{"dataVerifiedDate":"2026-06-29","source":"https://legalcostcalc.co/legal-cost-statistics","totalDataPoints":369,"findings":["Criminal Defense is the most expensive matter type nationally, with a median cost of $9,905 across 51 states.","Estate Planning / Probate is the least expensive matter type nationally, with a median cost of $1,954 across 46 states.","Real Estate Closing costs 121% more in Hawaii than in Kentucky — the widest state-to-state gap of any matter type tracked.","Criminal Defense costs 102% more in Hawaii ($13,350) than in Alabama ($6,600).","Divorce costs 113% more in Hawaii ($12,900) than in Alabama ($6,050)."],"categories":[{"category":"criminal-defense","displayName":"Criminal Defense","nationalAverageMedianCost":9905,"stateCount":51,"highestCostState":{"code":"HI","name":"Hawaii","medianCost":13350},"lowestCostState":{"code":"AL","name":"Alabama","medianCost":6600},"highVsLowPercent":102},{"category":"divorce","displayName":"Divorce","nationalAverageMedianCost":8798,"stateCount":51,"highestCostState":{"code":"HI","name":"Hawaii","medianCost":12900},"lowestCostState":{"code":"AL","name":"Alabama","medianCost":6050},"highVsLowPercent":113},{"category":"dui","displayName":"DUI / DWI","nationalAverageMedianCost":7403,"stateCount":51,"highestCostState":{"code":"WA","name":"Washington","medianCost":9800},"lowestCostState":{"code":"SC","name":"South Carolina","medianCost":5550},"highVsLowPercent":77},{"category":"immigration","displayName":"Immigration","nationalAverageMedianCost":4938,"stateCount":49,"highestCostState":{"code":"HI","name":"Hawaii","medianCost":7150},"lowestCostState":{"code":"KY","name":"Kentucky","medianCost":3350},"highVsLowPercent":113},{"category":"personal-injury","displayName":"Personal Injury","nationalAverageMedianCost":4928,"stateCount":28,"highestCostState":{"code":"HI","name":"Hawaii","medianCost":6650},"lowestCostState":{"code":"AR","name":"Arkansas","medianCost":3500},"highVsLowPercent":90},{"category":"bankruptcy","displayName":"Bankruptcy","nationalAverageMedianCost":3479,"stateCount":47,"highestCostState":{"code":"HI","name":"Hawaii","medianCost":4400},"lowestCostState":{"code":"KY","name":"Kentucky","medianCost":2350},"highVsLowPercent":87},{"category":"real-estate","displayName":"Real Estate Closing","nationalAverageMedianCost":2155,"stateCount":46,"highestCostState":{"code":"HI","name":"Hawaii","medianCost":3200},"lowestCostState":{"code":"KY","name":"Kentucky","medianCost":1450},"highVsLowPercent":121},{"category":"estate-planning","displayName":"Estate Planning / Probate","nationalAverageMedianCost":1954,"stateCount":46,"highestCostState":{"code":"HI","name":"Hawaii","medianCost":2600},"lowestCostState":{"code":"AL","name":"Alabama","medianCost":1350},"highVsLowPercent":93}]}