We can all put divorce right up there on the tippy top of the list of things we don’t want to pay for, right? Even if you want the divorce itself, you don’t really want to pay the costs associated with it. A joke I hear all the time – especially when I tell random people what I do for a living – is, “You know why divorce is expensive?” And then they chuckle and say, “Because it’s worth it!” While you may agree, at least in part, it’s a little discomfiting to have very little idea of the total … [Read more...]
Can I get him to pay my Virginia divorce attorney’s fees?
Can I get him to pay for my Virginia divorce attorney’s fees? Literally no one ever wants to pay attorney’s fees. It’s a reoccurring theme, and one I’m more or less used to at this point. We get questions every single day about pro bono work, free consults, and whether we work with legal service insurance provided through employers. When women find out that we really don’t do any of those things (or, at least, not in the way they want us to do it), they jump to the next best thing – how to … [Read more...]
I want him to pay for my divorce attorney’s fees
I want him to pay for my divorce attorney’s fees Here we are again – talking about attorney’s fees. It’s really one of the biggest issues, because everyone wants an attorney, but no one wants to pay what it costs. In almost ever case I’ve ever worked on, there has been a point where my client has asked me what she needs to do to get her husband to pay for her attorney’s fees. The thing is… It really almost never happens. It could – it’s possible, at least theoretically – and we often DO list … [Read more...]
When Virginia divorce and custody litigation becomes abusive
When Virginia divorce and custody litigation becomes abusive For the most part, the court system exists to help people reach resolution in their cases, especially when they’re unable to agree on a resolution between themselves. We use the courts for all types of reasons – when one party is unresponsive, when our client isn’t familiar enough with the assets and liabilities in the marriage to really participate fully in negotiations, when one party behaves unfairly (like by withdrawing all … [Read more...]
How does a retainer work in a divorce case?
How does a retainer work in a divorce case? Some of the most frequently asked questions we get are about money, and how it all works when you hire a divorce lawyer. It’s a little extra confusing because different attorneys handle money differently, so, if you’re not already fairly familiar with how law firms do things, it can look a little wonky. There are law firms that work on contingent fees (“no fee unless we get money for you!”), flat fees, and attorneys who, like us, do work on … [Read more...]
Can I expedite my spousal support hearing?
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...]
