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DIY Divorce Path

Divorce Calculators & Organizers

Before you can make good decisions, you need clear numbers. These tools are here to help you see what you own, what you owe, what it costs you to live, and how long your money might last in different scenarios—before attorneys or the court start making decisions for you.

Numbers don’t tell the whole story of your life, but they do tell the truth about your options. Use these calculators to get grounded and informed, not to scare yourself. You’re just gathering information so you can move with more clarity and less panic.

Start with your Assets & Debts Organizer, then move into your monthly budget, and finally use the scenario tools to see what happens if you sell the house, pay certain support amounts, or stay in litigation longer than planned.

1. Assets & Debts – Start Here

Get a clear, side-by-side view of everything you own and everything you owe. This is the foundation for any settlement, mediation, or negotiation.

  • List real estate, vehicles, retirement, savings, and more.
  • List mortgages, loans, credit cards, and other debts.
  • See the big picture instead of scattered pieces.
Scroll to Assets & Debts ↓

2. Monthly Budget & Cash Flow

Understand what it actually costs you to live, both now and after separation. This helps you see what’s sustainable and what isn’t.

  • Track housing, food, transportation, insurance, and more.
  • Compare “current reality” vs. “post-divorce” budgets.
  • Use it to prepare for mediation or court questions.
Scroll to Monthly Budget ↓

3. Support & Scenario Snapshot

Run rough, educational scenarios to see how different support amounts or living arrangements might impact your monthly reality. This is not a legal guideline calculator—it’s a planning tool.

  • Test “what if” income and support scenarios.
  • See how changes affect your budget and savings.
  • Use the results to ask better questions of professionals.
Scroll to Support & Scenarios ↓

4. Attorney Fees & Litigation Burn Rate

See how fast legal fees can eat through home equity, savings, or retirement. This isn’t to scare you—it’s to help you decide how much litigation you can realistically afford.

  • Estimate monthly legal costs at different billing levels.
  • Compare settlement now vs. “fight longer” scenarios.
  • Connect the math to decisions about selling assets.
Scroll to Fees & Burn Rate ↓

Assets & Debts – Start Here

This is usually the best place to begin. Once you can see your assets and debts in one clear layout, conversations about “who gets what” and “what’s fair” become less emotional and more grounded in reality.

Use this organizer before mediation, before talking to attorneys, and before making big decisions like selling the house or cashing out retirement.

Note: This organizer is for your own planning and for sharing with professionals you choose. It does not replace formal financial disclosures required by the court.

Monthly Budget & Cash Flow

A lot of people are shocked when they see, in black and white, what it costs to maintain two households instead of one. This section helps you compare your current expenses with realistic post-divorce numbers.

That doesn’t mean everything has to be perfect on day one. It just means you’re not guessing when you make settlement or support decisions.

Tip: You can create one column for “now” and one for “after divorce,” or one column for “me” and one for “them,” depending on what you’re trying to understand.

Support & Scenario Snapshot (Educational Only)

This area is for rough, educational scenarios—things like, “What happens if I pay or receive this much support?” or “What if I move out vs. stay?” It’s not about predicting exactly what a judge will do. It’s about helping you see which options are survivable—and which might put you underwater.

Important: Final child and spousal support decisions are made according to your state’s laws and, in many places, software used by attorneys and courts. This tool is for planning and discussion only, not for giving legal advice or exact numbers.

Attorney Fees & Litigation Burn Rate

One of the biggest “invisible” costs in divorce is the slow, steady burn of legal fees over time. This section is meant to help you see how quickly funds from a home sale, savings, or retirement can disappear if the case drags on.

Again, the goal isn’t to shame anyone for getting legal help. The goal is to attach real numbers to choices like “file another motion” or “fight this for another year.”

Tip: Try entering different hourly rates, estimated monthly hours, and timeframes (3 months, 6 months, 1 year) to see how the math changes.

What to Do After You Use These Tools

Once you’ve filled out some or all of these sections, you’ll have something most people never have when they walk into court or mediation: a clear financial picture. From there, you can:

  • Bring your numbers into DIY-focused coaching to talk through options.
  • Use them to prepare for mediation or a settlement conference.
  • Share them (when you’re ready) with an attorney so your meetings are faster and more focused.
You don’t have to get every line item perfect. Just starting this process puts you miles ahead of where most people are when they step into the system.

2. Support & Budget Planner (Educational Only)

This tool helps you think through how monthly income, housing costs, and an educational-only support estimate might affect your monthly budget after separation or divorce. It is not a guideline child or spousal support calculator—just a planning tool to help you see whether the numbers feel realistic.

Binder note: Copy your monthly “After Support” estimates into Section 4 – Support & Monthly Budget Planner.

Step 1 – Monthly Income & Housing

Rent or mortgage + basic utilities.

Step 2 – Other Monthly Obligations

Example: extracurriculars, medical, school expenses.

This is a simplified educational estimate only. Courts use their own formulas and official guideline calculators. Always confirm support projections with a professional.

3. Attorney Fees vs Mediation Cost Comparison

This calculator helps you estimate the cost difference between a traditional attorney-driven divorce and a mediation/coaching-centered path. The goal is to see how quickly fees can add up—and how much you might save by resolving more issues outside of court.

Binder note: Copy the totals and savings estimate into Section 2 – Divorce Path & Cost Comparison.

Step 1 – Estimate Attorney Route

Example: If each side is $350–$450/hour, you might use $400.

Many contested cases easily exceed 60–100 hours combined.

Combined retainers for both sides.

Step 2 – Estimate Mediation & Coaching Route

Many couples can resolve major issues in 10–25 hours of structured work.

These numbers are estimates only. Real-world outcomes vary widely. Use them as a planning tool, not a guarantee.

4. Post-Divorce Stability Score (Readiness Check)

This is a simple self-check tool to help you think about your overall stability—financial, emotional, and practical— as you move toward divorce or separation. It is not a diagnosis or a prediction. It’s a conversation starter with yourself and your support team.

Binder note: Record your scores and your written reflection in Section 1 – Readiness & Stability Check.

Rate each area from 1 (very unstable) to 5 (very stable). Be honest—this is for you, not for court.

How reliable and predictable is your income?

Can you reasonably maintain housing after separation?

5 = very manageable, 1 = overwhelming.

5 = grounded & focused, 1 = overwhelmed & flooded.

Friends, family, community, professional support.

5 = low likelihood of major legal war, 1 = very high conflict.

This score is for your reflection only. It can be helpful to review it with a coach, mediator, therapist, or trusted support person as you plan your next steps.