How Much does a Divorce Cost in California?

When faced with the prospect of Divorce, most people want to know ‘how much it will cost?’. There are 3 variables that contribute to the cost of a Divorce:

1.  You and Your Spouse:  Are you and your spouse cooperative and reasonable?In a cooperative Divorce, also called an ‘uncontested’ divorce, both parties communicate & compromise in order to agree on issues, reply to requests quickly and follow instructions so that the Divorce is processed through the court as efficiently as possible.  However, if the parties are not cooperative, your Divorce can cost a lot more!  In this instance, husband and wife do not communicate and are not reasonable.  They may lie & cheat regarding assets & debts thereby prompting a need for costly legal procedures such as ‘discovery’ which may include depositions, notices to produce, interrogatories etc. They may also fight over the custody of children which may require mediation, evaluations and lengthy court hearings.  The more time the Divorce Attorney takes to prepare for court and represent you in court, the higher your legal fees will be!
2. The Attorneys Involved:  There are some Divorce Attorneys who take a combative stance when representing their client thus causing a hostile environment.  This typically leads to continuous court appearances  instead of trying to forge agreements on issues.  If your spouse has this type of Divorce Lawyer, you may be looking at higher fees just to respond to the combative procedures.
3. The Court System:  Today, the courts are under-funded and under-staffed causing delays and possible loss of paperwork.  Hearings may take all day just to be heard, causing more legal time and fees.  Judges may continue hearings or trials for another day.  In short, the court system itself can cause fees to skyrocket.

It is always wise to have an experienced Divorce Attorney handle your Divorce because he/she can give you legal advice and oversee the process.  However, you don’t always need an hourly/retainer Attorney.  A flat fee Divorce Law Firm, like Legal Action Workshop, can help for a reasonable rate and limit your cost.  

For more information on affordable Divorces, call Legal Action Workshop @ 1-800-HELP-444 (1-800-435-7444) or visit our website www.LegalActionWorkshopLAW.com .