According to members of AVVO, “That depends on the complexity of the case and the level of agreement between the two of you. An “Agreed Divorce” can be done as quickly as 4-6 weeks and cost a total of 1500-2000 (fees and costs) depending on the attorney. A contested divorce can generally take 6 months to 1.5 years and run each of you $2,500-$20,000 and possibly more. Your best bet is to consult with a divorce lawyer (many offer free consultations) to get the best advice on time and costs but more importantly on your rights.”
Civil Divorce Cost Not Having an Attorney
For filing for an uncontested divorce by yourself, there are options. First off, you both can submit the necessary paperwork with within the local family court. The court will then present you with the forms required, like a petition for divorce and a parenting plan, in which summarizes the care for your children. Following you filing your documents and waiting for the necessary period that is mandated by state law, you’ll present yourself in front of a judge to finalize your divorce. Be sure that you understand the laws in your state when finishing your forms for divorce, like spousal maintenance, child support and property allocation.
Additionally, you have the alternative to file for an uncontested divorce through online services. Usually, these services will give you assistance throughout the process for the completion and filing the required documentation for divorce necessitated by your state. Check with your state laws to verify that filing for a divorce online is allowed.
Filing for an uncontested divorce on your own, without an attorney help, is the most inexpensive course. You will have an approximated $300 fee for filing the paperwork within the court, it doesn’t matter if you file on your own or with the aid of a web-based service. Using web-based service to aid you, costs may range between $150 to $1,500 subject to the service used and your particular circumstance, as well as any filing fees.
Civil Divorce Cost Having an Attorney
If you choose to have an attorney assist you, the attorney will champion for you and your wishes during the divorce process. Getting an attorney can be beneficial when you have a complex divorce, or when you and your spouse can agree on specific issues.
An attorney is only allowed to represent one spouse; you can’t share your attorney with your soon to be ex. Your attorney will assist you in negotiating facets of your divorce, like the allocation of property, child custody, and any debt settlement needed. Once your attorney files all required paperwork and a court date is scheduled, the attorney will attend court alongside you and submit your case to the judge for final resolution.
If you decide to hire an attorney for your uncontested divorce, the expense will be lower than a divorce that is contested. Despite that, the more convoluted your case is, or if your case is contested, then your attorney fees will be higher.
Usually, you will need to pay your divorce attorney a down payment, or what is called a retainer, of around $2,500 – $5,000. You will be charged by the attorney using that money until it runs out. When that happens, you may have to put down more for an added retainer, or your attorney could charge you by the hour. Average attorney fees can range from $150 to $400 per hour.
Source
- Kiesewetter, J. (2019, May 08). The Average Cost of an Uncontested Divorce. Retrieved September 15, 2020, from https://info.legalzoom.com/article/average-cost-uncontested-divorce
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