how much time does a lawyer spend on a simple divorce

by Felicia Dibbert 3 min read

For starters, you have to understand that your lawyer will probably cost on average around $275-300 per hour. That will buy you somewhere around 50-60 hours of your attorney’s time. Most divorces will last somewhere around 6-12 months, depending on how fast you settle (or don’t settle).

Full Answer

How much does a divorce lawyer cost per hour?

How Much Divorce Costs With a Lawyer. Although many couples are able to go through a divorce without hiring an attorney, there are some circumstances where a divorce lawyer is necessary or strongly recommended.Even in other situations, you may simply prefer to have a lawyer take care of all the paperwork, negotiating, and other legal matters involved in a divorce—if you can …

How long does a divorce lawyer take to settle?

Oct 19, 2018 · Divorce lawyers typically charge $250 – $500 per hour, or more. The more time they spend on your case, the more money you spend on them. And lawyers aren’t the only divorce professionals you’re going to have to pay if you and your spouse fight.

How much does a contested divorce cost?

Aug 27, 2019 · Full-Scope Divorce Lawyers: Total Fees More than 4 in 10 readers paid a total of $5,000 or less in fees to their divorce lawyers. Total Cost of a Full-Scope Divorce Attorney. Overall, the readers in our survey paid an average of $11,300 in attorneys' fees when they hired full-scope divorce lawyers.

Do I need a lawyer for a divorce?

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?

image

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 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 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.

Why does divorce take so long?

There are several reasons divorces can take a long time, including the number and type of contested issues, combative spouses (or attorneys), the amount of time needed to gather evidence about things like complex finances or custody issues, and whether you go to trial.

What is the Martindale-Nolo survey?

References in this article to survey results come from Martindale-Nolo Research's 2019 divorce study, which analyzed survey responses from readers who had recently gone through a divorce and had researched hiring a lawyer. The names of any readers quoted in this article have been changed to protect their privacy.

Do divorce attorneys charge by the hour?

Divorce attorneys almost always charge by the hour, rather than a flat fee, because every divorce case is unique. Even if your situation looks similar on the surface to another couple’s (a two-income household with two kids and a home owned together), it doesn’t mean your case will turn out the same way.

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.

Cost of a Divorce in Arizona

So you want to know how much a divorce will cost in Arizona, huh? The answer is somewhat two-fold because the question people (you) are really asking contains two questions. The first being how much does a divorce in general cost, and the second being how much will it cost to hire a divorce lawyer.

Filing Fees with the Court

The general cost of a divorce is relatively low, and fairly standard (remember, I said “fairly”). Without hiring a lawyer, the cost of a divorce is generally only made up of the procedural-type costs. The main two costs will be the filing fee, and the response fee.

Service Fee

Other than the filing fees, the next most likely cost for a divorce is the service fee. In Arizona, you have to use either a sheriff deputy or private process server to formally serve the divorce papers on your spouse (unless your spouse accepts service, which typically doesn’t happen).

Parenting Class and Mediation Fees

Finally, the next most likely cost in any divorce will be possible parenting and/or mediation costs. In Arizona divorces with children you will need to take a parenting class. Most people opt to do this online, while some still go to physical classes. Either way, you can expect to pay around $50 (per person) to take the class.

Cost of a Divorce Lawyer

Now, unfortunately, come the real costs of divorce: lawyers. Ugh, they’re the worst, right? I’m a lawyer and even I can say that (because it’s half true). Seriously though, lawyers can provide a very helpful service in many divorces. I won’t get into whether you should hire a lawyer or not.

What About a Cheap Divorce?

At this point, you might be asking: what about those signs I see for divorce for $1,000, or for $500, or for $250? Sounds tempting about now I’m sure. Here is what you need to know about those types of offers. Those are not quotes from lawyers (if they are, run!).

Bottom Line

I hope all of this answers your question of how much a divorce in Arizona will cost. The bottom line is it may cost a lot if you hire a lawyer, but at the very least expect to need around $500 depending on whether you have kids or not. Lawyers can provide a very great service, but not everyone can afford a lawyer.

image