No one anticipates their walk down the aisle ending in divorce court rather than “happily ever after,” and few people put money aside to fund a divorce just in case. Regardless of the good intentions when exchanging wedding vows, a significant number of marriages end in divorce in Arizona and elsewhere. Sometimes spouses take different paths, resulting in the decision to divorce. Having a good understanding of how much an Arizona divorce costs can be a key factor in how you plan to navigate the process.
Speaking with an experienced Chandler divorce lawyer can help you understand potential costs, your legal options, and the most efficient path forward for your unique situation.
An attorney’s billable hours determine the cost of your divorce in Arizona. The more complex the process of navigating the required divorce terms, the more hours your lawyer spends working on your case. Divorce in Arizona typically takes one of two paths: either an uncontested or contested divorce. An uncontested divorce is far less expensive than a contested one, which requires a divorce trial. If you and your spouse are able to communicate effectively, you can talk about the type of divorce you’d prefer to have and then plan how to achieve it in the most cost-effective way possible.
An uncontested divorce is the most cost-effective type of divorce because it does not require the hours of planning and litigating that go into a contested divorce. In an uncontested divorce, both spouses meet together with their attorneys to settle on mutually agreeable terms for all of the requirements of an Arizona divorce, including the following:
Spouses seeking to avoid court have negotiation meetings with their attorneys present and often attend mediation with a professional who guides them into a court-appropriate divorce settlement agreement. Then, the attorneys present the agreement to the judge, who signs it into binding divorce orders. In most cases, a judge signs off on a settlement agreement unless they find it egregiously unfair to one spouse, not in a child’s best interest, or suspect it was signed under duress. Some spouses choose a collaborative divorce, which is a signed agreement to have an uncontested divorce with each spouse legally waiving their right to take the other to court. An uncontested divorce not only costs less than a contested divorce, but it also keeps the personal and financial details of the divorce private rather than becoming a matter of public record in a court case.
During a contested divorce, spouses are unable to agree on one or more aspects of their divorce, even with the help of mediation. In some cases, it’s not possible, or even advisable, to settle on some issues. For instance, if one parent believes their spouse is a danger to their children, they should not sign a shared custody agreement. Instead, they should present their argument and evidence in court. During a contested divorce, both spouses take all of their disputes to court during a trial. Both sides present evidence and eyewitness testimony for a judge to decide. Preparation for court and the divorce trial takes more time than an uncontested divorce; therefore, there are more billable hours and additional expenses compared to an uncontested divorce.
The total cost of a divorce depends on many factors, including whether or not spouses can achieve an uncontested divorce or must undergo the divorce court process. It also depends on the complexity of each couple’s circumstances. If divorcing spouses rent a home and have no children and few assets, their divorce should not require many billable attorney hours.
On the other hand, for spouses with high assets or diverse portfolios with or without children, the process takes far longer to navigate, particularly if the spouses have disputes over several aspects of the divorce.
Most Arizona divorce lawyers charge between $250 and $550 per hour. Typically, the more years of experience an attorney has, the higher their hourly fee. Many divorce lawyers charge a retainer fee, which is a specific amount retained in an account during the legal process.
If the divorce is fast and requires few billable hours, the attorney may return the remaining portion of the retainer. If a divorce is complex or contested, they may require the client to place additional funds in the retainer account. Depending on what’s required in the divorce, a divorce in Arizona ranges in cost from:
The simpler the divorce process in Arizona, the lower the total cost of a divorce attorney.
Each spouse in a divorce must also pay court costs and filing fees. Depending on the circumstances of the spouses’ marriage and the terms of their divorce, the courts may require one spouse to pay the other spouse’s attorney costs, court costs, and filing fees. For instance, if one spouse is a high earner and the other spouse is a lower earner or non-earner. In these cases, one spouse paying the other spouse’s legal costs could be part of an alimony agreement or ordered by the judge.
It’s essential to have a firm understanding of your attorney’s fees and payment structure before hiring them to navigate your Arizona divorce. Call Wilson Goodman Law Group, PLLC. for experienced representation from a law firm that prioritizes your best interests throughout the process. Wilson Goodman Law Group maximizes your chances for an outcome that best aligns with your goals for your family.
