Contested Divorce Costs
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In the United States, divorce is a very big business. In 2001, this was a 28 billion USD industry and the average cost of a divorce was approximately 20,000 USD.
The amounts in these below mentioned points are applicable to the year 2007.
Highlights of Contested Divorce Costs
- Some divorce attorneys charge flat fees as follows
- For filing a motion: 200 USD
- For handling all aspects of a divorce: 10,000 to 25,000 USD
- Several divorce lawyers levy hourly fees as follows
- Per hour rate of 75 to 400 USD
- In highly emotional and complex cases, the total fees accrue from 20,000 to 50,000 USD
- An up front fee disbursed with intent of hiring a lawyer is called as a Retainer. Divorce lawyers calculate this retainer in one of the following ways
- An equivalent of several hours work
- A percentage of the agreed upon flat fee
As the divorce case progresses and the work is done, the lawyer subtracts the fees from the retainer. After the retainer is finished, the lawyer includes the further amount in the bill. An attorney in South Carolina levied the following amounts as a retainer
- An uncontested divorce with minimal work: 750 USD
- A contested divorce with issues like child custody and property distribution: 5,000 USD
- Some residents in the US intend to have an out of court settlement. They can purchase the following
- Do it Yourself Workbooks and Kits: 30 to 50 USD
- A Workbook providing nationwide guidelines and worksheets: 20 to 25 USD
- There are some websites that offer online paperwork for 20 to 50 USD as well as complete online divorce services for 150 to 250 USD
- The attorney may decide a minimum billing increment. Let us assume that a lawyer has decided 12 minute increments for billing. This implies that irrespective of the duration of the service, the lawyer rounds up the time to the nearest 12 minute increment
- The lawyer may decide that for specific services, a minimum fee is essential. As an example, for drafting a motion, there may be a flat rate of 200 USD. The client must talk with the lawyer regarding the minimum fees that are related to the case
Related Contested Divorce Costs
- Along with the attorney, investigators or other professionals and experts may be required for the divorce case. Depending of the unique circumstances of the case, these may add up to 2,000 to 5,000 USD
- The lawyer levies separate expenses for the following heads
- Time spent by staff for performing research or other work pertaining to the case
- Time spent by staff in making photocopies
- Time spent by the lawyer in answering the client's queries and questions by email or telephone
- Court filing fees: 75 to 350 USD
- Arbitration fees: 200 to 400 USD per hour
- Some other expenses related to a divorce are as follows
- Finding a new residence
- Replacement of items offered to the spouse in property division
- Childcare
- New utility and telephone deposits
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