Uncontested Divorces v. Contested Divorces (Can You Afford to "Dump the Chump?")

Is it "cheaper to keep 'er?" Or can you afford to "dump the chump?" The cost of your divorce in Georgia will vary from one divorce law firm to another. Simply put, some divorce attorneys charge more than other divorce lawyers. And some divorce lawyers do, but others do not, allow payment plans. [Please feel free to call The Goolsby Law Firm, LLC for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION at (706) 863-5281]. But another key factor in determining the cost of a Georgia divorce is whether the divorce will be "contested" or "uncontested."

If the divorce is "uncontested," then it means that the parties have, on their own, worked out or agreed to all the terms of the divorce, including child custody, division of marital property, and division of marital debt. And from my perspective, as an Augusta, Georgia divorce lawyer, I will want to know, when you call me, if the other party will promptly sign "all the documents," including a settlement agreement, an acknowledgement of service and waiver as to venue, and all the other documents, (which we will discuss in a later blog), if there are kids. In other words, only if both parties have agreed on everything and will readily sign ALL the uncontested divorce documents (that we will prepare for you) can the divorce truly be a fairly inexpensive, "uncontested" divorce. Presently, an uncontested divorce in Augusta, Martinez, or Evans, Georgia will generally cost anywhere from just $500.00 and up, plus court costs. (Be aware: Some law firms charge more than double this amount!) Again, you will need to check around for the most affordable, uncontested divorce.

But on the other hand, what if your "nasty" spouse won't cooperate about child custody or he contests any of the other issues? Then, you will have to have your divorce attorney meet with you and carefully prepare "contested" divorce documents. And that also entails getting a deputy to serve your spouse, and taking him, (i.e. your spouse, not the deputy!), to court! And since a contested divorce will require significantly more of the divorce attorney's time, then naturally, the contested divorce will cost a good bit more, perhaps at least several thousand dollars, to begin with, or more.

So, you, (and no one else), must decide whether it's "cheaper to keep 'er," or whether or not you should "dump the chump!" But if you to decide to divorce, it is important for you to consider the fact that the cost of your divorce will depend, in part, on whether it is "contested" or "uncontested."