Can I expedite my spousal support hearing? Strategically, in a divorce, there are a lot of different decisions that you can make, depending on a number of factors. Since money is often the biggest issue in divorce (second only to custody, if there are minor children involved), spousal support can take center stage fairly early on, especially if your husband has cut you off from financial support. Bills coming due or an unpaid mortgage can drive terrified women into my office pretty quickly, … [Read more...]
Attorney’s Fees and Divorce
Attorney’s Fees and Divorce It’s scary, when you’re thinking of divorcing and splitting up all the things you’ve acquired jointly during the course of your marriage, to think also about the money you may have to pay to have an attorney represent you. It’s confusing, too, because different attorneys handle fees differently. You’ve heard, I’m sure, of the contingent fee scenario – essentially the “No fee until we get money for you!” model so often advertised by personal injury attorneys. That’s … [Read more...]
Ballpark Divorce Case Costs
On Wednesday, we talked about ballpark costs in a custody case. Today, we’re going to talk about ballpark costs in a divorce. Luckily for you, estimating costs in a divorce is slightly easier than in a custody case. After all, with divorce, there’s a finish line – when you get divorced. (Custody cases aren’t like that; custody, visitation, and child support can be modified over and over again, provided that there has been a material change in circumstances, until the child turns 18.) There … [Read more...]
Attorney Costs in a Separation Agreement Case
It’s scary to hire an attorney. It’s especially scary because you don’t know what to expect. You know it’ll be expensive, but what does that mean? You want to call an attorney to find out what your options are—but you’re also kind of scared. Attorneys don’t really post their rates on their websites, so how do you make sure that you’re not calling a firm that you couldn’t afford? How are attorney costs determined? I feel the same way sometimes. A good example that jumps to mind, to me, is … [Read more...]
Why does my Virginia divorce case cost so much?
At Second Saturday and also in my initial consultations, one of the first questions I am asked usually has to do with price. Usually, women want to know how much their case will cost. It’s a difficult question to answer, and one that I’ve tried to tackle from a million different angles. When it comes to cost, and estimating, in general, how much your divorce or custody case will ultimately cost you, there are a lot of different ways you can look at it. Today, I plan to talk about as many of … [Read more...]
Can I get HIM to pay for my Virginia divorce legal fees?
Whether or not you want the divorce, you probably feel that, given your druthers, you’d have chosen to handle things a little differently. There’s no question that facing an impending divorce case is difficult—emotionally and physically—to stomach, especially when you’re afraid that you’re going to be dragged into legal proceedings that you have no desire to experience. And not to mention the cost! I hear from women all the time that they’d prefer to handle their divorces differently. Whether … [Read more...]
Can I just pay you–later–for my Virginia divorce?
It’s hard to pay for a divorce. It’s really hard. It’s pretty expensive and, besides that fact, there’s all the other transitions and changes which, let’s face it, cost money, too. It’s hard to juggle it all, and certainly hard to afford it all. How do you pay for an attorney—plus begin to separate both of your lives? If one of you is planning on moving out, you’ll need a down payment for a new house or a security deposit and first and last month’s rent. Not only that, but you’ll have to divide … [Read more...]
Can I make my husband pay for my Virginia divorce?
Whether you’ve already met with an attorney or not, you’re already aware that hiring an attorney to represent you in your divorce case is expensive. It’s not unheard of at all for retainer fees to start at $2,500 or even $5,000 (especially if it looks like your divorce is going to be contested) and go on up from there. In most law firms, at least, most reputable law firms in our area that I know of, this amount has to be paid up front to start your case. And, not only that, but it’s not a flat … [Read more...]
