Costs of an Attorney

It is worthwhile, especially in light of the current economy, to consider the costs of an attorney when picking a Virginia divorce lawyer. However, simply looking at the price tag quoted or advertised is not usually the best method. First, if you are dealing with a contested divorce, than the cost associated with hiring more experienced counsel is likely worth the expense since it could ultimately end up with a larger savings when all is said and done. That said an uncontested dissolution of marriage is a fairly simple task with the assumption that the parties involved agree amongst each other on all matters before selecting a lawyer.

When there are no disagreements about how a couple wishes to split assets and there are no children involved than the lawyers touting $495 divorces plus court costs are an inexpensive way to go. Before hiring the Virginia lawyer ask them exactly what is included in that price. There only a few firms that I am of that do not add additional costs later down the line or require a larger retainer should the proceedings take an unexpected concern. If there are children involved it is important to let the lawyer know this in advance. There are special rules that apply to divorces in Virginia when children are involved and this can increase the costs and time frame of completing the divorce process.

Now with a contested case it is important to look at the bottom line number and not the initial upfront costs. Obviously, this is more important for a couple with millions of dollars in joint assets than one under six figures. Keep in mind the equity in your home when calculating this number. Oftentimes, couples have more joint equity than they might have realized. Under these circumstances, hiring a more qualified lawyer, rather than one that charges less is generally a much smarter approach. Take the time to look at the Virginia attorney profiles on this site and conduct research elsewhere. Word of mouth referrals are always of value, but perform research on the lawyer you are entrusting before making a selection.

Published by: admin on August 29th, 2009 | Filed under General Virginia Divorce Info




2 Responses to “Costs of an Attorney”

  1. Daniel M Taylor Says:
    January 15th, 2010 at 1:49 am

    How do you know if a lawyer is over billing? I signed a separation agreement in Sept 09; both parties agreed. The lawyers said only a few more weeks and it will be over, now it’s Jan 10, I am still not divorce and the lawyers said they are fighting over the wording in the last paragraph of the decree and $1,500 more. It is never ending any help on how I can file a complaint against both lawyers?

  2. admin Says:
    January 20th, 2010 at 5:41 am

    First it is always important to mention that this is simply guidance from one layperson to another. Without knowing the details (i.e. contested vs. uncontested), my first thought, if possible, is to discuss the wording of the last paragraph directly with the spouse. If you are in a position to do such, then agree on wording together, and provide it to respective counsel. Divorces do not always go as planned as with many things in life; and it is not uncommon for the initial price by a divorce lawyer to increase if the matter becomes more complex. A question worth asking yourself is whether or not the respective attorneys are delivered as promised regarding the approximate time frames. For instance, is the reason for the delay caused on their end or by external factors that could include disagreements with your present spouse?

    Divorces in Virginia and any state for that matter often can seem never ending as they are long processes. I strongly suggest addressing these concerns with your attorney or laws firm both verbally and in writing. No matter the result of the responses received in order to resolve the divorce as quickly as possible it is sometimes worthwhile to hold out and wait to the divorce is finalized. There is another post on here regarding this issue that is definitely worth reading: http://www.virginia-divorce-lawyer.com/news/billing-errors/ . Please take a moment to look at this information. If anyone else, especially a licensed attorney, can provide further advice feel free to add it below.

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