Use the ABA, the American Bar Association, to identify a list of lawyers and their specialties who practice in your area. Most counties will have a professional association of lawyers. In addition, often times, this group can tell you which lawyers specialize in divorce.
Importantly, a divorce lawyer will also explain the law and your available legal options. The attorney should review your situation and its related documents. These can include paycheck stubs, tax returns, and property value information.
You can also sometimes find pro bono divorce lawyers through your local or state bar association. Such services are typically granted to those on a need-base only, whether due to finances or other circumstances. Divorce Without a Lawyer Depending on the state you live in, it might not even be necessary to hire a lawyer to facilitate your divorce.
To get an estimate, be sure to provide the lawyer with an idea if your divorce is amicable, or if it is likely to involve challenges from your spouse’s lawyer as you split up assets and hammer out the custody agreement if there are children. 5. What can be the probable outcomes of the process?
A divorce lawyer protects the rights of their client, along with handling the related custody and financial aspects of the divorce. Importantly, a divorce lawyer will also explain the law and your available legal options.
Working through the legal process of divorce is often complex—characterized by significant paperwork, waiting periods, and filing multiple forms, among other requirements—adding hurdles to individuals who may wish to undergo a divorce without a lawyer.
The total average costs of a divorce can range from $7,000 to $28,000, with divorce attorneys charging an average of $270 an hour. In a 2019 study by Martindale-Nolo Research, attorney fees for divorces lasting less than six months clocked in, on average, at $6,500; those lasting more than 30 months came in at $23,000.
As with many other services, finding a good divorce lawyer can start with referrals from friends or family. In addition, other professionals, such as accountants or financial advisors, may offer recommendations. Getting a deeper understanding of their experience with a lawyer can provide valuable information on what to look for—and what to avoid.
When you've identified possible candidates, interview your top choices. Some offer free consultations, but budget for a paid meeting if you think the attorney is worth it. You will learn something about how you want your divorce to proceed from each meeting.
The steep cost makes finding a divorce lawyer an option that is out of reach for many Americans. 7 Legal activists have suggested that the process of getting an uncontested divorce—which is when either spouse doesn't disagree with any aspect of the divorce—should be reformed, making it less arduous. 8
Because the costs of getting a divorce can range between $7,000 and $28,000, many Americans question how it's possible to pay for it. 5 Withdrawal from a 401 (k) is a permissible option if the funds are spent on the divorce.
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Pro bono divorce lawyers are, in essence, free divorce lawyers. They are attorneys that will voluntary take on your case at no charge. (Because divorce is a civil legal matter, the court will not appoint a lawyer to represent you, as is done in criminal cases.)
Other Free Divorce Resources 1 Free Divorce Worksheet: Some websites offer free online divorce worksheets by state. This worksheet will help you collect all the information you will need to hand to your lawyer to help you finalize your divorce. 2 Free Personal Legal Forms: You can find free personal legal forms, including child visitation letters, online. 3 Bar Associations: State and local bar associations often publish guides to commonly encountered legal situations, such as getting a divorce and writing a will. Check with your local bar association for more information.
However, even in this circumstance, one of the spouses must first file an original petition for divorce with the Family Law District Court to have a divorce granted. You may wish to contract an attorney to help you file this document to ensure it is done correctly.
Contingent Fees: You pay the lawyer nothing upfront, but the lawyer keeps a percentage of any money awarded to you at the end of the case. (Contingency fees are not used in divorce cases.)
In some situations, a court might require a high-earning spouse to pay the legal fees and expenses of the lower-income spouse, which allows those with lower incomes to have legal assistance. However, if this is not the case, you may want to consider finding a pro bono divorce lawyer.