Female Divorce: Costs And Fees

When women are contemplating a divorce from their spouse, the divorce costs are one of their primary concerns. Many stay-at-home mothers may be financially dependent upon their husbands and worry that they won’t be able to afford hiring an attorney or the necessary filing fees.

How Much Will a Divorce Cost Me?

There are many paths to choose when filing for divorce. Some women decide to obtain a free initial consultation from a lawyer and then file the forms themselves. A do-it-yourself kit may only cost you a few hundred dollars, but this should never be an option when minor children are involved.

When the divorce is uncontested or both parties can amicably agree on all aspects of dissolution, the entire process may only require a few hundred dollars in filing fees in family court. The unfortunate facts are that most divorces are not friendly and may be complicated by decisions regarding property and children. When considering obtaining legal counsel, there are a variety of options to choose from, but the most common are flat fee and hourly billing.

Flat Fee Option

Many attorneys will offer a flat fee for various types of divorces. In cases where couples have little property to divide and no children, an average fee may be around $750 depending on the jurisdiction. In large cities, lawyers often charge much higher fees than those in rural areas.

Retainer and Hourly Billing

Some lawyers will ask that you give them a retainer fee. They will then deduct the costs of handling your divorce against this money. You should always ask what their hourly rate is and how much they estimate the total cost will be. Most attorneys charge between $100 to $450 per hour for their services. Some may be able to charge less when utilizing the services of a paralegal to handle some of the paperwork.

In highly contested cases and those requiring child custody decisions, a divorce can set you back several thousand dollars. Divorce costs can be wide ranging and the final amount will depend upon your specific circumstances.

Fighting it Out Will Cost You More

Couples often fight over their cars, the house, joint assets, and even who gets the family pet. The most common battle usually concerns who gets custody of the children. The divorce process can be completed in as little as six months. However, when the couple cannot even agree on who gets Fluffy or Fido, decisions about where the children will live and with whom can result in a lengthy divorce and skyrocketing attorney’s fees.

Although each state has their own laws regarding custody decisions, nearly all of them will take into consideration what each party agrees to when filling out a parenting plan. By doing this, you will save both time and money, which can help alleviate the stress during this difficult time. If the court requires a psychiatric evaluation of the minor children, they may decide to appoint a Guardian Ad Litem to legally represent the child. This will be at your expense and these experts usually charge by the hour.

Get Your Own Attorney

Don’t try to skimp on money when your future may be at stake. Some couples think that they can save money during a divorce by hiring one attorney to represent them both. This can be a huge conflict of interest for all the parties concerned. For example, if the spouses agree to sell the house and split the profits but the home fails to sell within a certain timeframe, one party may try to renege on their initial agreement. An attorney cannot represent both interests of the parties at this point. If you choose to obtain legal counsel, make sure you have your own family law attorney to represent your interests.