why di you need an expensive divor e attorney

by Myra Zemlak 6 min read

The cost of divorce lawyers is typically high because they tend to handle every aspect of your case. With unbundled legal help, you hire a divorce lawyer to help you with specific parts of your case while you handle the rest.Mar 23, 2022

How much does it cost to hire a divorce attorney?

Mar 30, 2020 · Your attorney can provide the sound legal advice you need to prevent any emotional or impulsive decision-making. Errors in paperwork can lead to delays, so hiring an experienced attorney can help ensure your divorce will be finalized as soon as possible by preventing any avoidable delays. Moreover, you should keep in mind that even if you do ...

Why are there so many divorce attorneys?

Divorce attorneys are expensive for a variety of reasons. The first is the energy and emotional cost on the attorney himself. I’ve been to war twice, and yet it is only as an attorney that I have ever said to myself, “I need a drink”. Family law ages you.

Do I need a lawyer to get a divorce?

Depending on where you live, divorce can cost more than $25,000 when you hire an attorney. If you can't afford an attorney, you can call your local legal aid office to see if you qualify for assistance. Most legal aid programs have limited resources, so you might only have the opportunity to speak with an attorney over the phone.

What are some secrets your divorce lawyer might not want you to know?

Sep 07, 2016 · Divorce trials occur when there are issues in the divorce that the divorcing couple cannot agree on. Trial, therefore, is the most expensive option. If you need to take your divorce to trial, you want your attorney to be well-prepared. Understand, however, that your attorney can spend weeks preparing for trial.

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Why should I hire an attorney for divorce?

For example, if there is child custody and support issues, substantial income, debts, assets or future assets (an inheritance, etc.) then you should hire an attorney to protect your interests in a divorce.

What can an experienced attorney do during a divorce?

Expert Advice. Advertisement. An experienced attorney can help a person to make certain to receive everything that he or she deserves during a divorce. State laws do not necessarily support an even split of assets depending on the couple's situation.

How to reduce stress in divorce?

Reduce Stress. Divorce is a stressful time for everyone involved. Hiring an attorney to complete a divorce is one way to reduce the stress of the divorce. While the attorney will need to gather information from you, he or she will take care of almost everything else, allowing you more time to take care of yourself and your family.

Why do people make mistakes in divorce?

If you simply forget to address an issue such as medical or credit card debt or if you underestimate or overestimate the value of an asset, you can make a significant mistake in a divorce proceeding. Such a mistake may cause financial harm or will require future legal proceedings to correct. By hiring an attorney, you can rest assured that you case is being properly handled the first time and that you are avoiding costly mistakes that you might regret for the rest of your life.

What happens if you make a mistake in a lawsuit?

Such a mistake may cause financial harm or will require future legal proceedings to correct. By hiring an attorney, you can rest assured that you case is being properly handled the first time and that you are avoiding costly mistakes that you might regret for the rest of your life.

Can I file for divorce on my own?

If you are seeking a divorce, you may be tempted to file for divorce on your own using court provided documents or information from a book or website. While a do-it-yourself divorce may be acceptable in some situations, most people should consider hiring an attorney to represent their interests. Here are five reasons that a person should consider ...

Can a divorce decree be enforceable without an attorney?

By using an attorney, you can be certain that the legal documents presented to the court will accurately state your wishes and that the divorce decree will be free of errors or unclear language that may make parts of the agreement difficult or impossible to enforce.

What happens if you don't understand a divorce agreement?

If you think you entered into a bad deal or agreed to something you didn't understand, your only recourse will be to go back to court to try and change your final order. But undoing a divorce agreement is difficult and generally only allowed under very limited circumstances.

What to do when you get divorced and a judge signs your judgment?

It's important to understand that when you agree to the terms of the divorce, and a judge signs your judgment, you will be bound by that agreement and court order.

What to do if you fear your spouse will harm you?

If you fear that your spouse will harm you or your children, get help. You may need to move to a safe location without disclosing it to your spouse. If necessary, ask your attorney for a restraining order against your spouse, which will prevent the abuser from coming near you or contacting you.

What is collaborative divorce?

In collaborative practice, both sides agree to share information voluntarily and work towards a settlement. In order to use this process, your spouse will need to agree to a collaborative divorce and hire a collaborative lawyer as well.

What to talk about when you divorce your spouse?

When you and your spouse decide to divorce, if you can communicate, try to talk about each of your ideal outcomes for child custody, visitation, child support, property division, and alimony.

Is divorce pleasant?

Do yourself a favor, hire an attorney and level the playing field. Although no divorce is pleasant, some are outright unbearable, especially if the other party in your case is hiding assets, destroying property, wasting marital funds, or threatening you with physical or financial ruin for filing for divorce.

Do all family law attorneys have free services?

Although not all attorneys have the resources to provide free services, some may offer lower prices or payment plans. Finally, some family law courthouses offer clinics or volunteer legal staff who can point you to the right paperwork, review settlement agreements, and even assist in filling out paperwork.

Suggestions for Controlling the Cost of Divorce

We’ve all seen the headlines – high profile actors, business-people, and movie-stars settling divorces for millions - or even hundreds of millions - of dollars. It begs the question – why does it cost so much?

The Average Cost of Divorce in Florida

According to lawyers.com, divorce in Florida costs an average of $13,500, including almost $11,000 in attorneys’ fees, and lasts 15 months.

2. Be Clear On Who Is Paying for What

Sometimes people assume their spouse will be footing the bill for all the attorney’s fees, only to find out in the end that this may not the case. In trying to control costs, remember that the bigger the proverbial pie, the more money you and your soon-to-be-ex spouse will have to divide. Ultimately, that means more money for you.

3. More Complicated Divorce Is More Expensive

Couples with a relatively simple financial situation can often get away with a relatively inexpensive divorce. The more complicated your financial situation, the more costly your divorce is likely to be.

4. Arguments Cost Money

The more you and your spouse can agree on, the less money you will spend. Of course, you’re getting divorced for a reason, so some amount of acrimony is to be expected. But too many clients come in looking for an overly-aggressive attorney.

What to do if you are not financially able to hire a divorce lawyer?

If you're not financially able to hire a divorce lawyer, you should contact your local legal aid office or a local bar association. You may be able to qualify to get free or reduced costs of legal representation. If you do not qualify, you may still be able to ask questions ...

What to do if you are facing domestic violence during divorce?

Anyone facing domestic violence during divorce should work with a divorce lawyer. If you fear domestic violence, think that your spouse may harm you or your children, or take your property, you should take out a temporary restraining order immediately and take yourself and your children to a safe place.

What is mediation in divorce?

Divorce Mediation. Mediators are trained at getting both sides to set aside emotions and focus down on the facts that are essential to a successful divorce. Unlike lawyers, mediators have the advantage of working with both spouses at the same time, which can cut down on unnecessary communication delay.

What is alimony in divorce?

Alimony. Division of property. Working together with your spouse through the divorce process can have a lot of advantages, including: You'll have better control over the vital issues that will be raised during your divorce instead of leaving them up to the court.

Can I file for divorce without a lawyer?

If you and your spouse agree on all the terms of your divorce, you can file for an uncontested divorce without the help of a lawyer. However, it is always advisable to at least have a lawyer look through your agreement in an uncontested divorce to make sure that your rights and interests are protected. A lawyer can also make sure that your ...

Do I need a lawyer for divorce?

You May Not Need a Divorce Lawyer for Everything: Making Decisions on Your Own. If you're able to work together with your spouse to resolve the legal issues, you may not need a lawyer's help. These issues include: Working together with your spouse through the divorce process can have a lot of advantages, including:

Can I get divorced in writing?

If you and your spouse can come to terms regarding the bigger issues in your divorce, you can generally ask the court to grant you a divorce in writing. This is what is typically called an uncontested divorce.

The Dangers of Getting a Divorce Without a Lawyer

While handling your own case might seem like a great way to save time and money, unless you happen to be a divorce lawyer yourself, you probably have NO idea how the divorce system works. That’s a problem.

But My Divorce is Going to Be Amicable!

It’s easy to think that, if you want to divorce amicably, you don’t need a lawyer. But, even getting an amicable divorce is not nearly as easy as it may seem.

10 Questions to Figure Out Whether You Need a Divorce Lawyer

If you have children, you are going to need a parenting plan and a parenting schedule. You will have to determine who will have legal custody of your children.

So, Should YOU Get a Divorce Without a Lawyer?

No sane person wants to spend their life’s savings on a divorce lawyer. But, unless you have a fairly simple divorce, and it is totally amicable, “going it alone,” can end up costing you way more than anything you would have spent on a divorce lawyer.

How do divorce lawyers save money?

That you'll save money and heartache by being organized. Divorce lawyers often charge by the hour. If you take responsibility for being as organized as possible, not only are you likely to walk away from your marriage with a more acceptable outcome, you'll probably save some money too.

How to choose a divorce attorney?

There are several things to look for when choosing a divorce attorney. You want to choose someone who is experienced, respected, competent, and affordable. If they are proving to not be a good fit though, change them. Because you can, even if the reason is that you don't get on with him or her. Bear in mind however that if an attorney has worked on your case, you'll have to pay her/him for their time. Also, it might damage your case to change attorney's when you are close to a court ordered deadline, so only do it after careful consideration.

What is mediation in divorce?

Mediation is a process whereby you and your spouse sit down with a neutral third party to negotiate several important areas of divorce. It's a low-cost way to address practically any other disagreement you and your spouse may have. While the mediator's decision is not binding, it allows a neutral party to provide their perspective on how divorce related issues should be addressed. However, mediation can only be a useful tool if you and your spouse can come to an broad agreement.

What does it mean to be uncontested in divorce?

An uncontested divorce means that you and your spouse agree child custody, spousal support, child support, visitation, and division of property. If you find that there is no need to fight over these things, you've already saved yourself thousands of dollars.

What is fault based divorce?

Fault-based divorce is when one spouse committed an act that gives legal justification to the ending of the marriage. These acts include adultery, a felony conviction, cruelty, or desertion.

How to start a divorce?

One of the best and simplest ways to do that is to start a divorce file. In this file, keep every bit of paper that could have an effect on how your divorce proceedings. Gather copies of all important financial documents and access to all account information. Keep it organized and easy to navigate.

What are some secrets that a divorce lawyer may not want to share with you?

Below are twenty secrets that a divorce lawyer may not want to share with you. 1. It's going to cost more than you bargained for. It's not always the case—but more often than not, the costs associated with your divorce will often be higher than your lawyer's original estimate.

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