how much to hire a divorce attorney

Divorce lawyer cost:

• National hourly rate $250/hour
• Average range $200-$250/hour
• Low-end hourly rate $175-$200/hour
• High-end hourly rate $300-$325/hour

Full Answer

What is the average price for a divorce lawyer?

The average cost for a divorce lawyer is $250 an hour and you will spend around $15,000 total. Hiring a divorce lawyer for representation, you will likely spend between $100 and $650 per hour. The price of a divorce lawyer can vary greatly by region (and even by zip code).

What to look for in a good divorce lawyer?

Our survey showed an average rate of $270 an hour for divorce lawyers across the United States, but individual rates varied a lot. Although nearly seven in ten people (69%) paid between $200 and $300 an hour, about one in ten (11%) paid $100 per hour, and two in ten (20%) paid $400 or more.

What is the average cost of an uncontested divorce?

Mar 11, 2021 · When you hire a divorce lawyer, you’ll have to agree to an hourly rate. Most attorneys work based on hourly rates which can be anything from $150 to $300 but averagely sit at $220 an hour. Some of the work your attorney might do by the hour can consist of phone calls, emails, court appearances, and drafting motions or other documentation.

How do you find a divorce lawyer?

Jun 15, 2020 · At a minimum, the divorce attorney can charge a flat fee that ranges in between $1,000 – $6,000. There are also other factors that need to be taken into account including appearances in the court, mediation session, contacting experts, child support arrangement, psychological evaluations, being present with the child custody evaluator, and etc.

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Attorney Fees

When you hire a divorce lawyer, you’ll have to agree to an hourly rate. Most attorneys work based on hourly rates which can be anything from $150 to $300 but averagely sit at $220 an hour.

What Can Affect the Cost?

The cost will also heavily rely on the details of your divorce. For example, if your spouse intends on contesting child custody or doesn’t want a divorce at all, it can mean your attorney has to work harder to reach an agreement.

How to Keep Costs Low

One of the best ways to keep costs low is to hire an experienced lawyer who can get the job done quickly. Take a look at this website for more information. You may also be able to keep costs low by coming to an agreement with your spouse outside of court (also known as collaborative divorce).

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 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.

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 wealth does divorce cause?

And some older studies have shown that divorce causes an average 77% drop in wealth.

How many people ended their marriages in 2018?

Despite that drop in the rate, this still means hundreds of thousands of people per year end a marriage -- 782,038 in 2018.

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.

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 much does a divorce lawyer cost?

On average, hiring a divorce lawyer costs approximately $250 an hour. But, some clients may pay as low as $175 to $200 an hour and others could pay closer to $300 to $325 an hour.

How much is an hourly rate for divorce?

High-end hourly rate. $300-$325/hour. It’s important to understand, however, that your costs could be substantially higher — especially if you and your spouse: are contesting the divorce. can't agree on child custody. can't agree on alimony. have many assets to divide.

What happens if a divorce is uncontested?

An uncontested divorce is often faster and less costly than a contested action.

How much does it cost to get divorced?

For example, the filing fee can range from as little as $85 if you’re filing in Wyoming to $435 if you’re divorcing in California.

Why do attorneys charge hourly rates?

Because many variables can be involved, some charge hourly rates. There are many factors that go into why an attorney charges a certain hourly rate. Usually, it’s based on their level of experience and what the average rate is in your locality.

How much does a retainer cost?

Depending on the complexity of the case, a retainer can cost several thousand dollars .

How to keep costs down in divorce?

Mediation or collaborative divorce. Keeping your divorce out of court or as amiable as possible is the best way to keep divorce costs down. Mediation and collaborative divorces are cost-effective alternatives to litigation. They can help both parties reduce conflict and allow them to control their case's outcome.

How many divorces are filed per hour?

If you’re facing the end of a marriage, you’re certainly not alone. Around 45% of marriages end in divorce, and an average of 100 divorces are filed per hour in the United States. But the prevalence of divorce does not make the process any less frightening and stressful for spouses who are initiating divorce proceedings. Depending on your situation, divorce can be complex, both emotionally and legally. An experienced divorce attorney can help you navigate these complexities with more confidence and less stress, especially if you’re expecting to deal with issues such as child support, custody agreements, or division of marital property. Even if you are anticipating an amicable collaborative divorce, an attorney can help draft and explain legal documents, and ensure that your rights are protected. These key steps to hiring a divorce attorney can help you assess your divorce priorities, prepare you for the initial interview and consultation process, and guide your decisions during the divorce proceedings, should you encounter conflict or challenges with your legal representation:

What documents are needed to file for divorce?

That can include documentation of assets and debts as well as income statements and tax returns.

Can I get divorced without going to court?

Getting divorced doesn’t have to involve a courtroom, even if you and your spouse can’t come to an agreement on something on your own. You might consider divorce mediation, which is a process during which a third-party mediator helps you talk and negotiate through issues related to your divorce without going to court.

Can an aggressive attorney win a divorce?

You might want a lawyer that will fight aggressively for you during the divorce, but an aggressive attorney doesn’t always win. And they might not be the best fit for you, depending on your goals for the divorce, and your own personality.

Is every divorce lawyer the same?

Not every divorce lawyer is the same, and that’s a good thing. Every person or couple needs a different level of service when they file for divorce, so it’s important to understand what role your attorney is prepared to play.

Should I keep my attorney during divorce?

While you want to keep your attorney if he or she is doing a great job, you are under no obligation to keep a lawyer who is not doing a good job or paying attention to your wishes during a divorce case.

How much time should an attorney spend on divorce?

Find out how much of the attorney’s practice is devoted to divorce. Ideally, you want an attorney who spends at least 50 percent of her time on divorce cases. A general practitioner may be able to handle an uncomplicated divorce, but if your divorce was uncomplicated, you probably wouldn’t need a lawyer.

What is the best way to get a family law attorney?

Find a family law attorney. Certification requires years of experience, additional legal education and exams, and recommendations from colleagues and judges. Board certification assures you that the attorney you hire is an expert with a good reputation in the legal community.

What to do if you have low income and you are struggling financially to pay an attorney?

If you think you will struggle financially to pay an attorney, review how to hire a lawyer when you have low income. If your spouse has more financial resources than you, you might consider requesting the court to order your spouse to pay your costs of the divorce.

Do divorce attorneys charge by the hour?

Consider cost in your decision. Some attorneys will charge you a simple flat rate for a divorce, while others bill by the hour. The more complicated your divorce, the less likely you’ll be offered a flat rate.

Is an attorney in high demand?

Attorneys are busy, and good attorneys probably will be in high demand. You don’t want to miss an opportunity to hire an attorney with an opening to take your case. Once you’ve hired an attorney, don’t forget to call any others you interviewed and tell them you’ve decided to go with someone else.

Hiring a divorce coach

Of course, we believe the best professional suited for this role is a divorce coach because they can teach you about divorce (like how to hire a divorce lawyer) but above all, how to get through divorce the healthiest way.

Shopping around for a divorce lawyer

Now if you’re still with me, then you might be ready to take the leap. You may even be shopping around for an attorney (as you well should). But what should you be looking for? What questions should you ask? Below are a few tips.

What else MUST you know about how to hire a divorce lawyer?

No one is ever really happy with her divorce lawyer because both parties always have to compromise