Cost Analysis

Paying your attorney is normally the most expensive part of a divorce. Your low-end estimate assumes a billable rate of $200 per hour, and the high-end rate assumes a billable rate of $600 per hour.

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Attorney billing structures can vary, but it is fairly common for attorneys to require a retainer up front that usually covers the minimum number of billable hours that they believe a case will require. As complications arise, additional payments will be required. Attorneys normally have their own unique billing practices, so there may be room to negotiate depending on your situation.

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Generally, you should weigh the cost of fighting out any disputes through your attorney against how much cash you have available to invest in your attorney. If purchasing a new item to replace the disputed item is less than your attorney's hourly rate times the number of hours they will spend fighting for that item, it might make more sense to compromise before involving your attorney. You should consider where you want to spend each billable hour of your attorney’s time and create a priority list of what is important to you. Make sure to share this information with your attorney up front.

 

It may be possible to divorce without the use of an attorney by pursuing a DIY or online divorce. While this could save money in the short term, there are also some potential challenges. In general, if you can afford an attorney, you should hire one. This is especially true if you have children with your spouse or if you and your spouse own property, have investments, own a business, or have cash savings.