what is the cost of a divorce lawyer in fl

by Prof. Elisha Harvey IV 8 min read

On average, Florida divorce lawyers charge a minimum of $260 per hour and a maximum of $330. Average total costs for divorce lawyers range from $11,000- to 14,000 but are typically much lower in cases with no contested issues.Feb 24, 2020

Full Answer

Who pays lawyer fees in a divorce?

Who Normally Pays Lawyers’ Fees in Divorce? In most cases, each party is responsible for paying his or her own lawyer’s fees in a divorce. However, sometimes a spouse can be ordered to pay the other spouse’s legal fees. Additionally, some courts allow the judge to award attorney’s fees to one party according to the “judge’s ...

How to find a good divorce lawyer in Florida?

  • Holding of assets
  • Maintenance of investments or insurance policies
  • Guardianship of children
  • The rights of the non-custodial parent

How much does it cost for a divorce in Florida?

  • Initiation of Litigation: $7,000-$12,000
  • Trial Preparation Fees: $8,000-$15,000
  • Trial Fees: Alimony: $7,500-$10,000 Property Distribution: $6,000-$10,000 Child Custody Trial: $8,000-$15,000 Child Support trial: $5,000-$10,000

How much are divorce lawyer fees?

The average cost of divorce: $12,900

  • location,
  • whether child support or child custody were involved,
  • whether alimony was an issue, and
  • whether the divorce was settled outside of court or the couple went to trial.

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Do I have to pay for my spouse's divorce lawyer in Florida?

As a rule of thumb, the more contentious the divorce case, the more your attorney will charge you. Fortunately, however, Florida law allows spouses to make their spouse pay their divorce attorney's fees.

How much does an uncontested divorce cost in Florida?

Most uncontested divorces will be eligible for a flat-fee. The flat-fee covers all of the costs for the case, as long as it remains uncontested. The flat-fee will vary based on the number of children and assets involved. Typically, the flat-fee will range between $1,500 – $2,400.

What if I can't afford a divorce lawyer in Florida?

If you have a civil legal problem but cannot afford to hire a private lawyer, you still may have access to the legal system through your local legal services-legal aid organization which provides free or low cost legal services to persons with low incomes.

What is the cheapest way to get a divorce in Florida?

Divorce in Mutual Agreement Filing for a divorce in mutual agreement is always cheaper. This avoids having to hire a process server or sheriff to serve the divorce papers to your spouse. You will also save on court mandated mediation, hiring an attorney and maybe even having to pay for their legal fees.

What is a wife entitled to in a divorce in Florida?

When a married couple files for divorce in Florida, there will be an “equitable distribution” or the division of marital assets and liabilities. See Florida divorce law 61.075. Usually, the court will divide marital assets and liabilities 50/50 unless there are factors that would make an equal split inequitable.

How long a divorce takes in Florida?

A divorce can take anywhere between 3 and 24 months depending on whether it is contested or uncontested. The average uncontested divorce takes 3 months. The average contested divorce takes 12 months.

How long do you have to be separated before divorce is automatic?

Most state courts will automatically enter a divorce decree if the parties have been legally separated for a period of time, often one to two years, and meet the basic eligibility requirements.

How can I divorce my husband without money?

Legal Aid Divorce Help Call your city or state bar association to ask for contact information or do an internet search to find them. These organizations provide no-cost (and also low-cost) legal assistance. If you are indigent, they may represent you at no cost and will file all fee waiver papers on your behalf.

Who pays attorney fees in Florida?

You may be wondering: Can I get the other party to pay my attorneys' fees and legal costs? The answer is “it depends”—though it is certainly possible in some cases. Florida operates under the 'American Rule', meaning each party to a dispute is assumed to be responsible for their own attorneys' fees.

Who gets the house in a divorce in Florida?

Who Gets the House in a Florida Divorce? A court won't order a couple to split a marital home, but a judge may award one spouse the home in exchange for buying out the other spouse's share of the home. In other cases, a judge may order the couple to sell the home and divide the proceeds.

How fast is a simple divorce in Florida?

30 daysOften referred to as a “quick” divorce, a Simplified Dissolution of Marriage in Florida typically takes 30 days. If both spouses agree to terms, have lived in Florida at least 6 months, have no children, and are not seeking alimony, they may be eligible for this type of divorce.

Can you get divorced in Florida without going to court?

Florida divorce law provides a process called a 'Simplified Dissolution of Marriage. ' Couples can use this to get a quick divorce, about 30 days from filing to finalization, as long as they have complete agreement on the terms of the divorce and it's uncontested.

How long does it take for an uncontested divorce to be final in Florida?

Filing uncontested still mandates a 20-day waiting period between filing your petition and the hearing, so an uncontested divorce will still take at least three weeks. The average uncontested divorce can take a couple of months once you factor in the preparation and negotiation time.

Do I have to go to court for uncontested divorce in Florida?

In a Florida uncontested divorce, the attorney draws up a Marital Settlement Agreement which the parties sign. And the parties then go to Court for a very short final hearing. (It is usually not necessary for both parties to attend the final hearing.)

How much does it cost to file a simple divorce in Florida?

It costs $409.00 to file your petition but you may qualify for a payment plan if you are indigent. You can get all of the forms online on the Florida Courts website. In addition to asking for a divorce, you may also ask the court to change your name back to what it was before you were married.

How can I get a divorce fee waived in Florida?

If you receive assistance such as welfare, food stamps, social security income, unemployment assistance, disability or any other type of government assistance, you will most likely qualify for the court filing fee waiver. Also, keep in mind the size of your family when figuring out if you qualify based on your income.

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 get divorce in Florida?

One of the easiest options if you qualify for it is an online divorce Florida. An “online”, flat fee, low cost divorce can be done entirely by phone and email and does not require a court appearance or a trip to the lawyer’s office. In order to qualify, you and your spouse need to be in agreement on all issues of your case. And one of you has to be a Florida resident for at least six months. To find out more about pricing for a no court appearance required divorce in Florida, call Attorney Gruskin at 1-800-666-6517.

How long do you have to be in agreement to get divorce in Florida?

In order to qualify, you and your spouse need to be in agreement on all issues of your case. And one of you has to be a Florida resident for at least six months. To find out more about pricing for a no court appearance required divorce in Florida, call Attorney Gruskin at 1-800-666-6517.

How to contact Gruskin divorce lawyer?

He offers low, flat rates for uncontested divorces, and moderate, flexible pricing for Florida contested divorces. Call today at 1-800-666-6517. Prev.

What is contested divorce in Florida?

Contested divorce is where the parties cannot agree on one or more issues. It takes a lot of legal work to be ready to bring a contested divorce before the court for a decision. We are happy to answer all of your questions about divorce in Florida cost – just give us a call at 1-800-666-6517.

What happens if you don't like the judge in your divorce case?

And if you don’t like the decision of the judge in your case, the cost can increase substantially if you appeal the decision. (Florida divorce cases are heard by a judge, not a jury). And as also stated above, you may need expert witnesses such as child care professionals to make a case for custody/timesharing.

Can you do an uncontested divorce online?

In fact it can be done completley online with no court appearance required.

Can both parties agree to divorce?

Both parties may agree to get a divorce . But the devil is in the details. (ie you may disagree on child related issues if any, whether or not there will be alimony, and division of property and responsibility for debt.)

How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Florida?

Florida divorce cost is hard to calculate precisely, even for experienced lawyers. However, it can be approximated based on a few factors such as whether:

Factors that Affect the Cost of a Florida Divorce

Why is divorce expensive? In most cases, because of lawyer’s fees. However, what makes them high is the length of your proceedings, as lawyers are paid hourly. Therefore, what you should be looking at when considering how to cut the costs is what can potentially prolong the divorce.

How Much Does a Divorce Lawyer Cost in Florida?

Florida divorce attorney fees are around $295 on average and typically range between $260 and $330 as per the recent studies. Before taking the case, lawyers usually request an upfront payment – a retainer, which is used to cover their legal services over a certain period of time.

Cost of Divorce in Florida

The average cost of divorce in Florida is $13,500 without children or $20,300 with children, according to USA Today. However, the actual cost of a divorce in Florida can vary by tens of thousands of dollars based on the type of issues involved in the case and how those issues are resolved.

How Much Are Divorce Filing Fees in Florida?

Every county court in Florida requires people filing for a dissolution of marriage to pay a filing fee. This is essentially the fee you pay to have your divorce processed, or recorded, by the court, which makes it legal.

How Much Does a Divorce Lawyer Cost in Florida?

Divorce lawyers in Florida typically charge between $260 and $330 per hour, depending on their experience and where they are located. Divorce attorneys in larger cities tend to charge more than out-state attorneys.

Can I File for Divorce in Florida Without a Lawyer?

Yes, you may file for dissolution of marriage without any help from a lawyer. In fact, this is the route that many Florida residents choose to take.

How Long Will a Divorce Take in Florida?

A divorce in Florida can take just a few months or a couple of years to complete, depending on how many contested issues there are. On average, a divorce that is uncontested takes about three months, while a divorce that is contested takes about 12 months to complete.

Contact a Florida Divorce Lawyer for More Information

The only way to know how much your divorce will cost is to meet with a divorce lawyer who can look at your situation and provide you with their best estimate.

How much does a divorce attorney cost in Florida?

Most divorce attorneys in Florida bill hourly for their work. The hourly rate for divorce lawyers is anywhere between $175 and $500 per hour – the average cost being around $300. The rate rises with experience, so junior associates will have a lower rate and experienced attorneys will have a higher rate. Divorce attorneys take a retainer upon ...

How much does an uncontested divorce cost?

Not including divorce filing fees, an uncontested divorce fee is between $2,000 and $4,000.

What happens if you don't get resolved in divorce mediation?

If your case cannot get resolved at this stage, you may need to pay a second retainer for the divorce mediation phase. This is a segment of your case with the goal of utilizing third- party mediators to try to broker a deal. After the divorce mediator, a third segment in your case is temporary relief phase.

What is retainer in divorce?

The retainer represents “unearned” funds, which are deposited in a trust account that the law firm can draw from as work is done on the case or expenses are incurred. Divorce retainers are contingent on the number of issues and relative complexity of the case.

What is an uncontested divorce?

The attorney then boils down the agreement to the appropriate settlement agreements , helps the client complete mandatory affidavits and financials, files the lawsuit, and brings the client to Court to resolve the hearing.

Is divorce fair in Florida?

Florida wants the divorce process to be fair. To ensure that both parties have equal access to representation, Florida gives the needy spouse the opportunity to request that some or all of his or her attorneys’ fees be paid by the breadwinner spouse. This comes down to a matter of scale.

How much does it cost to get divorced in Florida?

A divorce in Florida will cost $409 to cover the Miami-Dade County clerk’s fee for dissolution of marriage. In addition there is a fee for the process server. If you hire an attorney — and you certainly should — charges vary depending on experience and reputation. Most charge a retainer and bill by the hour.

How to reduce costs of divorce?

The most important step you can take to reduce the costs of your divorce is to adopt a cooperative state of mind to the extent that’s possible. Certainly there are cases where a party is justified in aggressively litigating divorce issues. If you’re embroiled in a high-net-worth divorce and your spouse is trying to cheat you out of substantial property, you need to fight back. If your spouse is a threat to your children, you’ve got to protect them. But if you and your spouse simply need to settle your affairs and move on, you should not act as an impediment to that process. Rather, you should: 1 Focus on your future goals, rather than reliving the past. 2 Choose a cooperative process, such as collaboration or mediation, to resolve your issues. 3 Voluntarily disclose all financial data and other information to avoid discovery. 4 When it’s necessary to have an expert opinion, hire one neutral expert and promise to abide by their decision.

What are the expenses of discovery?

Discovery expenses include: Attorney fees to prepare your interrogatories and help you answer the other party’s. Expenses related to subpoenaing documents from the other party. Costs of reproducing documents for the other party. Attorney’s time meeting and conferring with opposing counsel. Expert witness fees.

Can a spouse pay for divorce expenses?

Paying for your spouse’s divorce expenses. In cases where there is one high-earning spouse, a dependent spouse can ask the court for reasonable attorney fees. Thus, one spouse winds up paying for both sides.

How much does a divorce attorney cost?

The total cost of a divorce is about $15,000, but can go as high as $100,000 depending on how many issues you want a judgment on ...

How much does it cost to file for divorce?

The cost will vary from state to state, but typically it’s about $300 , which can sting, considering the circumstances.

What is more important than paying a lawyer?

Far more important than what you are paying your lawyer and the courts is hiring the right attorney. Do your research based on what you can afford, and find the right representation to protect what you have at stake.

Is divorce time consuming?

Divorces can be time-consuming and messy, and the issues in each divorce are different from one couple to the next. Because the outcome of every divorce is determined by the defendants, the attorneys, and what is at stake, it’s nearly impossible to find a standard overall cost.

Is divorce pleasant?

No one would ever describe the divorce process as being pleasant; neither would any spouses say on their wedding day they were planning on divorcing down the road. But divorce happens—for at least 50 percent of all first, second, and third marriages.

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