The short answer
It depends on scope — and the honest examiner tells you that before quoting a number. A single unlocked phone with a narrow question is a small engagement; three locked devices plus cloud collection and a deposition is a much larger one. The price is set by the work the matter actually requires, which is why a responsible firm scopes first and quotes against that scope. This page explains the drivers that move the cost and how SleuthX prices a divorce matter. It is informational, not legal advice.
What drives the cost
Most of the variation in a divorce forensic exam comes down to a handful of factors:
- Number of devices. Each phone, tablet, or computer is its own acquisition and analysis.
- Locked or encrypted devices.A locked, modern, encrypted phone can require far more effort to reach — or may not be reachable at all — which changes both cost and feasibility.
- Data volume. The amount of data to process and review scales the analysis time.
- Cloud sources. Collecting and analyzing iCloud, Google, or other cloud accounts adds scope beyond the device itself.
- Litigation work. Depositions, expert testimony, and court appearances are time beyond the exam, and they are billed for it.
- Turnaround and rigor. Rush timelines, and a heightened chain-of-custody and report-writing standard for a contested matter, both add to the total.
How SleuthX prices a matter
Done-for-you forensics in three device packages — $2,000 (1 device), $5,000 (3 devices), $7,000 (5 devices), each including the $995 lifetime tool license. $400/hr flat for anything beyond — additional devices, complex or multi-actor cases, litigation, and expert-witness work. Final scope is set on a free triage call.
In short: done-for-you forensics start from $2,000, with $400/hr flat for anything beyond a standard package, and complex or litigation engagements in the $15,000–$50,000 range scoped per case. The full breakdown lives on our pricing page, and the exact figure for your matter is set on a free triage call once the scope is clear.
The scoped-quote norm — and the low-ball trap
Across the industry, the standard is a free scoping consult followed by a per-matter quote, because no two divorce exams are alike. Treat a confident flat price offered before anyone has seen the devices with skepticism: a low “foot-in-the-door” number has a habit of growing once the real work starts. A trustworthy examiner would rather tell you the odds are poor — for instance, a locked phone with no backup — than bill for a long shot. For the general market, the further-reading sources below survey how forensic and expert-witness services are typically priced.
Deciding whether it's worth it
The right question is not just “what does it cost” but “what would the evidence prove, and is the device reachable.” A short scoping conversation answers both before you commit. When the question is whether an exam earns its cost in your case, our digital forensics for divorce page walks through what an exam can and cannot deliver, and the triage call sets the scope and the number together.
Further reading on forensic pricing
- Howe Law Firm, Smartphone Evidence: Price and Cost Guide for E-Discovery and Forensics Expert Services. https://www.howelawfirm.com/shop/price-cost-guide-ediscovery-forensics-expert-services/smartphone-evidence/
- Elite Digital Forensics, Digital Forensics Expert-Witness Hourly Rates: 2026 Pricing Guide. https://elitedigitalforensics.com/2026/05/17/digital-forensics-expert-witness-hourly-rates-2026-pricing-guide-elite-digital-forensics/
- ForensAI, The Cost of Digital Forensics. https://forens.ai/cost-of-digital-forensics
