The average cost of a Divorce ranges from $10,000 – $15,000 according to Thervo.com.
The average cost of divorce lawyers is $250 per hour and you are going to spend around $15,000 in all. Hiring a divorce lawyer to represent you, you are going to possibly spend between $100 – $650 each hour. The price of a divorce lawyer may differ greatly by location (and possibly by postal code).
No one ever describes the divorce process as being enjoyable; nor would any spouses say on the day they get married they plan on divorcing in the future.
In the real-world divorce does happen—for at least fifty percent of peoples 1st, 2nd, and 3rd marriages. When you find yourself in that unfortunate situation where you can see the future looking bleak, the cost of a knowledgeable divorce lawyer—one that is going to provide solid representation—is going to cost you around $250 or more each hour.
The total cost for divorces is around $15,000 but can reach costs as high as $100,000 subject to how many matters you’re wanting a judgment on and how determined both parties are on being victorious. The final amount is going to depend on the duration of the process (typically 9 to 11 months) and what is on the line.
Divorce Lawyer Hourly Rates
Divorces can take a great deal of time and can get nasty, and the matters in each divorce are varies from couple to couple. Since the outcome of each divorce is determined by the defendants, the lawyers, and what’s on the line, it’s almost impossible to establish a standard overall cost.
If you can locate an lawyer providing representation for a flat-rate, you definitely need to do your due diligence and look into their firm, in addition to who the firm has represented in the past and any judgments on past cases.
Divorce Lawyer’s Retainer Fees
When hiring an lawyer, you are going to generally have to pay for a retainer—an upfront payment paid by you prior to any legal work being carried out. The point of retainers is twofold:
- It serves as a down-payment to secure the lawyer you decide on. It guarantees payment for when the whole process is finished.
- It is going to cover the costs of future hours billed. Rather keeping your retainer and then charging you for the hours billed following that, a lot of lawyers are going to keep the retainer as their down-payment and put it towards the total bill when the whole process concludes.
Those retainer fees are based on a divorce lawyer’s hourly rate. The amount of the retainer is going to depend on the matters talked about in the initial consultation—specifically child custody and support, alimony or spousal maintenance, the splitting of property, and the splitting of debts.
Divorce Lawyer’s Flat-Rate Billing
In spite of the possibility of adding extras onto the cost, flat-rate billing, when done correctly and morally, could make things a lot easier for their client.
Occasionally, though, questionable law firms are going to use this to attract in clients in a weak position and take their cash without offering a quality service. A thorough online search for reviews should provide you the information you require to avoid these types of firms.
Divorce Court Costs
Be wary that you not only need to pay the lawyer’s fees, but the additional court costs, in which typically cost more than a lawyer does each hour. The 2 parties of the divorce are going to occasionally divide these fees, but it’s not far-fetched to find yourself paying the full cost on your own.
The filing fee is typically the most costly fee you are going to pay to the courts when you’re filing for a divorce.
- The cost is going to differ in each state, but usually it’s around $300, in which can hurt, given the circumstances.
Additional smaller fees might come up throughout the proceeding as well, but the filing fee is the initial court cost.
Divorce Mediation Cost
The cost of divorce meditation is going to depend on a number of factors. Whereas a lot of mediation sessions are billed hourly, some mediators like to bill per session. On average, a general mediation session is going to last about two hours. Clearly, this time-frame is going to depend on the issues of discussion and if any discord is involved.
An hourly rate for private meditation differs, usually costing anywhere from $100 to $1,000 each hour. Nevertheless, the final cost is going to subject to the considerations below. Usually, the final cost for divorce mediation is anywhere from $500 to $1,500+.
Deciding on a Divorce Lawyer
A lot more important than what you’re paying the lawyer and the courts is hiring the correct lawyer. Do your research based on what is affordable and find the right representation to safeguard what you have on the line.
Lawyers can be costly, this is true, but there is potentially a lot more to lose if you hire someone that does not have the resources or knowledge to represent you properly.
A Less Expensive Option
If you can convince your soon to be ex to mediate each matter with you outside of court, the divorce is going to be less costly than the average $15,000.
The sooner this is done, the less it is going to cost and the faster the divorce is going to be finalized—in a lot of cases, in half the time. Allowing a judge to decide on the outcome of who pays off which debts, where the children are going to live, and who gets the house may end up far worse for those involved when it might be possible to let reasonable discussion resolve all those matters in advance.
After you hire your lawyer, ask if they can recommend a knowledgeable mediator and begin there. The less the court is involved, the better it is for everyone.
Speak with our Divorce Attorney in Phoenix & Scottsdale, AZ
Moshier Law should be your choice when you need the best divorce attorney in Phoenix. An experienced family law attorney will work with you to obtain the best possible outcome in your situation. We advocate for our clients, so they have the brightest future possible. Give us a call today at 480-999-0800 for a free consultation. To find out how our divorce attorneys can help your matter, schedule your initial case evaluation today. We have a specialized network of Arizona attorneys, tax specialists, financial planners, estate planners, child specialists, real estate property appraisers, adult and child therapists and parenting coordinators who are here to help you when needed. Our Arizona divorce mediators are here to make your divorce less exhausting and will help keep you in control.
Divorce and Family Law
When a case demands litigation, you’ll have the benefit of 19 years of litigation experience in California and Arizona. But when a case demands collaborative law or mediation, we can meaningfully describe why collaborative law or mediation may or may not be your best option.
