How Much Does It Cost to hire a lawyer for divorce?
As you might expect, divorce fees vary on a number of factors. Here are some of the variables to be considered:
- How long were you married?
- Do you have children? If so, how many and what are their ages?
- Are you both employed?
- Do either of you have retirement accounts (IRA, 401(k), etc?)
- Do you have any vacation or investment properties?
- Do you own your house?
- Do you have an advanced degree?
- Do you have any closely held businesses?
- Do you have stock options as part of your compensation/retirement from your employer?
- How much experience does your potential attorney have in addressing your type of situation?
Of course, there are more variables. That’s why it’s a good idea to set a consultation with a divorce attorney. Whether it’s our firm or somebody else, you need to have a lawyer tell you what the realistic outcomes, pathways, and potential obstacles will be before you decide to get divorced. Pro tip: A great attorney will tell you when it doesn’t make sense to proceed with divorce.
Do you need a lawyer for divorce?
In most cases, we do recommend having a lawyer consult with you. In the rare case of uncontested divorce (see below), it will save you time and money in the long run to work with a dedicated family law attorney from the beginning. It sounds counterintuitive, but in having handled hundreds of cases, many where people tried to go it themselves with the DIY route, when the case comes to our firm, there’s more work necessary to get to the same goal.
Do I need a divorce lawyer if we agree on everything?
This is known as an uncontested divorce. While these are exceptionally rare (when the rubber meets the road, there is usually some type of disagreement), it is worth having an attorney review your documents. You likely won’t need the standard retainer, but it’s a good practice for piece of mind to have a professional review your agreements.
How do I find a good divorce lawyer?
There are a couple ways to find a good divorce lawyer for you. First, you can ask your friends/family (we all know somebody who has been through this process). If you’re not comfortable doing that, do some research online. You’ve found your way to our page, so you’re likely on that path. Once you find an attorney who matches your needs, feel free to do some review checks and make sure others have had good experiences. Lastly, whomever you find that seems to meet your needs, set up an initial consultation (typically these are $250-$500) to make sure the attorney will be somebody you can trust. Note, beware of free consultations. Many family law firms that offer these tend to have very limited information exchange – likely no more than you can read about online. The reason you pay for an initial consultation it to have more detail, as well as confidentiality between you and the attorney. This is an incredibly valuable piece of information and something to consider.