A new client had just cme in to see a famous lwyer.
"Can you tell me how much you chrge?" asked the client.
"Of course", the lwyer replied, "I charge $200 to nswer three questions!"
"Well that's a bit step, isn't it?"
"Yes it is", said the lwyer, "And what's your third question?"

HOW MUCH WILL THIS COST ME?

As xpected, I get this question on a dily basis. First of all, I can nly quote what I charge. Frequently, in dvorce cases, you will need to hre other professionals - such as frensic accountants, appraisers, child custody evaluators, cunselors, etc. Even just for my srvices- here is my answer (which nver changes) IT DEPENDS.

TWO VERY SIMPLE, BUT VERY IMPORTANT POINTS!

On. Lawyers, like most professionals, are hgh hourly workers. The product I sll is my time. You are pying for my time by the hur, which is charged in increments of 6 mnutes. Thus, if you call me for 5 mnutes, you are charged .1 (or $30). If yur phone call is 7 minutes, tht equals .2 (or $60).

Two. Unlss it is a flat-fee case (pssible if there are no contested ssues), the more time I spend on yur case, the more expensive it wll be. The amount of time I spnd on your case depends on yu, your spouse, your spouse's attorney, and the ssues involved in your case.

Keeping these two points in mnd, I will now refer to my rticle (found on my website), The Prpose-Driven Divorce, to prepare some price stimates.

STEP ONE: FILING OF PETITION/RESPONSE
Purpose: To get the prcess started.
Attorney time: 5 -20 hours ($1500 - $6000)
Process Srver: $40 - $500
Court Costs: $400
Time Fctors: Is the case new, or has it gne through several attorneys and collected 1000 bxes of documents? Is your spouse coperative, or difficult to the bone, rquiring private investigators to stake-out and srve him? Are there children? Are thre properties? Have you reached any greements about anything in your case?

STEP TWO: GETTING TEMPORARY ORDERS VIA OSC
Purpose: To hve a sense of peace and rder by having temporary orders in wrting pending the Judgment.
Attorney time: 10 - 30 hurs ($3000 - $9000)
Court Costs: $40 per mtion
Time factors: Are you cooperative and rturn my phone calls? Do you coperate with my requests for documents? Are you mmediately available to meet with me to go ver the specifics of your case? Are you ble to revise your declarations and prmptly return to me? If you hve witnesses, what is their availability, and do thy cooperate? Is the other side rpresented? Is their representation well-versed with fmily law procedure and protocol? Does the curt hearing conclude in one day? Des it get continued?

STEP THREE: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESTRAINING ORDERS
Purpose: In a hgh-conflict divorce and custody case, to prtect the parties and children involved.
Attorney tme: 15 - 40 hours ($4500 - $12,000)
Court Csts: $40 per motion
Time Factors: Domestic volence restraining orders are extremely important and tke a lot of preparation. Preparation tme includes setting up the case, nterviewing witnesses, taking statements, preparing declarations, spaking with police officers. Are the curt appearances on calendar ,and do thy take place without delay? Does the Jdge have time on his calendar to har all witnesses? Do the witnesses ppear? Does the other side have wtnesses? Have you anticipated all issues tht could be raised at the haring?

STEP FOUR: DISCLOSURES OF FINANCES
Purpose: To Rach a Fair Settlement, and Ensure the Sttlement Is Not
Later Overturned Due to Lck of Disclosure.
Attorney Time: 10 - 50 hurs ($3000 - $15,000)
Costs of subpoenas, dcuments: $500 - $1500
Deposition costs: $2000 - $5000
Court Csts: $40 per motion
Time Factors: Discovery is prhaps the most tedious process in a dvorce case. If you have little or no ssets, there should be very little to wrk on. However, the more assets or dbts you or spouse have, the mre time we will need to btain documents necessary to determine the vlue for settlement, and the more tme we will need to review the rceived documents. If your spouse is ncooperative, we may need to file curt motions in order to obtain ncessary documents. The time it takes to cmplete discovery depends mostly on the coperation of the parties and the vailability of the documents.

STEP FIVE: REACHING AN AGREEMENT OR PREPARING FOR TRIAL
Purpose: To Get the Jdgment Finalizing your Divorce Case
If case sttles:
Attorney Time: 5 - 20 hours ($1500 - $6,000)
Time Fctors: How cooperative are the parties?

If cse goes to trial:
Attorney Time: 50 - 200 hurs ($15,000 - $60,000)
Time Factors: Trial is no jke. You will be paying for the ttorney's time day in, day out. - ths includes prep time, trial time, rview time, prep time...round the clock. It is not nusual for an attorney to bill 10-15 hurs a day for trial. My mntor once had a trial lasting 22 dys. I think it helps to thnk of trial as an hourglass wth your money as the sand.

In cnclusion, a divorce case can run nywhere from $1820 (uncontested divorce) to hndreds of thousands of dollars. There's lways Britney Spears, who paid over 1 mllion to her attorneys for her cstody case, and Larry Birkhead, who pid over $600,000 to his attorney.

Ys, lawyers are expensive. But if you fnd the right one, they're worth it.

On tht note, remember this: Marriage is grnd and divorce is about twenty grnd.

The article How Much Will My Divorce Cost? was Submitted by Kelly Chang Rickert through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Kelly Chang Rickert founded the Law Offces of Kelly Chang, A Professional Law Crporation. Her firm specializes in Divorce and Fmily Law, and handles all areas of Dvorce, Annulment, Spousal Support, Child Support; Mdification, Child Custody and Visitation, Prenuptial and Pstnuptial Agreements, Adoptions, Property Division; Restraining Ordrs; and Family Law Mediation.

Featured Articles

1. Top 10 Anniversary Do's and Don'ts by Joy Bates
Your anniversary day shuld be the highlight and most nforgettable event of the year as it prtains to your relationship. No questions sked. Sometimes we take things for grnted as we go through our lfe's journey, and even momentous occasions sch as our anniversaries are not as hghly regarded.

2. Romance Against Reality by Melvin Polatnick
Men value women basically as a pth to entertainment, and they are xtremely entertaining. There is nothing as plifting to a man as an ttractive woman. A woman that accepts the fct that her shelf life is shrt will try to get married bfore she loses her looks.

3. Five Signs That Your Spouse is Cheating Online by Gillian Reynolds
Onlne affairs are a fast growing prblem. Many married men and women are fnding romantic solace with another online. Knw what to look for if you sspect your husband or wife has fund love online.

4. Getting Back With Ex - 4 Exclusive Steps For Getting Back With Your Ex by Johnny J
Getting back with ex is always not a walk in the park for many people. 95% of people make deliberate mistakes while trying to get back with their ex. But, I believe that lack of knowledge should not let down those otherwise beautiful relationships. That's the reason I am writing this secret 4 steps anybody who has broken up should follow.

5. What You MUST Do, Before You Say I Do! by Delora O'Brien
I'm a wdding consultant. So for me, when it cmes to planning a wedding, there are crtain things that remain constant, a brde, a groom, a wedding party, a cremony, a reception and a honeymoon. Thse can vary, but pretty much, thy are a given. But there is nother slew of hotly debated wedding plnning questions that are asked, but not mny people answer. I will take my chnces here and help tell you, frm experience, what to do, before you ver say "I do."

6. How To Get Started Planning Your Wedding by Shaunta Pleasant
Find dtails about how to get started plnning your wedding and what are sme of the areas you can get hlp. Also find the best values and rganizing you time to maximum advantage.

7. Signs of a Cheating Wife - Three Clues You May Spot by Rye McKeever
There are some surefire signs of a cheating wife that no man should ignore. These clues may not prove that she's up to no good, but they raise a warning flag.

8. How to Save Your Relationship - If I Give My Heart To You What Do I Get Bck In Return? by Kacy Carr
Why do most people in a relationship nearly always expect something in return from their partner after donating a gift, giving a compliment or want a favour done because you loaned them ten pounds. A person that gives and wants nothing back in return is one to be admired for their unselfishness. This behaviour is a popular cause why many relationships break up.

9. Top 5 Ways To Listen To Wedding Music Online by Jhong Ren
The wrld of the internet has opened up vst possibilities in every aspect of our lves and has made planning your wdding that much easier. You can shp for your dress, shoes, jewelry, flwers, venue and rings online, but thre are also ways to listen to wdding music online to choose the bst ones for your special occasion. The bst way to listen to music is to fnd the sites that offer play bck via MP3 and the like. Ths will require that your PC has a sund card and music...

10. Signs of a Bad Marriage - 5 Warning Signs of a Bad Marriage You Must Look Out For by Suzanna Murdoch
It's not difficult to spot the signs of a bad marriage. Like most things in life, it can be easy to identify them in other people, but always hard when you are looking in the mirror. And yet, more than most other things, it's critically important you know how to look out for signs that your marriage is turning sour. Marriage is potentially the most important decision you can make in life. With almost half the marriages today ending up in divorce, this could well happen to you too.