how much does a lawyer charge for an uncontested divorce

by Prof. Shane Ruecker 8 min read

Some attorneys charge as much as $5,000 to handle an uncontested divorce case. Rates this high can be expected in states and cities with a higher cost of living. In other areas of the country, the cost of hiring a lawyer for an uncontested divorce can be closer to $2,500.Mar 23, 2022

What is the average cost of an uncontested divorce?

If you choose to hire an attorney for an uncontested divorce, the cost will be less than a contested divorce. However, the more complex your case is, or if you do have a contested case, then your attorney fees will increase. Typically, you'll need to pay your divorce attorney a retainer, or a down payment, of $2,500 - $5,000.

How much does a divorce lawyer cost?

Mar 21, 2022 · The cost of an uncontested divorce varies based on the lawyer you hire, your state, and the fee arrangement you choose. Most lawyers charge flat fees. However, if your spouse refuses to sign the divorce papers, you may be required to pay additional fees. These can range from $200 to $1,500 per person. A more complicated case will cost more.

How much does an uncontested divorce cost in Texas?

For example, in Maricopa County, two filing fees are required in every divorce case: • Petition for Dissolution of Marriage – $349. • Response/Answer to Petition for Dissolution of Marriage – $274. Luckily, if your divorce is uncontested, you will likely only need to pay the two filing fees for the initial Petition and Response.

What is a retainer fee for a divorce lawyer?

Mar 09, 2022 · How much does a lawyer cost for uncontested divorce. The divorce is finalized 90 days after the judge indications the Last Judgment at the hearing. South Carolina30-120 days, You need to live separate and apart without sexual relations for a duration of one (1) year prior to declaring divorce.

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What is an Uncontested Divorce?

An uncontested divorce is one in which the parties agree on all issues pertaining to the divorce– such as spousal maintenance, child custody, the division of assets, etc. These divorce cases are often relatively inexpensive, simple, and quick.

How much does an Uncontested Divorce cost?

Contested or not, there will be filing fees due to the court. For example, in Maricopa County, two filing fees are required in every divorce case:

Service Fee

If you and your soon-to-be ex are in contact and they are willing to sign Acceptance of Service, you will be able to save on fees to a process server! If that is not the case, a process server typically charges about $50-$75 per service attempt.

Parenting Courses

If you and your spouse have minor children, you will each be required to complete a one-time Parenting Information Program, which is a 4-hour class that costs $50 or less and is available online.

The Cost of Hiring a Divorce Attorney

If you’re looking to retain an attorney to represent you, they will determine a retainer fee based on the facts discussed during your initial consultation. Retainer fees, as well as attorneys’ hourly rates, will vary between law firms and often between attorneys within a single law firm.

How to Save Money During Your Divorce

Come to as many agreements as possible with your soon-to-be ex-spouse. Even if your divorce is only partially uncontested, the more you can agree and settle on various issues in your divorce, the less time-consuming and expensive your case will be in the long run!

What Factors Influence The Cost Of An Uncontested Divorce

Keeping your separation out of court will reduce the cost of the divorce. For uncontested divorces, the longer and more complicated the divorce procedure is, the more financial resources are going to be required.

Bringing Down Divorce Costs: Uncontested Divorces Mediation And Consulting Attorneys

Beyond doing everything you can to avoid a trial, our survey results pointed to some other possibilities for lowering the cost of divorce.

Filing For An Uncontested Divorce

An uncontested divorce costs at least $335 in total court and filing fees. This does not include the cost of a lawyer, photocopies, notary fees,;

What If The Agreement Is Mutual

The more factors or issues are unresolved by the person filing for divorce and the other party, such as custody or care of children or maintenance of the property, or other shared assets such as investments, pensions, financial support, the more likely it is to cost the person filing for divorce.

Uncontested Divorce Paralegalvscontested Divorce Lawyers

For fun, I thought Id do this comparison. The average fee charged by a paralegal is $750.00 in an uncontested divorce situation. The average total fee for both parties in a contested situation can be as high as $40,000.00. Disbursements and GST are extra.

How Much Does A Divorce Cost On Average

On average, a simple divorce costs $15,000 per person in the United States.

Mediation Or Collaborative Divorce

If you and your spouse are able to work out your disagreements on the issues in your divorce through mediation or collaborative divorce, you will save the considerable expense of going to trial.

How much does a divorce attorney charge per hour?

20% paid $400 or more per hour. The more complicated the divorce, the higher attorneys' fees -- especially if the proceedings take a long time or if going to trial to resolve contested issues is necessary. Some attorneys offer a flat fee, which can help you budget for your divorce case.

How much does a divorce cost?

The median cost of a divorce is $7,500. An uncontested divorce or one with no major contested issues costs, on average, $4,100. Disputes over child support, child custody, and alimony raise the average cost of a divorce significantly. Divorces that go to trial on two or more issues cost, on average, $23,300.

How long does it take to get divorced in NC?

Divorces take, on average, between 12 and 18 months to finalize. Filing fees range from $75 in North Carolina to $435 in California. Divorced men and women have less money in independently owned defined-contribution retirement accounts than married men and women.

How much wealth does divorce cause?

And some older studies have shown that divorce causes an average 77% drop in wealth.

How many people ended their marriages in 2018?

Despite that drop in the rate, this still means hundreds of thousands of people per year end a marriage -- 782,038 in 2018.

How much does a family therapy session cost?

Family therapy for yourself or your child: Rates are typically $75 to $200 per session, according to the National Directory of Marriage and Family Counseling.

Do you have to pay a fee to dissolve a marriage?

The court must legally dissolve your marriage. You have to pay a filing fee in court for this. Filing fees vary a lot by state, with some states showing significantly higher divorce costs than others.

How much does Salamone and Associates charge for divorce?

This includes retainers starting at $2,000 and an hourly rate of $290.

Is a divorce uncontested?

Technically, any divorce that settles before a court hearing is an uncontested divorce. But as any experienced attorney knows, uncontested doesn’t always mean there are no disagreements. Some couples have a desire to settle, but the complexities of their lives, their property holdings and their parenting plans require a great deal of massaging before they can achieve a workable settlement. Other couples come into our office with a plan that’s virtually air-tight. They just need our help to finalize the language of the agreement and bring up legal issues they hadn’t anticipated. At Bryan L. Salamone & Associates, P.C., we tailor our services to your needs. We don’t do more than you need simply to pad our bills, and we don’t do less than is necessary to deliver optimum results. We offer low, flat-rate divorce packages that may be appropriate for your circumstances. But if you need some extra work done, we have very reasonable retainers and hourly rates.

How Much Does Uncontested Divorce Cost in Georgia?

The cost of uncontested divorce in Georgia will vary depending on the county where you file and the approach you take:

Factors That Influence the Cost of an Uncontested Divorce

A no-fault divorce in Georgia can be both cheap and simple if you consider all potential expenses. The factors that will influence the price are:

Court Fees for Filing a Divorce in Georgia

When you file for divorce in Georgia, a clerk will ask you to pay the filing fee. Court fees in Georgia vary across the state, and are county-specific as you can see from the example below.

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