Elsewhere in this blog about divorce in Augusta, Georgia, we have discussed how much in legal fees you may have to pay a divorce lawyer. Naturally, legal fees are just one of many potential costs in your Georgia divorce.
The court filing fee is another cost you should expect to pay. This is one cost that is required in both uncontested and contested divorces. Typically, the filing fee will be $80.00.
In addition, in contested divorces, there will typically be some court reporter fees, both for the temporary and final hearings. In addition, if your divorce lawyer takes any depositions, then you can expect to pay at least several hundred dollars, if not more, in court reporter costs alone.
Also, if child custody is at issue, then the court may appoint a guardian ad litem to investigate both spouses' homes while attempting to determine which spouse would make the best custodial parent. Guardian ad litems typically charge $500.00 initially, and frequently this initial cost is shared by the parties. Other guardian ad litem costs will depend on how much investigation is required.
Finally, many judges require the parties to go through mediation, if the parties cannot otherwise settle all the issues between them. Mediation may cost up to several hundred dollars.
So, you can see why contested divorces are so expensive! These are just some of the costs that you may have to pay in order to obtain your freedom! Have any of you experienced any expensive divorces? What happened to you in your divorce case?
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I am really frustrated with the entire process (and my attorney because my case doesn't seem like a priority) of divorce. Initially we were going to do it ourselves, but in the end I refused to sign the paperwork because there were errors and some other issues. I consulted an attorney (a referral) who agreed that I shouldn't sign them. We were supposed to settle in mediation. We have three children together, but he wouldn't agree on $1,000 per month. My lawyer advised not going below $1,200.
ReplyDeleteThe ex stopped at $900 and wouldn't go any further. Calculations were done and determined that even if a judge went by the most money I've made in my career (I've been a stay at home and work at home mom for about seven years now) that he would still have to pay about $1,300-$1,500 per month based on expenses and his salary.
The final "agreement" at the end of mediation was if I file bankruptcy (everything is in my name) then he would "consider" the $1,000 as well as pay the bankruptcy lawyer. I consulted a lawyer that same week and passed the information on and that was about four months ago. They haven't responded and I have instructed my lawyer to go ahead and take it to court.
Someone else is paying the attorney fees for me because I can't afford it, but I am getting screwed so I'm hoping that this will be resolved quickly. I've paid $1,550 (not including mediation) and have $950 to go. It's like it will never end. We've been separated for two and a half years, and I'm swimming upstream in every single aspect of my life.