You Don't Need To Go Broke Getting Your Divorce...
5 Things You Need To Know Before Filing For Divorce
What Can I Do If I Can't Afford An Attorney For My Case?
When you first hire an attorney you pay an upfront fee called a "retainer" which is basically a downpayment for work he/she is about to do on your case. The typical retainer is $1500 although some lawyers will ask for more.
And keep in mind this is only the beginning -- more charges will likely come later on so you can eventually expect to pay $2500-$3500 or more to complete your case.
If you cannot afford fees like these then you have three choices:
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You can try Legal Aid. You will have to meet their financial requirements and even if you do expect to be put on a long waiting list
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You can try to do it yourself. This is not advisable unless you have a legal background because preparing and filing divorce and custody cases can be very confusing.
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You can hire a professional service to work with you. This option gives you the best of both worlds. You save thousands on attorney's fees but head to court knowing that your case documents
are properly and expertly done.
As we like to say, "Just because you know how to use a knife -- doesn't mean you should perform your
own surgery."
Divorce and Custody on a Budget
Last Resort: Hire A Lawyer
Any court case, including in family court, involves the filing of documents followed by a process which might include mediation and if absolutely necessary -- a trial.
The goal of our company is to help you resolve your case with as little out-of-pocket cost as possible.
We accomplish this by preparing all required documents so our clients can file "Pro Se"
(without an attorney) while they wait to see
how the case unfolds.
If the other side responds with an attorney then you might re-consider hiring your own. If not,
then you have other options.
Incidentally...in case you were thinking about
going it alone this video might give you pause.
Or better still have a look at what a divorce with children looks like.
Among other things our company offers the lowest cost, attorney-prepared divorce and custody cases in the country.
(Click here for a complete list of all our services)
And remember: just because you start a case without representation doesn't mean you have to finish it that way. An attorney can "enter an appearance" on your behalf at any time during
your case.
What if the other side doesn't respond to your complaint?
What if the case is settled in mediation?
It might not have been necessary to fork over the $1500+ required for a family court lawyer.
But if your case does get to that point then we will assist you in finding a good attorney in your area. And because your documents were professionally prepared your lawyer will have a good foundation from which to proceed.
With Our Help You'll Have
Your Day In Court.
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