See below for a list of costs associated with different divorce processes:
Cost of Divorce in Arizona. On average, you can expect a straightforward divorce with court proceedings to average around $5,000 to $10,000. If you have a higher net worth or property that is to be divided it will cost more. And for couples who simply cannot come to an agreement and need a judge to decide, costs could reach as high as $50,000 ...
What Factors Influence The Cost of Getting a Divorce?
Here, we have answered some frequently asked questions regarding divorce attorney costs. Q. What Is the Hourly Rate for a Divorce Attorney? The vast majority of attorneys charge between $200 and $300 per hour. Very few charge $100 or less, and about 20% charge $400 or more.
While the precise amount of a retainer fee varies from lawyer to lawyer and city to city, the average retainer fee for a divorce lawyer goes between $3,000 and $5,000. You can try negotiating if you cannot afford the amount a lawyer asks for or find another attorney since some might charge less. Keep in mind that:
The average cost of divorce in Arizona is $20,000. Arizona divorce costs ranged from $15,000 to $100,000 per side when including expert witness fees in 2019. The cost of hiring a divorce lawyer in Arizona can cost as much as $550 per hour.
$349What is the cost of a divorce in Arizona? In Maricopa County, the base fee for filing a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (with or without children) is $349. Pima County's fee is $83 less at $266. Other Arizona counties have different filing fees.
While many couples can and do get divorced in Arizona without attorneys, spending a consultation fee to have an experienced family attorney review the divorce before it is finalized will be money well spent. The lawyer can identify if you have any issues in your case which require more exploration or attention.
An uncontested divorce (sometimes known as divorce "by consent decree" in Arizona) is almost always far cheaper and quicker than a traditional, contested divorce. That's because you won't have to go to trial to have a judge resolve your disputes.
between 90 and 120 daysAlthough you can get a divorce decree in as little as 60 days (in limited circumstances as per the waiting period in Arizona Revised Statute 25-329), the average time to finalize even an uncontested divorce in Arizona is between 90 and 120 days. In many cases, divorces can take considerably longer.
There appears to be a myth that the person being divorced (known as the Respondent) always pays the fees for a divorce, when in reality this is not the case in the majority of divorce cases. The person filing for the divorce (known as the Applicant) will always pay the divorce filing fee.
Arizona divorce forms are all available online and free to use. The Arizona Judicial Branch provides the required forms and instructions for a divorce with minor children or without minor children. These forms may be accepted by courts statewide, although some courts may have their own preferred forms.
If you and your spouse do not agree on all of the issues in your divorce, the only practical way to get a quick divorce in Arizona is to hire a mediator or arbitrator to get you divorced fast.
How long do you have to be separated before divorce in AZ? No, Arizona does not require spouses to separate before filing for divorce (dissolution of marriage). However, there is a waiting period of at least 60 days before the divorce can be finalized after filing and serving your spouse.
Generally, it is the wife that files for divorce in Arizona so she will be entitled to half of all community property and earnings during the marriage unless she can prove otherwise. Our advice is not contesting a wife's entitlement to more than 50%, but trying to settle out of court by negotiating with her attorney.
It is possible to get divorced without going to court, as long as your partner agrees to the divorce and the reasons why. However, it is still possible that you will need to go to court to decide what happens to money, property and children.
Even if you decide to file for divorce on your own, there will be fees. You must pay to file documents with the court. Filing fees differ depending on your jurisdiction and the materials you have to file. You also have to pay to serve the other party.
You can't actually get divorced entirely online in Arizona. Rather, you can download the initial divorce papers, but you will need to file them in person. You may also need to attend one or more hearings at the court in order to finalize your case.
between six and nine monthsOn average the divorce usually takes between six and nine months. It is however very common to delay applying for the Decree Absolute until the financial issues have been resolved.
In Arizona, there is no waiting period for remarriage after divorce, so technically you can remarry as soon as your divorce is finalized.
If you are thinking about divorce, you may wonder, “Does it matter who files for divorce first in Arizona?” Legally, the answer is no. Whether you file first will not make any difference regarding any of the legal elements of your divorce.
Each former spouse begins life after divorce with all his or her separate property and half what they once owned together. Arizona is a 50/50 property law state when it comes to divorce. Community property division must be equitable, but seldom will shares be absolutely equal.
California is a no-fault divorce state, which means that citing the wrongdoing of your spouse when you file for divorce isn't required or even permitted. Instead, most California divorces are granted on the grounds that the marriage bond has been broken, meaning you and your spouse have irreconcilable differences.
There's no legal time limit on when you can start divorce proceedings, as long as you've been married for one year. You can begin divorce proceedings as soon as you separate.
Q: Is it better to be the petitioner or respondent in a divorce? A: There is no advantage to being either the petitioner or respondent in a divorce.
Steps for Initiating a DIY Divorce in ArizonaFill out divorce forms.File the documents with the county clerk in your jurisdiction.Serve Forms/ Respond to forms.File proof of service with the court clerk.Comply with Disclosure and Discovery Rules.Wait 60 days after serving the other party.Day in Court/Legal Proceedings.
Unlike a contested divorce, an uncontested divorce is one where both parties agree on all terms of the divorce. This includes child custody, child and spousal support, and the division of marital property and debts.
Maximum child support in Arizona law, is 50 percent of the parent's disposable income. This amount also applies to a person who has gotten married again and who is currently supporting another family.
Petition for Dissolution of Marriage – This is the main document when filing for divorce. There are two versions of the form: With Children and Without Children. Both have the same filing fee: $349.
In the Scottsdale area, family lawyers charge between $250 to $550 per hour as an average. The average cost of hiring a divorce lawyer is about $10,300. If you want a lawyer with a wealth of experience, this can run up to $400 to $750 per hour. There may also be other fees for services like:
The average cost of Divorce in Arizona depends on the divorce process you choose. See below for a list of costs associated with different divorce processes:
A contested divorce is the most expensive of all. On average, a contested divorce in Arizona costs about $15,000 with prices ranging from $2,500 to $30,000 or more in 2019 according to multiple sources. According to BestLegalChoices, “ You can expect a straightforward divorce in Arizona with court proceedings to average around $5,000 to $10,000. If you have a higher net worth or property that is to be divided it will cost more. And for couples who simply cannot come to an agreement and need a judge to decide, costs could reach as high as $50,000 or more “. Legal fees for a contested divorce are so expensive because attorneys will likely be highly engaged in the discovery process. Read more about contested divorce costs .
The average cost of a divorce if both parties agree is about $7,500.
When including expert fees the total cost of some divorces can range from $25,000 to $100,000 per spouse.
In Maricopa County, the cost to file a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage is $349. When filing their response, the responding party must pay a fee of $279 when they tender a decree of consent for the approval of the court. There may be additional fees and charges for the following:
When a case demands litigation, you’ll have the benefit of 19 years of litigation experience in California and Arizona. But when a case demands collaborative law, or mediation, you’ll know every option.
Family lawyers in the Scottsdale area charge between $250 and $550 per hour on average. If you hire an immensely experienced lawyer in Arizona, the cost can be as much as $400 to $750 per hour. In addition to the hourly rate, some lawyers also charge extra for drafting letters, printing documents, travel time, mailing, stamps and so on. Divorce lawyer fees in Arizona can total a combined average of about $20,000 per divorce. However, there is no assurance that fees come in higher or lower than this figure because every divorce is truly unique.
As a result, the costs will be considerably less.
In a divorce proceeding, a request may be made to the judge by one party that the payment of the attorney fees for that particular party should be covered by the other party in the divorce process. The court can order attorney’s fees paid when the party being asked to cover the cost was not represented by legal counsel or when both parties were represented by legal counsel. The importance of this is delays and errors that are unintentional yet caused by the pro se litigant can have on the outcome of the award of the legal fees of the other party that were incurred when these mistakes were being dealt with.
A.R.S. § 25-324 is an Arizona statute allowing the for the payment of fees due to an attorney in cases of marriage dissolution. The court does have the discretion to award the attorney fees against a specific party in some circumstances.
According to some estimates, the average divorce case can cost as much as a new car. However, people typically do not spend more than $10,000 per spouse.
The complete cost of legal separation can vary enormously, from as little as $1,000 to in excess of $100,000 when matters such as alimony, child custody and having to work through the disposition of a very complex marital estate are to be decided. So, you can imagine, there are many factors coming into play to determine the total legal separation costs. Read on to learn more about these factors.
If the divorcing couple needs legal assistance, for example, a divorce attorney in Scottsdale, legal fees at an hourly rate will have to be paid in addition to court fees. Some couples prefer to hire a mediator and legal counsel. Mediators typically charge similar rates to attorneys. Overall, the fees of an uncontested divorce are far less in comparison to contested litigation.
Court filing fees are required to complete the divorce or the legal separation process. The court fee to be paid at the beginning of the process is the Petitioner’s fee. In Maricopa County, this fee is currently $349. The Respondent’s fee, which is due when the decree of dissolution of marriage is filed, it is currently $274. These fees fluctuate over time, and by county, so it is strongly recommended that you ask your mediator or lawyer for current pricing.
As a result, most divorce attorneys will estimate that for a relatively straightforward case, with moderate conflict, modest assets and with children, the average cost of divorce is $15,000 – $20,000 per spouse. When conflict escalates — which is often true in litigation — the case can last a year or more and can result in costs ...
At The Aurit Center for Divorce Mediation, in Scottsdale, Arizona, we inform potential clients, at their free initial consultation, of their total flat fee for their mediation process, from beginning to end. This includes all mediation meetings, document drafting, emails, phone calls, memos, editing of documents, signings, travel to and from court for the clients — everything related to their case. Spouses know the cost before they even begin the process.
Even cordial spouses experience intense and difficult emotions, such as anger and fear, as they go through a divorce. Mediation provides you with the opportunity to reduce conflict and avoid devastating financial and psychological consequences for your family.
The average hourly attorney fee is between $300 – $400 per hour. Once the retainer has been exhausted, the client will be required to replenish the retainer back to its original amount and the attorney will again bill against the retainer for time spent on the case until the money runs out.
Divorce professionals should be free from subconscious or unconscious motivations to promote conflict between divorcing spouses. Fee structures should be “motivation-neutral”, from the mediator’s perspective, and must support a process where efficient and amicable resolution is encouraged.
In the end, the most important factor — regardless of whether a mediator uses an “hourly-billing” or “flat-fee” model — is the level of trust you have in their ability to guide you through the process and treat you fairly regarding fees.
To file for a divorce in Maricopa County, for example, will cost $349 for the Petition for the Dissolution of Marriage. Over time, the cost for filing could increase, so you will want to check the current costs and make sure you check with the county where you will be filing.
Attorneys earn their fees when they represent you in a divorce case. They have expertise and knowledge of the law. When you hire an attorney, they work for you and will have your best interests in mind. They can help you from the start of the case through to the divorce agreement and beyond if you need further help.
The cost of divorce in Arizona shouldn’t deter you from getting a divorce if that’s the best course of action for your life. There are ways that you can reduce the cost of divorce. One of the options is to have a DIY divorce. These types of divorces can generally cost well under $1,000. However, they aren’t right for all couples.
It costs about $577 in filing fees if you choose to file for divorce in Arizona yourself. Filing a Dissolution of Marriage Petition in Maricopa County costs about $349, vs Pima County’s cost which is $266, according to ArizonaLegalCenter. Filing a response to the Dissolution of Marriage Petition will cost about $274.
Divorce in AZ costs about $20,000 per side on average with costs ranging from $15,000 to $100,000 per side when hiring a lawyer to litigate your divorce, hiring expert witnesses, and other factors. Family lawyers in the Phoenix area charge between $250 to $550 per hour on average. If you hire an experienced divorce lawyer in AZ, the cost can be as much as $400 to $750 per hour. The average cost of divorce in AZ if you choose to file yourself is $577. However, creating your own divorce agreement can be dangerous if you don’t know what should be included in the agreement. Learn below how you can still get legal help with your divorce but save money by choosing divorce alternatives such as divorce mediation or collaborative divorce.
On average, collaborative divorce in Arizona costs about $37,500, with average prices ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 in Arizona for 2020 according to EquitableMediation. This is much less than the cost of divorce in court. BestLegalChoices says, “ In terms of monetary impact, the cost of collaborative divorce can be significantly lower than traditional litigation. Because every case is unique, the exact cost of a collaborative divorce can vary from couple to couple. ”
Engaging with an attorney to protect your family is never an easy step. Whether you need to protect your family from the unthinkable or restructure your family through collaborative divorce, we’re here to help. When you’re ready to schedule a consultation with Michelle Ogborne, please visit the scheduling page to get started.
Regardless of the choice you make, it’s important you make the best choice for you when hiring a divorce attorney. Remember: The decisions you make now can affect your future. Ultimately, choosing the best lawyer will depend on which lawyer feels best for you and your situation.
The person who initiates the divorce has a $321.00 filing fee. The other party has a $256.00 filing fee. However, either party may qualify for a deferral or waiver of Court fees if financial circumstances support that request.
Arizona Collaborative Divorce: Collaborative divorce is a team approach to divorce, where the parties work with a variety of professionals and agree to resolve matters outside of Court. It is generally more expensive than mediation but less expensive than the average litigated cost. The parties each retain one collaboratively trained attorney and one coach (to help them through the emotional aspects of the divorce), and then they jointly retain a financial specialist and a child specialist. While the parties are paying more professionals, each professional performs just the tasks he/she is best equipped to perform, making the process cost-efficient.
If the parties have children, they also need to each take a Parent Information Program Class, which costs $50.00 per person .
The Court can order that based on the disparity in income between the parties or the reasonableness of each party’s positions. However, an award of fees is in the Court’s discretion. Arizona Mediation: Mediation tends to cost a fraction of the cost of litigation (with attorneys), and it is completed in a fraction of the time.
Of course, there is also an hourly billing rate. Some attorney fees are less than $200.00 per hour, while others bill at over $400.00 per hour.
This can get expensive quickly because most motions and other substantive documents are very detailed and set forth a specific legal basis for the requested relief sought.
For example, costs that go with a subpoena may be as follows: a filing fee along, fees associated with drafting the subpoena documents, process server fees, and the costs for the subpoenaed entity to produce the documents (required to pay an hourly rate plus $.25 per page).
The answer to this question is it depends on the parties because the parties are the driving factor on how much the divorce process may cost.
The firm’s fee structure ( how an attorney or firm contracts with a client to get paid)
Most people don’t realize it actually costs money to file a petition for dissolution of marriage.