One of the first questions clients ask is, "How much will this divorce cost?" Even assuming that the answer is strictly limited to the amount of legal fees, the answer is not easy to come by. Some divorces are simple and the total fees will be less than $1,000.00. Others should be simple but because of either the parties or their attorneys, the simple becomes complex, time-consuming and expensive. Sometimes a case looks like it will be involved but the issues are dealt with reasonably and without waste.
Divorce often involves strong emotions. Those emotions can include the desire for revenge, and can reduce the ability to seek a resolution that is fair and reasonable. It does not make sense to spend good money fighting over minor issues.
Attorneys were previously often referred to as attorneys and counselors at law. In part that phrase reflected the fact that attorneys have the opportunity and responsibility to seek to reduce unnecessary conflict. They must offer wise counsel and should recognize that adopting every ill-conceived client wish as a plan of action harms the client, the cause of justice and increases attorneys fees.
An attorney should sometimes look beyond a client's immediate expressed desires and offer a general approach and specific advice that can help to calm negative emotions and thereby reduce unnecessary conflict and costs. Attorneys do a disservice when they adopt an approach of "let's you and him fight" (and I will bill you monthly). An experienced divorce attorney will have a realistic view of what a client is likely to achieve and will work to obtain a resolution that benefits the client without unnecessary delay, conflict, and attorneys fees. Even with such an attorney, divorce can still be expensive. Find an attorney with whom you can communicate openly, who has a mature and experienced approach that helps to reduce unnecessary conflict and costs.