One of the first questions you might have about filing for divorce is, how much will a family law case cost? The best we can come up with is, “it depends.” Several factors go into the cost of a divorce case, including whether you settle or go to trial. Maybe you or your spouse need hearings for temporary support or other factors before the final hearing.
The Factors Involved
Some divorces cases cost more than others, even if you settle. A case with no assets and no children will be less expensive than a case with children, property, or both. Even when you agree on child support, time-sharing, and division of assets and liabilities, it costs a little more because of the extra wording a family law attorney has to put into the settlement agreement.
Settling Now or Later
If you come into the office and both parties know what they want, that is the cheapest way to get divorced. Suppose you or your spouse files for divorce, then you agree before the final hearing; it is still less costly than going through the final hearing. Sometimes, the parties agree on their own, and other times, they use a mediator. Using a mediator is more expensive than not using one but still cheaper than going to trial.
Court Hearings
Every time an attorney has to prepare for a hearing, it costs money. The time to research the issue, draft the motion, be ready for the hearing, attend the hearing, and draft the order based on the outcome of the hearing is costly. For example, if your spouse agrees to a visitation schedule and then does not keep it, the only way to get visitation is to have the court order the spouse to adhere to a visitation schedule. We would have to ask the court to grant a plan and order the spouse to comply with the program.
Finally, the trial or final hearing could add to high costs. If you and your spouse cannot agree on any of the issues, the court has to decide for you. If the court has to decide on five points, it is more expensive than deciding on one or two issues.
If you can agree on some of the issues, you can still save money by not having the court hear all of the problems.
Contact an Arcadia Family Law Attorney
Whether you plan on settling or believe you must litigate your issues, an Arcadia divorce lawyer can help ensure your rights are not violated. If you are ready to file for divorce or if your spouse served you with divorce papers, contact an Arcadia divorce attorney to discuss how much your family law case may cost.
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