how much does a divorce lawyer cost in utah

by Keely Skiles Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago 4 min read

On average, Utah divorce lawyers charge between $195 and $230 per hour. Average total costs for Utah divorce lawyers are $8,300 to $9,700 but are significantly lower in cases with no contested issues.Sep 16, 2020

How much does it cost to file a divorce in Utah?

Summary of Utah Divorce Costs

Filing fee – The Court's filing fee is $318. Uncontested divorce – On average firms will charge $999 - $2000, but it can be as low as $450. Contested divorce – These divorces are billed at an hourly rate. The average cost is $2000 - $6,000.Jan 6, 2014

Who pays attorney fees in divorce Utah?

Fortunately, the law expressly authorizes a court to award attorney fees in a divorce. Section 30-3-3, Utah Code Ann. provides the court with authority to require the spouse to pay attorney fees so that you may prosecute or defend the action.Jan 21, 2016

Is Utah a 50 50 divorce state?

Utah is NOT a community property state, which means that marital property is not automatically divided 50/50 between the spouses in a divorce case.

What is the easiest way to get a divorce in Utah?

The simplest procedure is an uncontested divorce where you and your spouse reach an agreement about the division of your property, and, if you have any children, what arrangements will be made for them. You begin the divorce procedure by filing a Complaint for Divorce, along with various supporting documents.

Who pays attorney fees in divorce?

Traditionally, the parties each pay for their own attorney in a divorce suit. The spouses are not allowed to share an attorney, so each party must provide their own attorney for the legal process.May 1, 2018

How many years do you have to be married to get alimony in Utah?

Utah law does not require a marriage be “long term” before a court can award alimony. Rather length of the marriage is but one of many factors the court considers in deciding whether to award alimony (and if so how long and the amount).Mar 3, 2020

Do I get half of my husband's 401k in a divorce?

If you decide to get a divorce from your spouse, you can claim up to half of their 401(k) savings. Similarly, your spouse can also get half of your 401(k) savings if you divorce. Usually, you can get half of your spouse's 401(k) assets regardless of the duration of your marriage.

How long does divorce take in Utah?

Some ideas follow: Uncontested divorce with or without children. Utah law imposes a 90-day waiting period after filing for a divorce before it may be granted, so even if you and your spouse agree on all the issues, it would take at least 90 days. However, you may try to waive the waiting period.

Do you have to have a reason to get a divorce?

There is only one legal ground for divorce, which is that the marriage has irretrievably broken down. The person who starts proceedings, (called the Petitioner) must prove that the marriage has irretrievably broken down by establishing one of the following five facts: Adultery. Unreasonable behaviour.

Is it possible to get divorce without going to court?

No it is not possible for you to take divorce legally without going to court. If both parties are ready than go for Mutual Consent Divorce in which case you will have to appear in court only 4 times on different dates. If your marriage is legally solemnized than only way for legal divorce is through Court.Jan 18, 2017

How long does a no fault divorce take?

around 6 months

The government has introduced a 20-week (minimum) reflection period and a further 6 week wait to end your marriage, which means in total, a no fault divorce will take around 6 months to complete.

Children

Custody is one of the most highly contested areas in divorce. Often, parents are on opposite ends of the spectrum when deciding who should be awarded custody. This can often require additional court appearances as well as experts, which can add significant expense to your case.

Trial

If issues remain contested and are unresolved, your divorce case may proceed to trial. At trial, a Judge makes a ruling on how contested matters will be handled. Cases generally get settled before trial, however, if your case goes to trial, be aware it’s an expensive process.

Assets

Assets also play a large part in how expensive your divorce may be. Couples that have substantial assets or own businesses generally pay more for divorce.

How To Keep Costs Down

You may be wondering how you can keep expenses on your case to a minimum. While some elements that add to the expense of a case are out of your control, there are several things you can do to help keep the costs down on your case.

The Cost of an Uncontested Divorce in Utah

The cheapest route is what we call an uncontested divorce. This means that both spouses are in agreement as to how to divide the property and the custody of the children if any. Basically, you are just hiring an attorney to prepare the paperwork. As far as I know, our rates are the lowest at $450.

The Cost of a Contested Divorce in Utah

A contested divorce is billed at an hourly rate. The hourly rates for the attorneys in our law firm range from $180 to $250 per hour, depending on the level of experience for the particular attorney. Even at $180, you can see how the bill would get very expensive very fast. The average contested divorce costs between $2,000 and $6,000.