how much does a lawyer charge to file for division of assets in divorce

by Joesph Friesen Sr. 10 min read

Depending on how complex your divorce is, and whether you hire an attorney, the exact price can vary. If you do not hire an attorney it could be as low as $300 to $500 (assuming there are no mistakes, and you need no outside help). With an attorney, it could be between $1000-10,000.

Divorce Filing Fees and Typical Attorney Fees by State
StateAverage Filing FeesOther Divorce Costs and Attorney Fees
California$435 (Ask for a fee waiver)Average fees: $14,000
Colorado$230Average fees: $11,000+
Connecticut$360 (excluding paternity legal action)Average fees: $12,000+
Delaware$165Average fees: $12,000+
48 more rows
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Jul 21, 2020

Full Answer

How much does a divorce lawyer cost?

Oct 25, 2019 · Readers with property disputes paid an average of $15,900 in total divorce costs, including $13,900 in attorneys’ fees. But nearly half paid less than $10,000 total. AVERAGE DURATION 15months Readers who disagreed with their spouses about dividing their property took an average of one year and three months to complete their divorces.

How much does a property dispute cost in a divorce?

How Much Does a Divorce Lawyer Cost? Let’s get right to it. A divorce attorney could cost about $250 an hour. There are a number of factors that make up the cost of divorce. Are there a lot of assets that need to be split up? If there are, then you should expect to pay more. There is more paperwork and negotiation that has to occur to divide all of the assets. Is your divorce a …

How much does it cost to get a divorce in PA?

Jul 28, 2016 · When there are no issuesi.e. no children or property and no desire for spousal support, the fee for the Divorce can be as low as $725. When there are issues and both parties are willing to sign an agreement, the fee for Divorce can be as low as $1,499.

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

Filing fees for divorce petitions vary from state to state—and from county to county in certain states—ranging from about $100 to over $400. Divorce Filing Fees and Other Expenses When you file for divorce, the court will charge a filing fee.

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Typical Hourly Rate For Divorce Attorneys

Although most people would prefer to have an attorney by their side when going through a divorce, many also worry about how much this will cost. Ev...

The Average Total Cost of Divorce

When all is said and done, what did the average person pay, in total, to get divorced? This figure includes total attorney’s fees, court costs, and...

How Long Does The Average Divorce Case take?

Another pressing question among people deciding to divorce: How long will it take? According to the results from our survey, the average time it to...

How Much Does a Divorce Lawyer Cost?

Let’s get right to it. A divorce attorney could cost about $250 an hour. There are a number of factors that make up the cost of divorce.

Flat Fee vs. Hourly Rate

You’ll find that attorneys will charge a flat rate or they’ll charge an hourly rate. Flat fees can be as low as $500 for a very basic divorce with no assets.

Finding a Good Divorce Lawyer

Now that you know what to expect to pay, how do you find a good divorce attorney? Start by asking around. You’re bound to get a few good referrals.

The Cost of a Divorce

It’s unfortunate that many marriages end up in divorce. With a good divorce attorney for men, you can make sure that your rights are protected throughout the process.

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 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 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.

What is Nolo for divorce?

Nolo is in a unique position to gather information about what actually happens in divorce cases across the country. Thousands of people visit Nolo.com and other Nolo sites every day, seeking legal information about divorce and looking to connect with divorce attorneys.

Do you have to give consent to a text message from Martindale-Nolo?

You are not required to provide consent as a condition of service. Attorneys have the option, but are not required, to send text messages to you. You will receive up to 2 messages per week from Martindale-Nolo. Frequency from attorney may vary. Message and data rates may apply.

Do I need an attorney for divorce?

Although most people would prefer to have an attorney by their side when going through a divorce, many also worry about how much this will cost. Even if you've called around or visited the websites of various divorce attorneys, you may still wonder if a lawyer is charging too much, or even too little ...

The Cost of Divorce Without Disputes Over Property or Debt Division

Compared to the cost of divorce involving property, our survey showed that getting divorced is generally much less expensive for those who don’t have property or debts to fight over—or who can easily agree on how to split up a short and simple list of items (“you get the couch, and I’ll take the TV”).

How Long the Divorce Process Takes Without Property or Debt Disputes

Couples who don’t have property or debt can get through the divorce process relatively quickly. In our survey, readers without disputes over property or debt division completed their divorces in an average of nine months. Again, that’s the average.

How Do Other Disputes Affect the Cost of Divorce Without Property or Debt Issues?

In our survey, the readers without any major contested divorce issues had the lowest average costs ($4,100 including attorneys’ fees) and got through the divorce process in the least amount of time (eight months, on average).

How much does it cost to get divorced on your own?

These fees vary from state to state—and even from county to county in some states—ranging from about $100 to over $400.

How can custody battles lead to divorce?

How Custody Battles Can Lead to Skyrocketing Divorce Costs. Drawn-out fights between parents over child custody and visitation are one of the main drivers of high divorce costs. If you and your spouse can't agree on a parenting plan—even after trying custody mediation —the judge may order a custody evaluation.

What is a QDRO expert?

tax experts (for advice on the tax consequences of agreements on issues like property division and alimony) " QDRO" experts (for preparing orders to divide retirement accounts ) child custody evaluations (covered above) vocational evaluations (often required when there's a request for alimony), and.

Is mediation more expensive than divorce?

Regardless, mediation will almost certainly be less expensive than collaborative divorce (which involves paying two lawyers rather than splitting the cost of one mediator). That's true even if you hire a private mediator, and even if you consult with a lawyer during the mediation process.

Is there a wide range of divorce costs?

As should be clear by now, there's a wide range of divorce costs. And your own expenses will land near the bottom of that range only if you and your spouse can agree—without a lawyer's help—on the legal issues related to the end of your marriage, from splitting up your possessions to the arrangements for parenting and financial support.

Does a lawyer bill for answering emails?

There's also the fact that your lawyer will bill you for answering every email, text, and phone call—for instance, when you can't agree with your spouse about handling weekend visits or holidays. And if the disputes continue even after the divorce is final, the costs will continue as well.

Do you have to pay for mediation with a lawyer?

With or without a lawyer, you will have to pay some basic court fees, and you might have added costs for mediation (both of which are discussed below). But because people who hire lawyers are more likely to have complex cases, they're also more likely to have other expenses, such as:

How Much Does a No-Fault Divorce Cost in Pennsylvania?

The cost of no-fault divorce in PA will be around $12,000 if the case is contested, $4,000 with a lawyer in an uncontested case, or under $500 if spouses prepare their paperwork themselves or get it online.

Contested Divorce in Pennsylvania: Costs

What makes a divorce so expensive? The answer is simple – disputes. The more you have – the more you are going to spend, and you may expect to pay anywhere from $13,000 to $30,000 or more.

How Much Does a Divorce Lawyer Cost in Pennsylvania?

On average, divorce lawyers charge $250-350 an hour. The more disputes are left unresolved between you and your spouse, the longer you will require legal services, which means that you may end up with a hefty check.

Filing Fee for Divorce in Pennsylvania

The average cost to file for divorce in Pennsylvania is $300-400. No matter if you are going to hire a lawyer or not, you will have to cover this filing fee. The amount you have to pay will depend on the county where you plan to file in.

Average Cost of Divorce in California

Unfortunately, data shows that the average divorce in California costs more than in any other state. The average divorce without kids is $17,500 in California, and the average divorce with kids is $26,300.

Contested vs. Uncontested Divorce Costs in California

A divorce is contested if there are issues that the spouses cannot agree on, such as property division, child custody, child support, or spousal support. An uncontested divorce means the spouses have agreed on everything themselves. They only need limited assistance from an attorney or mediator (or maybe none at all).

When Should I Pay an Attorney to Handle Something?

You are right to assume that divorce costs will increase if you hire a lawyer. However, sometimes paying for a lawyer's help is more cost-effective than leaving money on the table during your divorce or making a costly mistake.

Options That Affect the Cost of Your Georgia Divorce

You have many options when going through a divorce, many of which affect the final cost. The table below explains a few of the different options you have during divorce that can cause you to either save money or spend money, as well as the pros and cons of both scenarios.

How Much Are Divorce Filing Fees in California?

In California, the filing fee for divorce is $435. This must be paid when the divorce is originally filed with the court, which starts the divorce process. Both parties will need to pay the filing fee if they both file pleadings with the court. In the case of uncontested divorce, usually only one filing fee is necessary.

How Much Does a Divorce Lawyer Cost in California?

Most California family law attorneys charge by the hour at an hourly rate of $300 or more, based on their experience. Usually, family law attorneys require new clients to put down a large retainer of several thousand dollars before they begin working on the case. Money is then drawn from the retainer monthly as the attorney bills for their work.

Can I File for Divorce in California Without a Lawyer?

Yes, you can file for divorce without a lawyer in California. In most situations, it is preferable to have a lawyer on your side, especially if there are any contested issues, but a lawyer is not required to obtain a divorce. Even if your case ends up going to trial, you can represent yourself " pro se ," though this is not recommended.

What are the requirements for a divorce?

In every state, a variety of factors will change the hours required to negotiate and find a divorce agreement such as: 1 Child custody 2 Amount of property 3 Tax advice 4 Alimony (spousal support)

What factors affect the hours required to negotiate a divorce?

In every state, a variety of factors will change the hours required to negotiate and find a divorce agreement such as: Child custody. Amount of property. Tax advice. Alimony (spousal support) Consider how complex your divorce is when estimating how much it might cost.

What are the classes for divorce?

Education classes on the divorce process or co-parenting. Mediation (this can replace attorney fees or be in addition to attorney fees) Psychiatric evaluations for adults or children. Refinancing a mortgage.

Where can I get free divorce advice?

Getting free advice at a family law clinic (available at some family law courts) Speaking with a legal aid organization to see if you qualify for free services. Many attorneys offer free consultations, so it is doesn't hurt to call one or more experienced divorce lawyers in your area to discuss your divorce.

Can I get divorce if I don't have money?

Getting a Divorce When You Don't Have The Money. While the costs seem high, an important takeaway is that divorce is still attainable. Do not refuse to get a divorce just because you cannot afford it. You may be able to reduce costs by: Asking your attorney for an affordable payment plan.

Do divorce lawyers have to have a payment plan?

Yes , most law firms or independent attorneys understand that an average divorce costs a large sum of money, and may need a payment plan. There are no state laws on offering payment plans, so this is solely up the firm you want to hire. Ask them in your first meeting if they offer payment plans.

Can you get an uncontested divorce?

An uncontested divorce is possible if you can negotiate together and agree on big-ticket items such as who keeps the house. If you want the court to help you determine how things are split (in a contested divorce), you will rack up additional attorney's fees.

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