One of the most important factors in searching for a divorce attorney is budget. Most people only have so much money to spend, and most divorce attorneys cost a lot of money. So, you may be looking for the cheapest divorce attorney out there to handle your case. Is this a good idea? It depends on your situation.
You Need an Uncontested Divorce
If you and your spouse are in agreement on the divorce and are looking for an attorney to process the paperwork and obtain a judgment of divorce for you, you probably do not need to hire an expensive attorney. You can find more information on uncontested divorces here.
If your case is amicable and you do not need a court to decide on child custody, spousal support, child support, or dividing your community property tell your prospective attorneys that you want to file an uncontested divorce. Most divorce attorneys offer flat-fee costs for uncontested divorces. The attorneys’ fees for the uncontested divorce should be inexpensive compared to most legal services.
However, I will caution you that you do not want to hire an attorney solely because of price. Not all attorneys are good attorneys. Make sure to check reviews of the attorney you are considering hiring, call the attorney to discuss your case and determine their pricing structure and anticipated timeline, and ask your friends and colleagues for referrals. Our office frequently takes over cases from other attorneys who have become unresponsive and who have tried to charge hidden fees above and beyond what was initially presented, or who have filed something improperly. You do not want to hire a “cheap” attorney just to have to hire another attorney to finish your case. When checking reviews look for actual client reviews. See how clients commented on the attorney’s responsiveness and timeliness in filing their case.
Rotharmel Shanks, LLC does offer low cost uncontested divorce packages. You can find more information on our packages here. If you are looking for a quick and inexpensive uncontested divorce, give us a call to discuss your case. You can also schedule an initial call here.
You Have a Contested or Complicated Divorce Case
If your divorce case is contested by your spouse or you have issues that need to be decided by the court – custody, child support, spousal support, or separation of community property, price should not be your only consideration in hiring a divorce attorney. These issues may affect the rest of your life, and you want to ensure that you are getting the best representation possible. Due to the work required in a contested case, you are undoubtedly going to pay more in attorney fees and court costs than if your case was uncontested. You should do some background work to contact several attorneys to determine the pricing structure and the anticipated total cost of your case. You should also take the same steps as listed above such as checking the reviews of the attorney you are considering hiring, calling the attorney to discuss your case and determine their pricing structure and anticipated timeline, and asking your friends and colleagues for referrals.
There are also a few free or discounted fee services available if you meet the guidelines for those services. Some of these services include Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, New Orleans Bar Association Modest Means Program, and Tulane Domestic Violence Clinic.
If you are facing a contested or complicated divorce case, call Rotharmel Shanks, LLC to discuss your case. You can also schedule an initial call here.
