What Are Typical Divorce Attorney Fees and What Is Included?
Divorce attorney fees will differ depending on the law firm that you choose to represent you in your case, as well as geographic location and other factors. Divorce costs also vary depending on the type of divorce that is pursued. These are issues to discuss with the lawyer during a consultation, but heading into a meeting with a lawyer with a little background knowledge to go by can be helpful. When searching for a lawyer to represent you in a divorce, remember that you don’t have to go with the most expensive lawyer around to get the best service, but should make sure that you trust your lawyer to represent you well and work hard on your case.
Divorce attorney fees do not include the costs of filing papers, court fees, process server fees and other related expenses. These fees may include simply the attorney’s time, and that of his or her staff that works on your case. You may be billed for the attorney’s travel expenses if necessary for the case as well. When you’re considering hiring a lawyer, make sure you fully understand their billing procedures and policies before entering into an agreement. Many offer free initial consultations at which time you may discuss these matters.
Larger metropolitan areas and cities tend to demand higher lawyers’ fees, while smaller areas may charge less. This is not always the case and rarely are things so black and white when it comes to paying lawyers, of course. What’s more, depending on the type of divorce that you are pursuing, your court fees and legal fees may be much higher or much lower.
Exploring the different options is typically a worthwhile endeavor as it not only helps you familiarize yourself with the different types of paths, but also gives you an idea about how the case would go if you choose each method. Overall, attorney fees for a divorce range from as low as $400 for a simple divorce to $30,000 or more for a high profile divorce case. This does not include court filing fees, courier and other fees.
Uncontested divorces are typically the least expensive, while contested divorces may be much more expensive. Uncontested divorces involve both parties reaching an agreement without fighting over any items in the agreement. The second one party objects to an item in the agreement and a consensus cannot be reached, the divorce becomes contested and may require higher legal fees. When you’re considering your divorce options, consider the value of what you’re fighting over compared to what it will cost you in court. Some items may have sentimental value, while others that are contested merely for spite may not be worth it.