Getting a divorce is undoubtedly one of the most stressful events in anybody’s life. Not only are you admitting to a failure of a relationship, but you are also entering a new chapter in your life that is very different from your previous one. A divorce would affect your assets and finances, children, domicile, even your pets. Many couples who have decided to get divorced often moan about the high costs of divorce. Most the expenses actually go toward paying attorney fees, so what if a couple decides to go at it by themselves? There are definitely both advantages and disadvantages of getting divorced with or without the help of a divorce attorney.
Representing Yourself In A Divorce Court
There have been instances where a couple who has called it quits successfully navigated their divorce procedures without a hitch by themselves. This is certainly doable, but only if the couple still gets along with each other and the decision to get a divorce is mutual. Couples who have no children or very little assets to split are usually more likely to be successful to get divorced without professional help from a divorce lawyer. This is certainly the much cheaper option. There have been cases where couples simply bought a divorce kit on the internet and successfully divorced for less than $ 100. However, there might be additional fees such as the cost of parenting education classes. This is the best case briefs scenario that usually only applies to extremely simple divorce cases among couples who mutually agree to the divorce. If you suspect that your divorce might turn acrimonious, it is highly recommended to seek the legal guidance of a divorce attorney.
Getting Divorced With Attorney’s Assistance
Most divorce cases actually happen with the help of divorce lawyers because most couples have at least some points of contentions regarding the divorce. Choosing to represent yourself in a complex divorce case without a divorce attorney could actually end up costing you more money, especially if your spouse has a more competent lawyer. Getting a divorce with a lawyer on average costs around $ 15,500 with about $ 12,800 for attorney fees. If there were more than one issue to be settled in court, the average cost is about $19,600, with around $ 15,800 for attorney fees. Couples who successfully settled everything outside the divorce court paid around $ 14,400, with $ 12,200 for attorney fees. Attorney fees can differ significantly due to several factors such as fee structure (flat fee vs. hourly fee, contested vs. uncontested divorce), location (city lawyers are usually more expensive than those in the countryside), experience (the more experienced the divorce lawyer is, the higher the hourly rate).
Other Factors To Consider When Getting Divorced With Attorney’s Help
The nature of your divorce would also influence how much you will end up paying attorney fees in the end. For example, if it is an acrimonious divorce full of disagreements on many things, the attorney would have to spend more time and effort handling the case. Thus, you should expect to pay some extra fees.
