You probably have spent many days wondering whether getting a divorce is the right option for your circumstances. You are not alone. Thousands of couples file for divorce in Alabama each year, and the process doesn’t have to be a long-drawn one. The cost of your divorce, including the lawyer’s fee, depends on whether you are going for an uncontested divorce or a contested one. Hiring a Birmingham contested divorce lawyer will cost you more as the legal work is considerably complicated. How much does it cost to get an attorney for your divorce? We have a few pointers below.
The basics of uncontested divorces
The Circuit Court will issue your divorce decree, and the time required to get that depends on several factors. If yours is an uncontested divorce, where you and your spouse agree on significant issues, you can expect to get a decree within weeks. Alabama has a 30-day mandatory waiting period, which applies to all cases, and if the county court is burdened, it may take a few more weeks. In an uncontested divorce, you will need to file a marriage settlement agreement, which the court must approve. Your lawyer can complete the process online and draft the agreement for you. For most uncontested divorces, lawyers charge a flat fee because their effort is often limited to the legal paperwork naasongs.
The basics of contested divorces
In a contested divorce, spouses don’t agree on the relevant terms of the divorce, and expectedly, the process can drag on for a long time. The parties will have to go back and forth to negotiate the terms, and in some cases, mediation could delay things. If you are in a similar situation, you may need to have your lawyer on a retainer model. Your divorce lawyer will charge you by the hour, and since there is no guarantee on how quickly you can resolve issues with your spouse or how the trial will shape up, giving an estimate could be challenging. You should do everything possible to avoid a contested divorce, which will only strain your financial resources and make it hard for you to move on.
Final word
Hiring a lawyer becomes even more critical in a contested divorce, where you are sure that your spouse is unlikely to cooperate. Ensure that you find a reliable contested divorce lawyer who can protect your rights and get a fair outcome.
