The cost of divorce is almost impossible to answer without talking to the client to get more information. Its like asking a builder how much it would cost to build a house without giving him any information (e.g. how many rooms, square footage, number of stories, etc.).
Most attorneys charge an initial consultation fee. This pays for their time in assessing your case and giving advice on the steps that they think are necessary in your case.
At the initial consultation, the attorney should inform you what the financial arrangements are for paying for the case. Cases may be priced in a variety of ways, including hourly rates, flat fees or a combination based on the services needed from your attorney. If you need to arrange for special payment arrangements, now is the time to address them.
The amount of the retainer and the total projected cost of the case will vary depending on factors such as:
Is the divorce contested or uncontested
Are there children involved
The marital property to be divided
The marital debt to be assigned
Discovery Costs (e.g. deposition costs)
Division of retirement accounts (possible expert witness fees)
The cost of the attorneys fees for your divorce is something that will be set by your attorney based on your circumstances. Practically all attorneys will ask for a retainer to ensure that the attorney will be paid. Retainer amounts will vary with every case.
Contested Cases: $3,500.00 to $5,000.00 is a general guideline for a retainer on a typical contested case.
Uncontested Cases: $1,500.00 to $2,500.00 is a general guideline for a typical uncontested case.
There are other fixed costs that cannot be controlled such as
Filing fees
Costs for parent education classes
Refinancing costs
Deed recording fees
These should also be factored into the total cost of your divorce.
We offer convenient payment terms and accept cash, checks and credit cards.
No matter what your divorce, child custody, child support or visitation issue, you should discuss your options with a qualified divorce lawyer to protect your rights.
CONTACT US TO SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION: (251) 317-0117