Side-by-Side Comparisons
DIY vs divvi vs Attorney
An honest comparison of your three main options for a Utah divorce — cost, risk, support level, and who each is right for.
Self-file
DIY
$300 – $600
Filing fees only
Pros
+ Lowest cost
+ Full control
+ Fast if truly simple
Trade-offs
− Easy to make costly errors
− No guidance on missing steps
− Court clerks cannot advise you
Best for
Very simple, truly uncontested — no shared assets, no children, short marriage
Guided platform
divvi
$500 – $1,500
Based on complexity
Pros
+ Step-by-step intake
+ Document generation
+ Professional review included
+ Far less than attorney
Trade-offs
− Not right for contested cases
− Cannot represent you in court
− Requires cooperation from both spouses
Best for
Uncontested divorce with assets, children, or retirement accounts where you want guidance without full legal fees
Full representation
Attorney
$5,000 – $75,000+
Per party
Pros
+ Full legal protection
+ Negotiates on your behalf
+ Court representation
+ Handles high conflict
Trade-offs
− Very expensive
− Slow — months to years
− Adversarial process can escalate conflict
Best for
Contested cases, complex assets, business interests, DV situations, or when you truly cannot agree
The Honest Truth About Each Option
DIY is only truly safe for the simplest cases
If you've been married less than 2 years, have no children, no shared home, no retirement accounts, and both fully agree — DIY is fine. Add any one of those factors and your risk of errors increases significantly. Utah court clerks are not allowed to give legal advice, and filing mistakes can delay your divorce by months.
divvi is not magic — it still requires your cooperation
divvi guides you through the process and generates court-ready documents, but it cannot force your spouse to cooperate. If your spouse goes silent, refuses to sign, or files their own contested petition, you will need an attorney. divvi works best when both parties want a clean resolution.
Attorneys are expensive but sometimes the only option
If there is domestic violence, a highly contested custody battle, a business to value, or a spouse hiding assets — you need an attorney. The cost is real, but the alternative is a bad settlement you'll live with for years. Some attorneys offer unbundled services (document review only) for $500–$1,500 if you want a middle ground.