how much for simple divorce lawyer

by Lavina McClure 7 min read

Most divorce attorneys will charge a flat fee or an hourly rate, depending on the case. A flat fee can cost you between $900 and $6,000, again depending on the nature and complexity of your case.

Divorce lawyer cost:
National hourly rate$250/hour
Average range$200-$250/hour
Low-end hourly rate$175-$200/hour
High-end hourly rate$300-$325/hour
Oct 8, 2020

Full Answer

What is the average price for a divorce lawyer?

Our survey results might help. The first part of the total bill for a divorce lawyer is the hourly rate. Our survey showed an average rate of $270 an hour for divorce lawyers across the United States, but individual rates varied a lot.

How much does it cost to hire a divorce lawyer?

When you hire a divorce lawyer, you’ll have to agree to an hourly rate. Most attorneys work based on hourly rates which can be anything from $150 to $300 but averagely sit at $220 an hour. Some of the work your attorney might do by the hour can consist of phone calls, emails, court appearances, and drafting motions or other documentation.

How much years to become a divorce lawyer?

  • Required Education. There is no specific undergraduate degree necessary for a career as a divorce lawyer. ...
  • Licensure. Upon successful completion of law school and receipt of a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. ...
  • Job Skills. Overall, prospective divorce lawyers must have excellent written and savvy oral communication skills.
  • Occupational Statistics. ...

What does it take to become a divorce lawyer?

Becoming a divorce lawyer takes seven years of formal higher education, including a four-year bachelor’s degree and a three-year law degree. Read on to learn more about required education, skills and career statistics. Is becoming a lawyer difficult? 1. The challenging years of law school. The process of becoming a lawyer isn’t for the ...

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How Much Does Divorce Cost in Florida?

According to our survey results, the average divorce in Florida cost $13,500, including $10,700 in attorneys' fees.The average hourly fee charged b...

What Affects How Much Divorce Costs in Florida?

A Florida divorce where the spouses are able to work through their concerns amicably can cost much less than the average, while a divorce with hotl...

How Long Does Divorce Take in Florida?

According to our survey, the average divorce in Florida took 15 months resolve—almost 4 months longer than the 11-month national average. Our Flori...

What Affects How Long Divorce Takes in Florida?

Although Florida doesn’t have a long, mandatory waiting period—only 20 days—several factors may cause a Florida divorce to drag out for many months...

Helpful Links About Florida Divorce

Divorce in Florida (from Divorcenet.com) http://www.divorcenet.com/states/floridaFlorida Child Support Calculator http://www.alllaw.com/calculators...

How to find a low cost divorce lawyer?

You can find a less expensive divorce attorney by performing a quick online search using the phrase, “low cost divorce lawyer near me,” and reading the reviews of former clients of any attorneys that come up in the search results.

How much does a divorce lawyer cost in 2021?

As of 2021, the average cost of divorce lawyer is approximately $250 ...

Why do people retain lawyers for divorce?

This is because part of a divorce lawyer’s job is to convey what their client wants to the other party in a calm and professional manner.

What happens if a divorce lawyer charges less by the hour?

In general, the less time that a lawyer who bills by the hour spends on a case, the lower their final bill will likely be. In contrast, a divorce lawyer who charges less by the hour, but who also has less experience can end up needing additional time to research issues that a more qualified attorney already knows.

How can a divorce lawyer determine when there may be less expensive solutions for the parties to pursue in obtaining a?

Divorce lawyers can also determine when there may be less expensive solutions for the parties to pursue in obtaining a divorce by simply reviewing the facts of a case.

What is the complexity of a divorce?

The complexity of the legal issues involved in a divorce case; Whether the divorce decree will include arrangements for child custody, child visitation rights, and/or child support; The amount of items that still need to be negotiated before the final divorce proceeding;

What can a lawyer do for you?

Your lawyer will be able to assist you with more complicated matters, such as negotiating child custody, child visitation rights, and child support. Your lawyer can also help to ensure certain protections are complied with regarding your assets and property, depending on the marital property laws in your state.

Divorcing Without an Attorney

Filing for an uncontested divorce by yourself, you do have options. Primarily, you and your spouse can submit the required documents with the local family court in your area. The court is going to then provide you with the paperwork you’ll need, like a petition for divorce and a parenting plan, in which details the care for your children.

Divorcing With an Attorney

When you choose to have an attorney assist you, the attorney is going to advocate on your behalf and your wishes during the divorce process. Retaining an attorney could be helpful when you have a convoluted divorce, or if you both disagree on particular matters.

Using the Collaboration Process

A 3rd option that has become favorable over the past couple of years is collaborative divorces. These kinds of divorces are a hybrid between retaining an attorney and mediation, in which is when both spouses work collaboratively to reach a resolution to their matters.

Speak with our Divorce Attorney in Phoenix & Scottsdale, AZ

Moshier Law should be your choice when you need the best divorce attorney in Phoenix. An experienced family law attorney will work with you to obtain the best possible outcome in your situation. We advocate for our clients, so they have the brightest future possible. Give us a call today at 480-999-0800 for a free consultation.

Divorce and Family Law

When a case demands litigation, you’ll have the benefit of 19 years of litigation experience in California and Arizona. But when a case demands collaborative law or mediation, we can meaningfully describe why collaborative law or mediation may or may not be your best option.

How much does a divorce lawyer cost?

Average total costs for divorce lawyers range from $11,000- to 14,000 but are typically much lower in cases with no contested issues.

How much does a divorce attorney cost in Florida?

This analysis showed that the total cost of a full-scope divorce attorney in Florida ranges from an average minimum of $11,000 to an average maximum of $14,000.

What Other Expenses Contribute to the Cost of Divorce in Florida?

Whether you hire an attorney or represent yourself in your divorce, you’ll face other expenses in your divorce, including filing fees, mediation, and paying for experts like child custody evaluators, appraisers, and financial analysts. Floridians in our survey paid an average of $1,350 in these other expenses, which was somewhat lower than the national average of $1,600.

What are the factors that affect the amount of time an attorney spends on your case?

One of the most important factors that will affect the amount of time your attorney spends on your case—and thus your total costs—is how many disagreements you have with your spouse about significant issues, such as: child custody and support. alimony (also known as spousal support), and.

How much does a Florida family lawyer charge?

Across the state, the average minimum was $260 per hour, while the average maximum was $330 an hour. These figures are somewhat higher than the national average rates for family lawyers. In part, that could be due to the higher rates reported by attorneys in the greater Miami-Ft. Lauderdale metropolitan area ($285-$365, on average).

How long does it take to get divorced in Florida?

This is true no matter what state you live in. Still, even though Florida has a relatively short waiting period before a divorce can be final (20 days), some things that are specific to the state can add to the time a divorce takes: Delays for divorces with children.

How long can a divorce in Florida be delayed?

When a divorcing couple has minor children, Florida law authorizes the court to delay the case for up to three months (to give the couple time to try to reconcile) or to order one or both spouses to meet with a marriage counselor, psychologist, clergy member, or other qualified professional.

How much does a divorce lawyer cost?

According to Martindale-Nolo research, the average hourly rate for a divorce lawyer was $270 and the average total cost for legal fees per spouse was $11,300 (though the median was $7,000). However, not all attorneys charge the same hourly rate. In fact, the research found the following:

How much does an uncontested divorce cost?

An uncontested divorce or one with no major contested issues costs, on average, $4,100.

How common is divorce?

In 2008, for example, there were 17.9 new marriages per 1,000 women ages 15 and up, and 10.5 new divorces. By 2018, the number of new marriages had dropped to 16.6, and the number of new divorces had dropped sharply to 7.7 per 1,000 women, according to the Census Bureau.

Why is divorce so expensive?

Divorces that go to trial are significantly more expensive due to the added legal fees involved. A dispute over alimony, or spousal support, also adds substantially to the price tag -- even more than child-related disputes.

What factors contribute to the cost of divorce?

There are many factors that contribute to the overall cost, including whether you're looking at a contested or uncontested divorce, whether you hire a divorce mediator, the law firm you choose if you need an attorney, and others.

How much wealth does divorce cause?

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

What to do if you have questions about divorce cost?

Editor's note: If you have specific or technical questions about divorce cost, consider seeking legal advice.

How much does a divorce attorney cost?

In our survey, the median total for attorneys' fees was $7,000. It may also help to know that more than four in 10 people in our survey (42%) paid $5,000 or less in attorneys' fees.

How much does it cost to get divorced without a lawyer?

In our survey, people who handled their divorce without hiring a lawyer had an average of $925 in costs, not including the cost of mediation. More typical, however, was the median cost of $300. Let's look at what went into those expenses, as well as mediation fees.

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.

Why do people use mediation in divorce?

More and more divorcing couples are turning to mediation as a way to save money—as well reduce the conflict and stress of divorce. You can use divorce mediation in a wide range of circumstances. For example:

How much does a divorce lawyer make an hour?

The first part of the total bill for a divorce lawyer is the hourly rate. Our survey showed an average rate of $270 an hour for divorce lawyers across the United States, but individual rates varied a lot. Although nearly seven in ten people (69%) paid between $200 and $300 an hour, about one in ten (11%) paid $100 per hour, and two in ten (20%) paid $400 or more. Our separate study on hourly rates reported by family lawyers across the U.S. showed significant regional differences, with the highest rates reported by attorneys in large cities on the coasts. The same study also showed that rates were higher for more experienced attorneys—no big surprise there.

What is a national survey of people who have recently been through a divorce?

We conducted a national survey of people who had recently been through a divorce to ask them details about their experiences. As a result, we were able to analyze the connections between their costs and some important features of their divorce cases. We then supplemented our survey results with independent research into fees charged by divorce lawyers, mediators, and online divorce services.

When do you need mediation for divorce?

Some states require mediation (or allow judges to require it in individual cases) when couples have filed for divorce but haven't come to an agreement about certain issues—especially child custody.

How much does it cost to divorce a spouse?

While many factors can change the overall cost, it is typical for each spouse to spend $10,000 or more to complete their divorce.

How much does a lawyer charge?

It is typical for new lawyers to charge $100+/hour and experienced attorneys to charge $300+/hour. You can expect to see outlier pricing that ranges from $30 to $500/hour as well.

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.

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.

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.

Do Divorce Lawyers Offer Payment Plans?

Yes, most law firms or independent attorneys understand that an average divorce costs a large sum of money, and may need a payment plan.

Income of a Divorce Lawyer

According to a survey, a divorce lawyer can make up to $129,000. However, this estimate does not refer to the income of divorce of all types. Some lawyers may earn more, while others can earn less depending upon their experience. Here is an estimate of the annual income of divorce lawyers with different experiences.

How to Become a Divorce Lawyer?

The procedure for getting admission to any law school for any law is the same. Like many other types of lawyers, a divorce lawyer will also have to proceed in the following ways to adopt the law field professionally.

What Should a Divorce Lawyer Know?

Only a law degree is not enough to practice as a divorce lawyer; there are many other essential things that a lawyer should understand before getting into the field officially. Here are some essential things that a divorce lawyer must know.

Frequently Asked Questions

Another name used for the divorce lawyer is a matrimonial lawyer. Some people may get confused when they encounter this name. Like others, to avoid confusion, keep in mind that this name is also used for the divorce lawyer.

Conclusion

Like many other lawyers, a divorce lawyer earns a handsome amount annually. According to a survey, divorce cases are decreasing day by day, but there are enough cases that a divorce lawyer will have to handle. So, he can earn handsome revenue from this profession.

How much does a divorce lawyer charge?

While the precise amount of a retainer fee varies from lawyer to lawyer and city to city, the average retainer fee for a divorce lawyer goes between $3,000 and $5,000.

What Is a Divorce Lawyer Retainer Fee?

Lawyers often charge a retainer fee to handle your divorce case from the beginning. This fee is a down payment for the legal services your lawyer agrees to provide.

What Else Should You Know When Negotiating the Retainer Fee for a Divorce Lawyer?

When discussing a retainer fee, you should also keep in mind that your lawyer needs to:

What is retainer fee for divorce?

Lawyers often charge a retainer fee to handle your divorce case from the beginning. This fee is a down payment for the legal services your lawyer agrees to provide.

What is a no fault uncontested divorce?

A no-fault uncontested divorce requires the least money and time since you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse agree on all relevant factors of your post-divorce life , including:

Is a Divorce Retainer Fee Refundable?

An attorney will deduct all costs of services provided to their client from the retainer fee. If the retainer is not enough for the case, you will need to pay extra. In case any money remains at the end of your case, you should get it back.

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