HOW MUCH WILL MY DIVORCE COST?
by Raymond Pater

One of the first questions clients often 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. 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 and the legal fees are relatively modest.

Divorces often involve difficult issues such as custody, parenting time issues or property disputes. You can help minimize the costs of any dispute by reducing or avoiding unnecessary conflict. Solely because your spouse says or does things that are counter-productive does not mean that you have to follow suit. If you are able to listen to your spouse without making negative comments, you can help reduce tensions and thereby avoid unnecessary conflict and legal fees. Sometimes that is difficult to do and you may occasionally say or do things that are not perfect, but making the effort will often pay off in reduced tensions and costs. You should also seek to obtain an attorney who knows how to protect your rights, but does not take an overly aggressive stance that results in more conflict and attorneys fees.

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 or by aggravating your spouse so that reasonable settlement becomes difficult or impossible.

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 you 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 and who has a mature and experienced approach that helps to reduce unnecessary conflict and costs.

Raymond Pater is an experienced trial lawyer who will attempt to handle your case aggressively and reasonably, keeping in mind that you don’t want to lose your shirt to either your spouse or to your attorney.