Divorce Expense Archives - DraftmyLegalDocs

Jonathan Roeder Nov 14, 2023

Affordable Family Law Services in AZ

When a legal dispute arises regarding a family matter like divorce, separation, alimony, or grandparents’ rights, you’ll likely consider hiring a family lawyer to assist you. However, some individuals forgo seeking help due to financial concerns. While many may believe navigating a family law matter on their own can save them money, the opposite is actually more likely to occur. Family lawyers are trained and experienced in building solid cases to earn compensation for their clients, as well as protect their rights when faced with opposition.

We would like to outline some money-saving tips for hiring a family lawyer to defend you, but we also want you to consider working with our team. Draft My Legal Docs provides Arizonans with a vast array of legal documents necessary to address family law situations, all available with expedited turnaround times. Not only can we provide you with excellent solutions for your family dispute, but we can do so while saving you money.

How Much Does a Family Lawyer Cost in AZ

First, it’s important to reiterate that no family law firm is exactly the same as the next, meaning they’ll all charge different amounts for their services. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t find a family lawyer for an affordable price.

On average, a family lawyer can cost about $250 per hour. However, lawyers may charge up to $600 per hour in some cases. The amount charged can change depending on your scenario and how long your case will take to complete. For instance, if you’re looking for services for a very straightforward case, a lawyer may only charge $250 per hour, and if they’re only needed for a few hours, you may not even spend a full $1,000. However, if you need full representation for a family dispute that lasts several months and requires the collection of evidence, interviewing witnesses, financial disclosures, and more, expect to pay quite a bit more.

This may sound unappealing, and we understand why many feel this way. However, the peace of mind and full services, plus secure protection and safety down the line, may be what you need to proceed with confidence. Family lawyers can be pricey, but if you research your options and determine exactly what you need help with, this might present long-term benefits for you and your family.

Can I Seek Legal Advice for Free?

You might wonder how to get free legal advice in Arizona, and while this is technically possible, the advice and experience a lawyer can provide are much more beneficial. That said, you can contact certain organizations and browse the free legal services they provide. It’s important to remember that these are indeed free, so while they may prove helpful, a lawyer can address more precise details of your case that free services may not cover.

What Is the Average Cost of Divorce in Arizona?

Divorce is by far the most common family law matter in Arizona. As with any family lawyer, there is no set amount of how much they will charge for their services.

There are multiple factors that can influence the final cost of both a divorce and the legal fees, including, but not limited to:

How many children the couple has
Business interests, debt, and properties
Significant assets such as retirement funds and bank accounts
Litigation

Still, the average cost of a divorce in Arizona totals around $20,000 per spouse, and if your case proceeds to litigation, the total can exceed $40,000. If this seems unattainable to you and you’re wondering, “What is the cheapest divorce in Arizona?” know you can spend as little as $620 on divorce without legal assistance. However, while this may sound enticing to some couples due to the significantly lower price, attempting to go through a divorce without any legal support is both challenging and risky. DIY divorces are incredibly rare in Arizona, and some couples who go through the process this way may not end up with the most favorable results after the divorce is finalized.

Overall, the longer the amount of time it takes to get through your divorce, the more you may have to spend on legal fees. However, it’s crucial to consider legal representation and services so you don’t put yourself at any unnecessary risk.

How To Keep Your Divorce Costs Down

Divorce is likely an emotionally challenging and stressful time for you and your family. It’s understandable why many people wish to keep divorce lawyer costs as low as possible as they heal from this situation. Perhaps even more importantly, keeping costs low may prevent financial strain down the line.

The most efficient way to prevent your divorce costs from rising is to refrain from engaging in unnecessary arguments with your partner. For example, rather than arguing over who owns each possession, leave it to your lawyer to investigate the situation and make the decision according to Arizona’s community property laws. Even better, consider engaging in mediation to solve these issues before litigation becomes necessary. Otherwise, undecided issues must be brought forth to a judge, which can be expensive and unnecessary. ‘

Finally, it’s imperative you are honest and open with your lawyer. Their goal is to help you maintain as many of your rights as possible through this process. Make sure you are forthcoming with all information to make the process go quickly and smoothly.

The Best Tip for Reducing Family Law Fees

While there are strategies you can keep in mind that help reduce your family lawyer costs, there’s one in particular that can benefit you the most: this involves reaching out to the skilled attorneys at Draft My Legal Docs for legal document drafting.

We know how confusing and detail-oriented legal issues can be, but you don’t need to navigate them alone, even if you don’t want to spend money on a full-service attorney. While legal documents can be roadblocks in your case if you complete them inaccurately or fail to file them on time, hiring a legal document service like Draft My Legal Docs can ensure you don’t negatively affect the outcome of your case. Rather than risk losing property or a reduction in child custody due to a miscommunication or documentation error, allow us to help you be successful in the family courtroom.

The legal system in Arizona can only run efficiently with precisely crafted, accurately filed legal documents. Whether these are the initial claims you’re filing for child custody or documents needed to access evidence, we have everything you need to navigate your family matter with ease.

How Does This Work

When you contact the fully licensed attorneys at Draft My Legal Docs, we’ll send you a questionnaire so we can develop a picture of the nature of your case. You’ll tell us about your family law situation, whether it’s divorce, alimony, child custody, or other related matters. After we’ve heard what we need from you, we’ll send you the appropriate documents to fill out prior to your court appearance. However, you won’t be filling these out by yourself; our licensed attorneys, who are well-versed in family law, will instead draft all the documents you need.

Regardless of whether you have concerns about how to answer the questions on a particular document or simply need help keeping your forms accurate, we can assist you via phone call, email, or through our online chat service. You also have the option to update your document, so if something needs changing, a qualified attorney can address your concern.

How Does This Save Money?

When you submit inaccurate paperwork to the court for review, this can negatively affect the final outcome of your case. For instance, if you and your ex-spouse are attempting to resolve an alimony dispute, you must submit comprehensive information to the court, including extensive financial documentation, as this is necessary to determine how alimony is calculated. Mistakes in these types of documents can result in misunderstandings, misrepresentation, and more, and can cost you a great deal of alimony.

You may not understand how to draft your own legal documents, but that’s why we are so passionate about helping Arizona family law clients from all walks of life. Every legal scenario is unique, and if you don’t fully understand what’s required from you when filing a claim, you should seek legal support immediately.

Without help from Draft My Legal Docs, you risk incomplete, inaccurate, or even wrongful documents, as well as missed deadlines and additional court costs. Rather than take this gamble, work with our team at Draft My Legal Docs so we can help you achieve a positive outcome for your case.

Draft My Legal Docs: Affordable Document Services in AZ

Whether you’re disputing alimony, paternity, relocation, property division, child custody, or divorce, you need a qualified lawyer who can defend your rights in court or a substantial knowledge of the Arizona family court system. If you decide to approach your family law case without an attorney, you need timely and precise paperwork that fully illustrates your situation, as this will be used by the court to reach a decision.

Draft My Legal Docs is a 24/7 document drafting service that enables licensed attorneys to examine your situation and craft high-quality documentation that you can use to support your claim. Arizona is known for having a challenging legal system with several hurdles to clear, but we want to streamline this process for you. To learn more about what we do, how we can help you improve your case, and how we can help you save money on your family court case, contact us today.

Jonathan Roeder

Jonathan Roeder is one of the founding partners of The Valley Law Group. He is an Arizona native who has dedicated his life and career to the service of others. After graduating salutatorian of his high school class, Jonathan attended beautiful and prestigious Pepperdine University, where he majored in Political Science. During his tenure at Pepperdine University, his passion for helping others grew after securing a clinical position with a residential treatment center for juveniles with substance addictions. Post-graduation, Jonathan returned to Arizona and served as a residential manager for mentally and physically disabled homes.

Jonathan Roeder Apr 6, 2023

Is Divorce Expensive in Arizona?

Obtaining an inexpensive divorce in Arizona can be possible if the right circumstances are met. If you and your spouse are divorcing, you can avoid an expensive court hearing with help from legal document services like Draft My Legal Docs. Here is everything you need to know about how divorce works in Arizona, so you can ensure you achieve the results you want at the lowest cost.

Requirements for Getting a Divorce in Arizona

Arizona is what’s known as a “no-fault” state. That means that in Arizona, couples do not need to provide a reason for divorce beyond the fact that they no longer get along and do not wish to remain married. This is known as “irreconcilable differences” and means one spouse does not have to be found “at fault” for the marriage’s dissolving.

However, there are residency and filing requirements. For instance, if neither you nor your spouse has lived in the state for 90 days, you can’t file for a divorce in Arizona. In addition, the petition for dissolution must be filed with the clerk of the court, and a copy must then be served to your soon-to-be ex by someone other than yourself, including a process server or sheriff. Keep in mind that a process server will charge a fee, while a sheriff can do so for free.

If your partner chooses to contest the divorce, they must file a response. If they do not choose to contest, they can begin working with you to settle the terms of your divorce or simply enter no response at all. This may result in a default judgment, but you must wait 60 days from the service date to finalize the divorce. However, with court schedules and other requirements, most divorces will not be settled this quickly.

Expense of Getting a Divorce in Arizona

In 2022, Forbes explained that the median cost for a divorce in the United States was $7,000, while the national average was much higher, ranging between $15,000 to $20,000. This may seem daunting, but it doesn’t mean that you need to spend a great deal of money to get divorced in Arizona.

The cost of your divorce will depend on a few essential factors, such as whether your spouse contests the divorce, whether you choose to hire an attorney, filing costs, court costs, the cost of a process server, and whether there are any complexities like child custody, child support, complicated assets, and more that will result in additional time in court. In general, the more agreeable you and your spouse are – and the fewer complications that must be settled in the courtroom setting – the fewer expenses you’ll accrue during the divorce process. Take a look at some of the most common costs of divorcing to learn what you can expect.

When you first file for a divorce, you have to pay a fee for the “petition for dissolution of marriage.” Such a fee will be quickly followed up by a second payment if you use a process server to serve the petition to your spouse. Women filing for divorce also may file paperwork to restore their maiden name, and parents filing will need to file paperwork to attend a parent education class so they can determine aspects like child custody and child support.

The bulk of the cost of divorce comes from attorney fees, especially if the divorce is contentious and must be settled in a courtroom. It’s difficult to determine exactly how much a divorce lawyer would cost in a particular situation, as every divorce is different. So, too, is every attorney’s pricing structure. However, divorces that cannot be solved amicably without lengthy litigation can cost tens of thousands of dollars above and beyond the cost of a simple divorce in Arizona.

Uncontested Divorce

As mentioned, an uncontested divorce occurs when your spouse does not contest the dissolution of the marriage. They can do so by working with you to compromise on the terms of the split or by not responding to the petition for dissolution and allowing the court to issue a default judgment in your favor. If you and your spouse are working together to create a mutually agreeable divorce agreement, you can avoid spending a great deal of time in a courtroom at a series of divorce hearings.

However, this may be easier said than done, which is why it’s so common for divorcing spouses to end up in court.

Unless you have a prenuptial agreement that has pre-determined the terms of your divorce for you, you and your spouse will need to decide the following:

How to divide your assets and debts according to Arizona’s community property laws
Whether either spouse should receive spousal maintenance (alimony)
The amount of parenting time and legal decision-making rights both parents will have if there are children involved
Child support payments, if there are children involved

If you and your spouse agree on each of the aspects above, you can file a consent decree and avoid spending time in court other than to have the judge approve your divorce agreement and issue the final divorce order. Uncontested divorces are almost always less expensive than contested divorces for this reason.

Contested Divorce

A contested divorce, where one spouse does not agree to the divorce or the terms of the divorce, will often become more expensive because the spouses often feel the need to hire attorneys to navigate this more complex case. While not all contested divorce cases end in a contentious court battle, this is one possible outcome. This process can take much longer than an uncontested divorce and often involves other decision-making strategies that can require additional funds.

Before resorting to a court hearing, divorcing spouses who need assistance coming to an agreement typically undergo mediation with an objective, third-party mediator. Mediation is cheaper than going to court, and the goal is for it to end with both spouses in agreement without the need for litigation. However, mediation can cost up to $500 per hour, and if it is unsuccessful, the couple will still need to attend divorce hearings.

Do I Need a Lawyer to Get a Divorce in AZ?

Do you need an attorney to get a divorce? When it comes to calculating the cost of a divorce, most of that cost can be attributed to hiring one or more attorneys for the duration of the process. Court costs and document filing fees are much less expensive than the alternative of paying an attorney for several months of help, as even an uncontested divorce can take at least three months to settle properly. It is not only possible to divorce in Arizona without an attorney, but it is also much less expensive. For example, if you and your spouse believe that you can settle your differences without needing a lawyer’s help, you may only need to pay the basic filing fees.

However, it’s important to note that divorce is a complex issue, and there are a great number of equally complex documents that must be drafted and filed in a timely manner. In addition, divorce tends to be an emotionally charged, exhausting, and stressful affair, and divorce can be taxing on even the most prepared individuals. To ensure the divorce process goes as quickly and smoothly as possible, it is essential to ensure all documents are completed in full and submitted to the court on time.

Controlling the Cost of Divorce

In Arizona, a divorce doesn’t need to be expensive or time-consuming. While it’s impossible to plan for everything, and every relationship will have unique complexities when it’s time to finalize the divorce, there are some ways you can reduce the cost of your
divorce.

Be Cooperative

Being willing to listen and cooperate can go a long way in making sure the marriage ends peacefully and inexpensively. While this does require cooperation from both you and your ex-spouse, kindness can prevent your case from becoming a court hearing. Consider making a list of all the things you and your spouse agree on, then calmly discussing the others causing disagreement. If you can peacefully negotiate issues like the division of property and parenting time, you can save yourself the costs of multiple divorce hearings, attorney’s fees, and mediation. If you do need to proceed to mediation, you can save time and money by only discussing those things that are causing disagreement.

Be Prepared

As you and your partner untangle your finances, deal with child custody, and more, it is essential to get educated regarding these topics. Get to know your finances by obtaining your credit report, evaluating your property, and investigating your spouse’s share of the assets as much as possible. Then, research your rights regarding these important topics. You won’t need to rely on your spouse’s word regarding how the process should occur, and you can assert yourself without being unfair or aggressive.

Pick Your Battles

Don’t let your emotions guide you. While it may seem unfair that your spouse also wants the car you both worked to pay off, for example, spending months arguing over it in court can cost you far more than the car’s value. Be prepared to compromise, especially if it will save you money in the end.

Use a Legal Document Service

Even if you and your spouse agree on all aspects of your divorce agreement, you will still need to carefully create and file a number of legal documents on a strict schedule as dictated by the court – mistakes can cost you extra time in court, additional filing fees, and may even damage your case. This is a key reason many people choose to hire an attorney to manage their divorce.

However, a legal document service can file divorce documents much more affordably than a firm of family law attorneys. The best services are operated by full-fledged attorneys who will consult with you to determine your needs before drafting your documents and offer unlimited revisions to give you the best chance of success in your case. You’ll be able to avoid both attorneys’ fees and the risk of lengthening your time in divorce court due to mistakes or missed deadlines.

Experienced Divorce Attorneys in Arizona

Divorce can be a stressful process even if you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse are divorcing amicably. When you add in the costs of settling, dividing finances, and other endeavors that become necessary in divorce, the process can quickly become expensive.

Draft My Legal Docs is operated by expert family law attorneys who can draft and file family law documents you need to keep as much of your divorce out of the courtroom as possible. Best of all, we offer consultations and revisions to ensure your most critical documents are correct and beneficial to your case. Browse our affordable divorce services in Arizona to learn more about how we can help you divorce at a lower cost.