Getting a divorce is often ranked as the single most stressful time in a person’s life. In addition to trying to untangle a number of property distribution, alimony, child custody, and child support issues, you are also trying to continue to live your normal life. One of the most common questions asked by someone contemplating divorce is how much does divorce cost? The answer is that it depends on a number of different factors specific to your divorce case, but an experienced divorce attorney will be able to help.
How Many Issues do You Need to Resolve?
One of the main drivers of cost in a divorce case is the number of issues that the couple needs to resolve before the finalized divorce agreement can be drafted. If there are many issues that the couple cannot agree upon, such as who gets the family home, the pet, custody of the children, and whether to provide alimony for a lesser-earning spouse, the process takes longer and is therefore more costly. If the couple agrees on most issues or does not have much to negotiate, the process can be shorter and cheaper for the couple to separate.
What Type of Divorce are You Filing for?
Related to the question of issues is the type of divorce for which you will file. Many states offer a simplified or uncontested divorce process for couples with no outstanding issues and minimal investment in their marital estate. A simplified divorce is much faster and cheaper than a traditional contested divorce, and an experienced attorney will be able to review the facts of your case to determine if you are eligible for this type of divorce.
Are You Using Alternative Methods to Settle Your Divorce?
Another factor that can affect cost is whether you are using alternative methods to settle your divorce disputes, such as collaborative divorce or divorce mediation. These methods operate on your time schedule and utilize compromise to come to solutions to outstanding issues in the divorce. Oftentimes, these methods are faster and cheaper than traditional litigation methods.
Overall Cost
Typically, a divorce attorney can charge anywhere between $150 to $350 per hour for their services, with the average being $250 per hour to handle your case. The average cost to end a marriage is usually around $15,500 but up to $19,000 if there are additional issues like child custody and support. The average time spent to get a traditional divorce is a little over 10 months, with some taking as little as four months and others lasting well over a year. A knowledgeable divorce attorney will be able to provide you with an estimate of cost based on the specifics of your case.
Call or Contact The Office Today
While some divorce cases are settled relatively quickly, others can be drawn out and contentious fights, which can all affect the overall cost of your case. Call the office or contact us at Select Law Partners to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced divorce attorneys today to learn more about the potential cost of your divorce case.
Matt Kurylo
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