how much a divorce attorney costs in wa

by Asha Kohler 4 min read

A breakdown of the costs is provided in the table below:

Type of Fee Average Cost
Process server $50
Attorney fees for a contested divorce $12,000
Attorney fees for an uncontested divorce $5,000
Home appraiser in case of property divis ... $300–$400
Feb 8 2022

In Washington state, the cost of a divorce lawyer is between $250 and $285 per hour. Average divorce attorney prices are $10,500 to $12,000 for the whole marriage dissolution, but the mutual divorce cost will be significantly lower, averaging at around $5,000.

Full Answer

How much does a divorce in Washington State cost?

Most agreed divorce services in Washington State charge between $500 and $700 including the $300+ court filing fee. Our firm recommends an agreed divorce service named Peaceful Separations, which charges closer to $700 including the court filing fee.

What are the laws for divorce in Washington State?

9 rows · Out of all the items mentioned above, lawyer fees are the highest. A divorce lawyer in ...

How do you file for divorce in Washington State?

Sep 16, 2020 · The average divorce in Washington state costs $13,400, including $10,600 in attorneys' fees. Learn more about what divorce attorneys charge and additional fees incurred during the Washington divorce process.

How do I get a divorce in Washington State?

How Much Does a Divorce Cost in WA? July 31, 2020. ... divorce are obviously far too important not to proceed with the professional legal counsel of an experienced Seattle divorce attorney on your side. When your finances seem to hang in the balance, it can make paying for an attorney feel outside of your reach, but this does not have to be the ...

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How much does it cost to divorce in WA?

To obtain a divorce in the state of Western Australia you need to obtain a divorce order from The Family Court of Western Australia. The divorce order costs $930 to file with the Family Court of Western Australia. For approved concession holders there is a reduced cost of $310.Oct 20, 2020

How much does a divorce cost if both parties agree?

If both parties agree on all major issues, known as an uncontested divorce, you can keep the costs relatively low. If you do your own divorce papers and your divorce is amicable, costs could be under $500. Of course, there are filing fees in all states, which increase the cost.

What is the cheapest way to get a divorce in Washington State?

An uncontested divorce in Washington State is a divorce in which neither spouse is the defendant. There's no need to attend a court hearing and it's much quicker, easier, and cheaper than a contested divorce.Sep 18, 2020

How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Australia?

The hourly rate isn't as important as the total cost. Our typical clients spend about $5,000 for a property or children's issue. A divorce with no other issues costs $950 plus government fees (often $910) plus process servers fees. Going to court for a simple property matter at a case assessment cost $4,000 plus.Mar 3, 2020

How long does a divorce take from start to finish?

A survey by Nolo.com found that the average time it took to complete a divorce from filing a petition to getting a final court judgment averaged about 11 months. Cases that went to trial took an average of almost 18 months to resolve.

Is a divorce free after 5 years?

If you have been separated for 5 years you are entitled to apply for divorce, even if your spouse does not consent. Your spouse can only oppose the divorce if they can argue that ending the marriage would result in serious financial or other hardship.

What is a wife entitled to in a divorce in Washington State?

You get a decree, a division of all the parties' property, a parenting plan, a child support order, and potentially spousal maintenance (alimony).

How do I start the divorce process?

A divorce starts with a divorce petition. The petition is written by one spouse (the petitioner) and served on the other spouse. The petition is then filed in a state court in the county where one of the spouses resides. It does not matter where the marriage occurred.Jul 9, 2021

Do both parties have to agree to a divorce?

Contested and Uncontested Divorce In order for a divorce to proceed swiftly through the Court both people should mutually agree to the divorce taking place. However, if one person does not wish to comply with divorce proceedings and refuses to respond to the divorce petition, there are options available.Sep 19, 2019

Who pays for the divorce?

the petitionerThe simple fact is that the petitioner always pays the divorce fees. The person filing for the divorce (known as the Petitioner) will always pay the divorce filing fee.

How long does Australian divorce take?

roughly four monthsIn Australia, a divorce will typically take roughly four months before the court will officially grant it. This time is from the point you have first applied for divorce in court until the court has issued the divorce order and it is finalised.Aug 12, 2021

How much does a divorce in Australia cost?

What is the average cost of a divorce or separation in Australia? According to Money Magazine, the average cost is between $50,000 and $100,000 and can take up to 3 years if going through to Court.

How much does it cost to get divorced in Washington?

Just to file for divorce in Washington, it costs roughly $350. (This includes fees for filing, a judicial surcharge, and court facilitator costs.) From there, you have to serve your spouse. If you hire a lawyer, they can handle that, likely for a fee, or you can use an outside process server.

What forms are needed for divorce?

There are two forms that are required for every divorce: Confidential Information Form and a. Certificate of Dissolution – Vital Statistics form.

Can you get off scot free?

No matter how clear-cut and uncomplicated your divorce, you still can’t get off scot-free. In this day and age, it’s easier than ever to download the forms, fill them out yourself, file them, and be done. But even if you take a do-it-yourself approach, you have to pay.

What happens after dividing assets?

After dividing the shared assets, if financial need or a large gap in earning potential still exists, the court may award spousal support. The court may take into account factors like:

Do divorces require experts?

The cost of a complex divorce will be impacted by the necessity of experts. Many cases don’t require experts, but for those that do, it can be an expensive proposition.

What happens after divorce?

TaxesMany people often fail to consider the impact of taxes in post-divorce life. After finalizing your divorce, your filing status changes.

Do you pay child support if you have children?

If you have children, and you’re not the custodial parent, you’ll likely pay child support. Designed to provide for the continuing care and well-being of your kids, and cover the basic necessities like food, shelter, and clothing, the parent with the most overnights usually receives the payments from the other.

Divorce-Related Fees in Washington State

There are several divorce-related fees in Washington State. A breakdown of the costs is provided in the table below:

The Basics of the Washington State Uncontested Divorce

Before filing for divorce in Washington, you should get acquainted with state laws, as explained in the list below:

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The Cost of a Divorce Lawyer in Washington State

Most readers in our survey (in fact, more than two-thirds of them) hired a lawyer to help with their divorce. For those readers, the attorney’s fee generally made up the bulk of their divorce costs.

How Disputes and Trial Affect the Cost of Divorce in Washington

Not surprisingly, it’s very common for couples to disagree about important issues at stake in their divorce, especially:

What Other Expenses Contribute to the Cost of Divorce?

Besides attorney’s fees, there are other costs involved in the divorce process, including filing fees and a fee for the final hearing date. You might also have to pay the fees for a mediator and experts like child custody evaluators or financial analysts. Our national survey showed an average of $1,600 for these non-lawyer expenses.

More Information and Resources on Washington Divorce

Follow the links below for more useful information about divorce in Washington:

Can you get divorced in Washington State?

In Washington State, the law only requires one spouse to petition for the divorce. Since the other spouse cannot legally prevent the divorce, working with each other to accomplish the divorce amicably is wise and the most affordable approach. In an amicable divorce, you and your spouse work out the issues of your divorce instead ...

What is limited representation?

The most common type of limited representation is for the attorney to simply draft all the documents for you and answer basic questions. In a limited representation, you and the attorney share the responsibilities of completing your uncontested divorce.

How much does a divorce cost?

A divorce where lawyers argue back and forth on behalf of their clients can cost tens of thousands. Most uncontested divorces cost each spouse several thousand dollars before a final agreement is reached.

Can an attorney give you legal advice?

For example, an attorney can advise you of options and explain the legal process to you. In contrast, it is against the law for a non-attorney to give you any legal advice, such as explaining your legal options based on your particular situation and circumstances .

What does an attorney do for a divorce?

The attorney reviews the agreement you reached with your spouse and then prepares all the necessary documents for your unique situation and circumstances. If the attorney has any concerns about your agreement, he or she brings these issues to your attention, allowing you and your spouse to amend your agreement.

How to save money on attorney fees?

We always say it is better to take your money and spend it on yourself. Take a vacation, take a trip, or visit family or friends. Then come back and try to reach the agreement with your spouse.

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.

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.

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 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 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.

How much does it cost to hire a divorce lawyer?

The average cost to hire a divorce lawyer is roughly between $175 to $325 per hour. However, your costs may be higher or lower — it depends on several factors. For example, an uncontested divorce may cost less than a contested divorce.

How do I hire a good divorce attorney?

It’s important to spend an adequate amount of time researching and vetting several divorce attorneys before you hire one. Start by searching for top-rated lawyers near you, and read through their clients’ reviews. Get an idea of their reputation, how successful they are and how they set their pricing.

What do lawyers do in a divorce?

A divorce lawyer handles negotiations regarding how assets are divided between spouses, as well as who assumes debts. The divorce lawyer can also help establish an agreement for child support and child custody between the spouses.

When should I hire a divorce attorney?

You should hire a divorce attorney in situations where settlements are hard to reach between you and your spouse, or if you want to better understand your rights. This includes a wide range of complicated issues, with common examples being:

Who pays for a divorce?

Often, each spouse pays their own respective lawyer’s attorney fees and costs during a divorce. However, certain circumstances may lead to one party paying for the other’s legal fees.

Do divorce lawyers work on contingency?

It’s unusual for divorce lawyers to work on contingency, where they receive an agreed-upon proportion of the awarded amount if and only if they win the case. It's much more common for lawyers to work on a retainer or on a fixed hourly fee. Always discuss the fees and payment options with lawyers you’re considering hiring.

How do lawyers get paid if they lose a case?

Lawyers typically charge for their time (typically a hourly rate) regardless of whether they win a case. Sometimes, the losing party is ordered to pay the other party’s lawyer fees on top of their own. Some lawyers also work on contingency, meaning they will take a percentage of the awarded amount only if they successfully win the case.

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