 90-Day Wait

Washington makes everyone wait 90 days from filing to finalization. No exceptions. Even if you both agree on everything, even if you have nothing to divide, you cannot finalize your divorce until day 91.

You can negotiate during those 90 days. You just can't finish until the clock runs out. So plan on at least 3-4 months total, even for the simplest divorce.

Doing It Yourself: $332-$432

If you and your spouse agree on everything, you can handle this without a lawyer. Total cost: $332 if your spouse cooperates with mail service, $432 if you need the sheriff to serve them.

"Agree on everything" means:

• You both know how you're splitting the house, cars, retirement accounts, and bank accounts

• You've figured out who pays which debts

• If you have kids, you've worked out custody and support

• You've decided if anyone pays alimony and how much

• Nobody's fighting about it

If you disagree on even one major thing, DIY won't work. You'll need help.

About 35% of people who start DIY in Pierce County actually finish without hiring a lawyer. The rest get stuck—usually on property division or custody—and end up paying for help anyway.

DIY works when:

• Short marriage (under 10 years)

• No kids, or you've already agreed on a detailed custody schedule

• You're renting, or you own a house and agree exactly how to split it

• Your assets are under $100,000

• Nobody has a business or complicated retirement accounts

• You're both willing to cooperate

DIY doesn't work when:

• Your spouse won't cooperate or contests anything

• You own a house and can't agree who keeps it

• Either of you has a pension or 401k over $50,000

• One of you owns a business

• There's a big income gap and you can't agree on alimony

• There's any domestic violence or financial abuse

Listen—if you're not sure, start with DIY. You can always hire help if you get stuck. Any forms you complete correctly can be used by a lawyer later, so you won't waste money.

How DIY Actually Works

You'll download Washington divorce forms from the Pierce County website, fill them out, file them at the courthouse ($314), have your spouse served ($18-$100), wait 90 days, and submit your final paperwork. The forms have instructions, but they're confusing. This is where most people get stuck.

If you own a house or have retirement accounts, figuring out the exact 50/50 split under Washington's community property law takes some research. If you have kids, you need a detailed parenting plan—not just "Mom has custody" but specific days, times, holidays, everything.

Most people spend 10-20 hours total on DIY. For some, that's worth saving $2,000-$5,000 in lawyer fees. For others, they hit a wall and hire help anyway.

Time from start to finish: 4-6 months (mostly waiting for the 90-day requirement).

Divorce.com: $813-$2,313 (Service Included)

Divorce.com is the middle ground between pure DIY and hiring a lawyer. You answer questions online, they generate your Washington divorce forms. It costs more than DIY but less than a lawyer.

What you get:

• All your Pierce County forms prepared correctly

• Your settlement agreement drafted

• Parenting plan if you have kids

• Child support calculations

• Instructions for filing

• Support if you get stuck

What you pay:

• Divorce.com service: $499-$1,999 (depends on your situation—kids, property, etc.)

• Pierce County filing fee: $314 (you pay this separately to the court)

• Service: $18-$100 (you pay this separately too)

Total: $813 on the low end, up to $2,313 if your case is complicated.

The catch? You and your spouse still have to agree on everything. Divorce.com helps with paperwork, not negotiation. If you disagree on major issues, you need mediation or lawyers.

Mediation: $1,500-$4,050 Per Person

Mediation means hiring a neutral person to help you and your spouse negotiate. The mediator doesn't take sides—they help you reach agreements you can both live with.

Tacoma mediators charge $150-$300/hour. Most couples need:

• Simple divorce (no kids, few assets): 3-5 hours = $450-$1,500 per person

• Standard divorce (kids, house, retirement): 8-15 hours = $1,200-$4,500 per person

• Complex divorce (business, lots of property): 15+ hours = $2,250+ per person

You typically meet weekly or bi-weekly over a few months. Most Tacoma couples spend about $1,500-$3,600 each total.

The mediator helps you work through custody, property division, debt, alimony—everything. At the end, they draft an agreement you both sign. Then you file it with the court.

The smart combo: Use a mediator to negotiate ($1,500-$3,600), but pay a lawyer for 2-3 hours ($500-$1,350) to review the agreement before you sign it. Total: $2,000-$5,000 per person. Way cheaper than hiring lawyers to fight it out.

Mediation works if you're both willing to compromise. It doesn't work if there's violence, if someone's hiding money, or if one person refuses to negotiate in good faith.

Hiring a Lawyer: Where It Gets Expensive

Uncontested With a Lawyer: $2,500-$5,000

Some lawyers will handle an uncontested divorce (where you agree on everything) for a flat fee. They prepare all the paperwork, file everything, handle service, finalize it after 90 days. You just show up to sign things.

Cost: Usually $2,500-$5,000 total. Includes the $314 filing fee and service costs.

Honestly? For most people this is overkill. If you truly agree on everything, Divorce.com ($813-$2,313) or DIY ($332-$432) will work fine. But if you have significant assets or just want a professional to handle it, this is an option.

Contested Divorce: $8,000-$25,000 Per Person

This is where most Tacoma divorces with lawyers end up. "Contested" means you disagree on important stuff and need lawyers to negotiate or fight it out.

Tacoma divorce lawyers charge $250-$450/hour:

• Newer lawyers: $250-$325/hour

• Experienced lawyers: $325-$400/hour

• Top specialists: $400-$450/hour

You pay a retainer upfront ($3,500-$7,500). Your lawyer bills against it hourly. When it runs low, they'll ask for more money.

Where the hours go:

• Meetings and phone calls with you: 16-32 hours

• Preparing paperwork and filing motions: 15-34 hours

• Negotiating with the other lawyer: 8-18 hours

• Court appearances and hearings: 10-25 hours (way more if you go to trial)

Average contested divorce in Tacoma: 50-80 hours of lawyer time.

At $250-$450/hour, that's $12,500-$36,000. Most people end up around $15,000-$22,000 because they settle before trial.

What drives up the cost:

• Fighting over custody: Add $3,000-$8,000 (might need a custody evaluator: $5,000-$15,000)

• Complex property (business, multiple properties): Add $2,000-$6,000

• Spousal maintenance disputes: Add $1,500-$4,000

• Going to trial: Add $8,000-$25,000

Many lawyers will do payment plans if you can't afford the full retainer. Some will put a lien on your share of the house—they get paid when it sells.

High-Conflict Divorce: $30,000-$80,000+ Per Person

This is the nightmare scenario. Serious custody battles, hidden assets, business valuations, domestic violence allegations. These cases can destroy you financially.

What makes it high-conflict:

• Custody battle with allegations: Abuse claims, substance abuse accusations. You'll need evaluators ($8,000-$15,000), possibly a Guardian ad Litem ($5,000-$10,000), multiple emergency hearings. Add $15,000-$35,000 to your bill.

• Business valuation fight: One of you owns a business and you fight over its value. Forensic accountant ($8,000-$25,000), extensive discovery, depositions, expert testimony. Add $12,000-$30,000.

• Hidden assets investigation: Your spouse is hiding money. Forensic accountant ($10,000-$30,000), subpoenas to banks and businesses, depositions. Add $15,000-$40,000.

• Going to trial: Can't settle, so you go to court. Trial prep (25-40 hours), trial time (3-5 days), expert witnesses ($3,000-$10,000 per expert). Add $15,000-$35,000.

Real high-conflict costs in Pierce County:

• Custody battle: $35,000-$60,000 per person

• Business owner fight: $40,000-$70,000 per person

• Hidden assets case: $45,000-$75,000 per person

• The absolute worst cases: $80,000-$150,000+ per person

These are the divorces that last 2-3 years and consume everything. The money spent on lawyers doesn't go to your kids or your future—it just disappears.

How to avoid these costs: Settle early. Every month adds $2,000-$5,000. Don't fight over small stuff. Be honest in discovery. Consider collaborative divorce. Don't use your lawyer as a therapist ($250-$450/hour versus $120-$220 for an actual therapist).

Additional Divorce Costs in Tacoma

Beyond lawyer fees and court costs, you might pay for:

Custody Evaluator: $5,000-$15,000 (Split Between Parents)

If you can't agree on custody, the Pierce County court may order a custody evaluation. A psychologist or social worker will interview both parents, interview the kids, visit both homes, review records, and write a report recommending a parenting plan.

Cost: $8,000-$15,000 total, usually split 50/50 but sometimes split based on income. In Tacoma, most custody evaluations run $10,000-$12,000.

Guardian ad Litem: $5,000-$10,000 (Split Between Parents)

A Guardian ad Litem (GAL) is a lawyer appointed to represent your children's best interests. Not always required, but common in high-conflict custody cases.

Cost: $5,000-$10,000, split between parents based on income.

Business Valuation: $5,000-$25,000

If one of you owns a business—a construction company, a food truck, a consulting practice—you'll need an expert to value it so you can divide it fairly.

Cost: $5,000-$10,000 for a simple business, $15,000-$25,000 for a complex business with multiple locations or significant assets.

Forensic Accountant: $8,000-$30,000

If you think your spouse is hiding money, you'll hire a forensic accountant to trace assets, analyze financial records, and testify about what they found.

Cost: $8,000-$30,000 depending on how complex the finances are and how much investigation is needed.

Real Estate Appraisal: $400-$700

If you own a house in North End, Stadium District, or anywhere in Tacoma and you can't agree on its value, you'll hire an appraiser.

Cost: $400-$700 for a standard appraisal. Some divorces use two appraisers (one for each spouse) and split the difference, which doubles the cost.

QDRO Preparation: $500-$2,500

If you're dividing a 401k, pension, or other retirement account, you need a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO). This is a special court order that tells the retirement plan administrator how to split the account.

Cost: $500-$1,200 if your lawyer prepares it, $800-$2,500 if you hire a QDRO specialist.

Therapy/Counseling: $120-$220 Per Session

Divorce is brutal emotionally. Many people see a therapist during the process.

Cost: $120-$220/session for a licensed therapist in Tacoma. Most people do 2-4 sessions per month for 6-12 months. That's $1,200-$10,000 total.

Insurance might cover some of it if you have mental health benefits.

What Determines Your Divorce Cost in Tacoma?

1. Can You Agree?

This is the single biggest factor. If you and your spouse agree on custody, property, and support, you can divorce for under $1,000 using DIY or Divorce.com. If you fight over everything, you'll spend $30,000-$80,000+.

Every issue you fight about costs money:

• Fight over the house: Add $2,000-$5,000 in legal fees

• Fight over custody: Add $3,000-$15,000

• Fight over business valuation: Add $10,000-$30,000

• Fight over hidden assets: Add $15,000-$40,000

The more you compromise, the less you pay.

2. Do You Have Kids?

Divorces with kids cost more because:

• You need a detailed parenting plan (takes time to draft and negotiate)

• You need a child support order (requires income documentation and calculations)

• Custody disputes are expensive (custody evaluators, GALs, multiple hearings)

Expect to add $1,500-$5,000 to your legal costs if you have kids, even if you agree on custody. If you fight over custody, add $8,000-$30,000+.

3. Do You Own a House?

If you own a house in Tacoma:

• You need to decide who keeps it or whether to sell

• You need to divide the equity (harder than it sounds if you disagree on the value or who gets what share)

• You need to handle the mortgage (refinance or assume it)

Disagreements over the house add $2,000-$5,000 in legal fees. If you need an appraisal ($400-$700) and you fight over valuation, add more.

4. Do You Have Retirement Accounts?

Dividing a 401k or pension requires a QDRO ($500-$2,500). If you fight over how much each person gets, add $2,000-$5,000 in legal fees.

5. Does Someone Own a Business?

Business ownership complicates everything. You need to:

• Value the business ($5,000-$25,000 for an expert)

• Determine what's community property vs. separate property

• Figure out how to divide it (buyout? Sell it? Co-own it?)

Divorces involving businesses cost $25,000-$70,000+ per person.

6. Is There a Big Income Difference?

If one spouse earns $150,000 and the other earns $40,000, you'll fight over spousal maintenance:

• How much?

• For how long?

• Modifiable or not?

Washington has guidelines but they're not mandatory. Expect to spend $1,500-$4,000 in legal fees arguing about maintenance.

7. How Angry Are You?

The angrier you are, the more you'll spend. Some people spend $40,000 fighting over $10,000 in assets just because they hate their spouse.

If you want to punish your spouse, if you're using the divorce to continue the fight, if you refuse to compromise out of spite—you'll spend tens of thousands on legal fees and probably lose more than you gain.

Washington Community Property: What It Means for Your Costs

Washington is a community property state. Everything you acquired during the marriage is community property and gets divided 50/50 unless there's a good reason for a different split.

Community property:

• House you bought during marriage (even if only one name is on the deed)

• Retirement accounts you contributed to during marriage

• Cars, furniture, bank accounts acquired during marriage

• Debt taken on during marriage (credit cards, mortgage, loans)

Separate property:

• Property you owned before marriage

• Gifts or inheritance you received (kept separate)

• Property acquired after separation

The tricky part: What if you owned a house before marriage but you both paid the mortgage during marriage? What if your separate 401k grew during marriage? What if you used inheritance money to remodel the house?

These "mixed" assets create expensive legal disputes. You'll pay lawyers to trace contributions, calculate appreciation, argue over reimbursement. Can easily add $3,000-$10,000 to your costs if you fight about it.

If you can agree on a fair division of mixed assets, you'll save a lot of money.

Spousal Maintenance (Alimony) in Tacoma

Washington calls it "maintenance" not alimony. The court can order one spouse to pay the other monthly support after divorce.

Factors the court considers:

• Length of marriage (longer marriage = more likely to award maintenance)

• Income difference (bigger gap = more likely to award maintenance)

• Age and health of both spouses

• Education and job skills

• Time out of the workforce (to raise kids or support the other spouse's career)

How much? There's no formula. Typically 20-35% of the income gap for moderate-length marriages. For example, if one spouse earns $90,000 and the other earns $30,000 (gap of $60,000), maintenance might be $1,000-$1,750/month.

For how long? Depends on marriage length. Rough guidelines:

• Less than 5 years: Unlikely to get maintenance, or very short-term (1-2 years)

• 5-10 years: Possible maintenance for 2-5 years

• 10-20 years: Likely maintenance for 3-8 years

• 20+ years: Possible permanent maintenance (until remarriage or retirement)

If you fight over maintenance, expect to spend $1,500-$4,000 in legal fees arguing about it.

Child Support in Tacoma

Washington has a child support formula based on both parents' incomes and the custody schedule. The state provides an online calculator.

You can't waive child support—it's the child's right, not yours. Even if you both agree to no child support, the court won't approve it unless both parents earn similar amounts and you have equal parenting time.

If you fight over income (one spouse claims they earn less than they actually do), you'll spend $1,000-$3,000 in legal fees proving actual income.

How Long Does a Tacoma Divorce Take?

Uncontested (you agree on everything): 3-5 months

• 90-day mandatory waiting period

• 1-2 weeks to prepare paperwork

• 2-4 weeks for filing and service

• 1-2 weeks for final processing

Contested (some disagreements): 8-14 months

• 90-day waiting period

• 6-10 months of negotiation

• 1-3 court hearings

• Settlement a few weeks before trial

High-conflict (major disputes): 14-24 months

• 90-day waiting period

• 8-16 months of discovery and fighting

• Multiple hearings

• Possibly a trial (adds 3-6 months)

The longer it takes, the more you pay.

How to Save Money on Your Tacoma Divorce

1. Agree on Everything Before You Hire Lawyers

Every issue you and your spouse can resolve yourselves saves $1,000-$5,000 in legal fees. Sit down together (maybe with a friend or therapist present) and try to agree on:

• Who keeps the house (or how you'll divide the sale proceeds)

• How to split retirement accounts and bank accounts

• Who pays which debts

• Custody schedule if you have kids

The more you agree on before involving lawyers, the less you'll spend.

2. Use Mediation Instead of Lawyers

If you can't agree on everything but you're both willing to compromise, hire a mediator ($1,500-$4,050 each) instead of divorce lawyers ($8,000-$25,000+ each).

3. Do Some of the Work Yourself

Even if you hire a lawyer, you can save money by:

• Gathering your own financial documents (bank statements, tax returns, pay stubs) instead of paying your lawyer $250-$450/hour to do it

• Drafting your own list of assets and debts for your lawyer to review

• Responding to emails instead of calling (emails take less time)

• Reading Washington divorce laws online so you understand the basics

Some Tacoma lawyers offer "unbundled" or "limited scope" services—you hire them for specific tasks (draft your Separation Contract, review a settlement offer) instead of full representation. Can save $3,000-$10,000.

4. Don't Fight Over Small Stuff

Is it worth $2,000 in legal fees to fight over a $500 couch? No. Let your spouse have it.

Pick your battles. Focus on the big assets: house, retirement accounts, business. Let go of furniture, kitchenware, and minor disagreements.

5. Settle Early

Every month your divorce drags on adds $1,500-$4,000 in legal fees. If your lawyer says "you should settle," listen. Don't hold out for a slightly better deal if it means three more months of fighting.

6. Communicate Through Email, Not Phone Calls

Your lawyer bills for every phone call. A 15-minute call costs $60-$112 (quarter-hour at $250-$450/hour). An email takes 5 minutes to read and respond to—$20-$37.

Use email for updates and questions. Save phone calls for urgent strategy discussions.

7. Get Organized

The more organized you are, the less time your lawyer spends sorting through your mess. Bring organized financial documents to your first meeting:

• Last 3 years of tax returns

• Last 3 months of bank statements

• Last 3 months of pay stubs

• Retirement account statements

• Mortgage statement and property tax records

• Car titles and loan statements

• Credit card statements

Your lawyer will need all this anyway. If you provide it upfront, they'll spend less time (and you'll pay less money) tracking it down.

Red Flags: When Your Divorce Will Cost More

Your spouse hired an aggressive lawyer: If your spouse lawyered up with an expensive, combative attorney, you'll need to match that firepower. Expect your costs to go up.

Your spouse is hiding assets: If you think your spouse has secret bank accounts, you'll need a forensic accountant ($8,000-$30,000) to investigate. This adds months and tens of thousands to your divorce costs.

Your spouse is making false accusations: Allegations of abuse, neglect, or substance use require extensive response—declarations, witnesses, possibly evaluations. Adds $5,000-$20,000.

You keep changing lawyers: Every time you fire a lawyer and hire a new one, the new lawyer needs to get up to speed (reading your file, researching issues). You're paying twice for the same work. Stick with one lawyer unless they're truly incompetent.

You want "your day in court": If you refuse to settle because you want a judge to hear your side, you'll pay $15,000-$35,000 for a trial. Most people who go to trial regret it—they spend a fortune and the judge's decision is about what they would have gotten in a settlement anyway.

Real Talk: What Most People Actually Pay

After handling hundreds of divorce cost questions, here's what most Tacoma divorces actually cost:

Amicable split, no kids, minimal assets: $400-$900 (DIY or Divorce.com)

Amicable split with kids and a house: $2,500-$5,000 (uncontested lawyer or Divorce.com plus a consulting lawyer)

Some disagreements, but willing to compromise: $6,000-$15,000 per person (mediation or contested with early settlement)

Significant disputes over custody or property: $12,000-$25,000 per person (contested divorce with hearings)

High-conflict with allegations or hidden assets: $30,000-$80,000+ per person (extended litigation, experts, trial)

The median Tacoma divorce probably costs around $8,000-$18,000 per person. That's the reality if you have kids, own a house, and need lawyers to negotiate but you eventually settle without going to trial.

The Bottom Line

Divorce in Tacoma costs anywhere from $332 (pure DIY) to $80,000+ per person (high-conflict litigation). Where you fall on that spectrum depends almost entirely on whether you and your spouse can agree.

If you can work together and compromise, you'll spend under $2,000 each. If you fight, you'll spend tens of thousands.

Here's the hard truth: The money you spend on lawyers doesn't go into your pocket. It doesn't go to your kids. It's just gone. Every dollar you spend fighting is a dollar you don't have for your new life.

Compromise where you can. Pick your battles. Settle as early as possible. Your future self will thank you.

You'll get through this. Most people do. And if you can get through it without spending $40,000 on lawyers, even better.