We’ve all heard stories of someone who spent $30,000 to a divorce attorney and has nothing show for it. Most of us do not have that kind of money to throw at an attorney, and it can be very tempting to try to get a divorce on your own. Especially if you feel that your divorce is simple, and most matters have been agreed upon by both spouses.
The term “simple” can mean different things to different people. No matter how simple a divorce may seem, there are still some complex legal matters that have be addressed with the courts. For instance, both sides must complete a financial affidavit. This may be long-form or short form depending on the level of income. In addition to the affidavit, both parties must disclose supporting documents like tax returns, bank statements, and pay stubs. Parties must file a Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act form, Proof of Social Security, and Proof of non-military service. These are just requirements for mandatory disclosure required by the courts. The opposing party may request more information as part of regular discovery.
Family Law Attorneys in Florida
As you can see, even what may seem simple can be complex with a divorce. When matters of a divorce are relatively uncontested and the parties are confident that they can come to agreement on distribution of assets/liabilities, child sharing, and other matters; hiring an attorney may not be as expensive as you think.
Family law attorneys usually work by the hour and will require a retainer to begin work. This ensures that the attorney will be paid for a certain amount of work. Some attorneys do not require a massive sum of money up front if they feel that the case can be resolved in a short amount of time. Since many family attorneys charge around $300 per hour for services, a retainer of $3,000 buys you 10 hours of a family attorney’s time. When you consider that a sizable portion of the monotonous paperwork will be collected and arranged by one of our trained paralegals, 10 hours can go a long way towards getting your case settled quickly. This is especially true if both parties are working together amicably to come to an agreement. There are many cases in which 10 hours can get you all the way to a resolution. Not every divorce has to be so expensive.
Contact Hendry and Parker PA for Family Divorce Law
While some divorces are heavily contested for many reasons including dividing assets, liabilities, or time-sharing of a minor child; you can find family law attorneys who recognize that matters can often be resolved without a hefty retainer fee so that regular families can also have access to the judicial system in their time of need.
At Hendry & Parker, P.A., we keep our retainers reasonable because we know that most working people do not have tens of thousands of dollars to spend on an attorney. If you are seeking a divorce or have been served with divorce papers, call us for a free case evaluation.