See how mediation with Carmen Rodriguez compares to traditional litigation in New York — before making any commitments.
This calculator estimates the total cost of ending a marriage in New York through two paths: traditional litigation (each spouse hiring their own attorney and going through the court system) versus mediation with Carmen Rodriguez, a divorce and family mediator based on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
The estimates are generated from four inputs you provide: whether children are involved, the complexity of your case, your approximate combined marital assets, and how much you and your spouse currently agree on the key terms of your divorce. These factors are the primary cost drivers in any New York divorce.
The litigation estimates reflect the combined cost for both spouses. In a litigated divorce, each spouse typically retains and pays their own attorney — so the total represents what the couple spends together. The mediation figure is a single fee shared by both parties.
The litigation estimate combines four cost components typical in a New York City divorce proceeding:
In New York City, divorce attorney retainers generally start at $7,500 to $10,000 per person. For high-net-worth or complex cases, retainers can reach $15,000 to $25,000 per person. Because both spouses retain separate counsel, the calculator doubles this figure. This is consistent with data reported by the Southern District of New York Bar and industry surveys of Manhattan family law practitioners.
NYC family law attorneys typically charge between $350 and $600 per hour, with rates varying by experience and firm size. The calculator models the number of attorney hours based on your inputs:
| Factor | How it affects estimated hours |
|---|---|
| Children involved | Adds custody, parenting plan, and child support negotiations — increases base hours from ~20 to ~30 per attorney |
| Case complexity | Simple cases (few assets, short marriage) require fewer hours. Complex cases (multiple properties, business interests) may double or triple attorney time |
| Asset level | Higher-value estates require more due diligence, valuation, and negotiation time |
| Level of disagreement | Contentious divorces with significant disputes generate the most billable hours through motions, discovery, and potential trial preparation |
New York State requires a $210 index number fee and a $125 Note of Issue fee to file for divorce, per the NY Unified Court System fee schedule. Additional costs may include a $35 settlement agreement filing fee, $45 per motion, service of process fees, and a Request for Judicial Intervention (RJI) fee. Cases involving children typically incur higher total court costs due to additional filings and potential custody evaluations.
Complex or high-asset cases often require outside professionals: real estate appraisers, business valuators, forensic accountants, pension/QDRO specialists, or child custody evaluators. These costs are only added to the estimate when your inputs indicate a complex case or significant assets. They are not included in simple or moderate cases with assets under $500,000.
The mediation estimate is based on the actual flat-fee packages offered by Rodriguez Law and Mediation:
| Package | Sessions | Agreement draft | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mediation without children | 5 × 90 minutes | 6 hours | $6,500 |
| Mediation with children | 7 × 90 minutes | 8 hours | $8,500 |
| Prenuptial agreements | 5 × 90 minutes | 6 hours | $6,500 |
Every package includes written summaries of each session, the drafting of a separation agreement, and reasonable emails and phone calls throughout the process. All meetings are conducted via Zoom or telephone.
For complex, high-asset, or highly contested cases, the calculator may show a range above the base package price, reflecting the possibility that additional mediation sessions may be needed. Carmen will discuss your specific situation during a complimentary consultation and confirm whether the standard package fits your needs or whether a custom arrangement is more appropriate.
In litigation, each spouse pays their own attorney — meaning the couple is funding two legal teams working against each other, often on unpredictable hourly billing. Discovery, motions, depositions, and trial preparation all generate billable hours. In mediation, both spouses work with a single neutral mediator at a shared cost, and the process is structured to reach agreements efficiently rather than to prepare for adversarial proceedings.
According to the New York State Unified Court System, mediation is recognized as one of the most cost-effective and time-efficient paths to divorce resolution. The average cost of divorce mediation in New York ranges from $3,000 to $9,000 for the complete process, compared to $15,000 to $50,000 or more for litigated divorces.
Carmen M. Rodriguez is a divorce and family mediator based on the Upper West Side of Manhattan with over 20 years of legal experience in New York. She holds degrees from Brown University and Columbia Law School and has mediated more than 500 cases. Carmen serves on multiple court-appointed mediator rosters, including the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the New York Supreme Court (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island), and NYC Family Court. In November 2024, she received the James Duane Award from the Southern District of New York. She is President of the Family and Divorce Mediation Council of Greater New York. Mediation services are available in English and Spanish.
Cost estimates in this calculator are derived from the following publicly available sources and industry data (2024–2026):
This calculator was built and verified in February 2026 using the most current publicly available cost data for New York City divorce proceedings. Attorney rates, court fees, and market conditions may change over time. If you'd like to confirm current pricing for mediation with Carmen Rodriguez, schedule a complimentary consultation.