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In today’s world, the divorce cost for a man is fairly high as there are quite a few fees involved in the procedure. Depending on the circumstances, the proceedings might amount to over $20,000. My friend has been going through this recently and from his experience I learned that it’s a highly complex and lengthy process. A man has to understand all the expenses involved in a divorce to make the right decisions. Usually, it all boils down to whether you should hire a lawyer to handle the matters on your behalf.
Average Divorce loCost for a Man: Fees and Other Costs
Estimation of the divorce cost starts with determining the fees you’ll have to pay. These vary depending on the state. As my friend lives in California, I have only information regarding the local fees. You can look up yours online or ask a legal expert.
California divorce costs include:
- Professional services fees
- Court fees
- Administrative fees
The professional services refer to attorneys, accountants, expert witnesses, and other specialists involved in the case. Their services will be essential if the divorce goes to trial, and the overall cost will be much higher in this case. Therefore, it’s always best to aim for an amicable separation.
The fees involved in a divorce start with the petition that initiates the legal process of marriage dissolution. In the state of California, this paper fee is $435. Depending on your situation, other costs will be added when you need to file for motions, get copies of records, or perform a variety of other legal tasks.
There is also the divorce petition delivery cost to be considered. It can get around $100 and might increase further if the situation is complicated.
A major cost involved in the legal divorce proceedings is the appraisal of your property. My friend got several real estate experts to evaluate his house and hired a few other professionals to determine the monetary value of all his co-owned assets.
We also learned that in California, people from low-income families could get their divorce application fees waived. To do this, you’ll need to file a specialized request. Your attorney or legal counselor will be able to direct you to the right forms and help you understand whether you meet the requirements of the waiver.
One of the biggest and most expensive issues in the divorce process is child custody arrangements, especially those related to payments. The evaluation of this matter is ordered by the court and must be paid by everyone. It usually comes at the rate of $160 per hour and that’s what my friend paid.
How Much Does a Divorce Cost for a Man Who Hires an Attorney?
During our research, we learned that attorney’s fees might range from $75 per hour to $1,000+ per hour. They are the biggest variable in the cost of divorce. The final ‘price’ of your divorce will depend on the length and complexity of the process.
Despite the fact that there are specified rates for certain services, a variety of issues might appear during the process itself. These unforeseen costs can affect the total greatly, and they are very hard to predict.
In most cases, the more efficient and professional your attorney is, the smaller is the risk of some costly problems. Therefore, it’s always advised to employ the assistance of an experienced divorce lawyer.
From what I’ve seen watching my friend’s struggles, to minimize the overall divorce cost for a man in California, one should consult a legal expert before making any decisions. This professional will guide you the right way from the start and help achieve an amicable separation in the most cost-efficient manner.
However, every divorce case is unique, and even the regular court rules can be bent in some situations if your attorney is skilled enough. Therefore, engaging the services of a highly-qualified professional is an investment that can save you money in the long run.
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Photo Credit: Getty Images
You scoffed over the main issue determining how much the divorce will run. While high-end cases can and often do have complex issues that can run mega bucks, the issue often associated with runaway costs is whether the parties fully cooperate with discovery, or one or both weaponize it against the other threatening to wipe out what property there is to share making the purpose of the litigation moot. And so often one or more attorneys are to blame by catering to conflict because it earns them more money.
Gentlemen, I am more than $200K into my divorce, and more than 3 years post separation. This has not been good for our daughter, or me. Do not underestimate the ferocity of this type of dispute. If you’re in SoCal, this is the worst! The solution might be mediating through Family Court Services. I’d approach them first, had I known better…