Divorce Costs

Most people who are contemplating a divorce would like to have an idea about both the legal fees and court costs of going through the divorce process. We have discussed before, in this blog about getting a divorce in Augusta, Georgia, the differences between legal fees in a contested versus an uncontested divorce.

Today, we will focus in this post on some of the court costs associated with the Georgia divorce. When you file for a divorce, uncontested or contested, you should expect to be responsible for a clerk of court filing fee of approximately $210.00, plus a sheriff's service fee of about $50.00. But that's only the beginning!

In addition, (on top of your divorce lawyer's legal fees), you should expect to pay for court reporter

fees and, in some cases involving child custody, fees for a guardian ad litem.  Also, you can expect that, in many divorces, you may have the additional costs of mediation.

These are just some of the court-related costs which you could be expected to pay when you file a divorce case in the State of Georgia!

A (Fictional) Poem About Adultery

    The Window's Secret
              By Richard Goolsby
She was crying at the window
Of a shop across the street.
I was dying to go in, though
I knew we'd never meet.

I wondered, "Are her tears for one
At war across the sea?"
"Or is she sobbing for a son
Who departed prematurely?"

But then, I saw her turn toward me,
Through the window of that shop,
Her expression -- now, filled with glee,
I wondered what was up.

The window showed the reason why
Her life was filled with strife,
For there, I saw another man
Was holding close my wife!

Is the Cheapest Divorce Lawyer Always the Best?

So, your worthless spouse, "Sluggo," has been up to no good again and, this time, you have caught him runnin' around on you with Doris, the new waitress down at the local diner! So, you have decided to get a divorce, once and for all. Where do you begin? How do you find a good, cheap divorce lawyer? What should you do?

As an Augusta, Georgia divorce attorney, I recommend that you begin by talking with family and friends about recommendations of good, experienced divorce lawyers near you. You can also check the telephone book, or check online, to find divorce lawyers in your town. Next, we recommend that you should make appointments with prospective attorneys, meet with them, and ask good questions about their experience and about your divorce before deciding which family law attorney should represent you in your divorce case.

But take it from me, a divorce lawyer in Augusta, Georgia, you should never, never make your decision about which attorney to choose based solely upon who is the cheapest lawyer! This lesson is particularly true if important issues, such as child custody, alimony, or property division, may arise in your divorce! 

So, go ahead, if you choose, and "make Sluggo's day" by filing for a divorce, but we recommend that the cost or price should be only one of many factors in selecting a good divorce lawyer. After all, as with every other decision we make in life, sometimes we get what we pay for!  Don't you agree?

Augusta, GA Divorce Lawyers: Free Consultations

As Augusta, Georgia divorce attorneys -- a father and two sons practicing law together -- we generally offer free initial consultations.  In other words, every day, as Augusta divorce lawyers, we talk with people and try to answer all their questions about divorce, including, among other things, issues about child custody, child visitation, alimony, and equitable property and debt division.

While we still have to make a living, we are proud that we can and do offer this service -- and our time -- at no cost.

More Practical Divorce Tips: Keeping a Journal or Timeline

As Augusta, Georgia divorce lawyers, we receive telephone calls and email inquiries every day from people having questions about divorce, child custody, adultery, and contempt actions.  Just as we do in this blog about divorce in Georgia, we generally try to provide such callers and "emailers" with practical tips and information for them to discuss with their own divorce attorneys.

Here is one practical, helpful tip for you which we haven't discussed in this blog in a while:

 

I. KEEP A JOURNAL OR TIMELINE:  In other words, we cannot stress enough the point that, if you are going through a divorce, or child custody battle, you should keep, (in a secure location), a journal, or record or timeline, of all your contacts or communications, about your case, especially conversations with your worthless spouse, "Sluggo."  This journal or timeline will not only help your divorce attorney prepare for court, but also it will help you refresh your own memory about all the daily contacts you have had leading up to court.  Frankly, most of us simply cannot remember all our daily conversations about our children, or about other issues in a divorce case.  Therefore, we generally recommend that you write it down!

Of course, we also recommend that you discuss this matter and all other issues in your divorce with your own divorce lawyer!

Are Simple, No-Fault Divorces Good or Bad?

I just read another blogger's post in which that blogger, (who will not be identified here), expressed an opinion that no-fault divorces are a bad thing.  In other words, that blogger believes that it should be more difficult for people to get a divorce.  I assume that blogger probably also believes that divorce is morally wrong.  What do you think?

As for me, obviously, since I am an Augusta, Georgia divorce lawyer, I support  Georgia's law which makes it relatively easy to get a divorce in this state without having to prove a fault ground, such as adultery, addiction, or cruel treatment.  In Georgia, a person must simply allege that the marriage is "irretrievably broken."  In short, he or she will then be entitled to get a divorce without having to allege or prove any fault grounds. 

It is not that I necessarily view divorce as a "good thing." No one really believes that.  However, I would hate to see our state make it more difficult for a woman to get out of a violent, abusive marriage.  In other words, in my opinion, no one should be forced to stay in an abusive relationship just because they cannot prove adultery, or another fault ground.  

In addition, I believe that Georgia courts should not be unduly expensive for folks who cannot afford contested divorces, which can cost thousands of dollars, (in contrast to much cheaper simple, uncontested divorces).  For instance, as divorce attorneys at the Goolsby Law Firm, LLC, in Augusta, GA, we often handle simple, uncontested divorces, with children, for as low as $500, plus costs.  Even then, we often see folks who struggle to afford it.  Justice should not only be for the wealthy!  Laws allowing relatively easy, cheap no-fault divorces are therefore necessary, in my opinion.

What is your opinion? 

How Much Do Georgia Divorces Cost, Or Is the Cheapest Divorce Lawyer the Best?

[Photo from usstudents.org]

Look, we all like bargains, don't we?  But when you are looking for a divorce lawyer to handle your divorce, is it always best to go with the cheapest divorce attorney you can find?

Naturally, since we are Augusta, Georgia divorce lawyers, you wouldn't expect us to recommend that you always simply go with the cheapest lawyer out there, would you?  But, as a matter of fact, the Goolsby Law Firm, LLC, offers some of the most affordable rates, particularly for uncontested divorces, in our entire community.  We recommend you consider the following additional tips when you are selecting the best divorce lawyer for your divorce:

1. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS:  Before you retain a divorce lawyer, we strongly recommend that you talk with trusted family members and friends about good, affordable divorce attorneys in your community.  For instance, while one divorce attorney might be cheap, if your best friend has had a bad experience with that attorney, then you might want to consider that important information and pick someone else!

2.  MEET WITH THE DIVORCE ATTORNEY BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO RETAIN THEM:  We also generally recommend that you meet with a prospective attorney -- whether they come highly recommended, or whether you found them in the telephone book, or online -- before you make a decision about retaining them.  In other words, make an appointment, sit down with them, and ask questions about them and about your divorce case.  While some law firms charge a fee for such a meeting, we, at the Goolsby Law Firm, LLC, generally offer free initial consultations.

In short, we recommend that you shouldn't simply look for the cheapest lawyer out there to handle your divorce and all your important legal issues, ranging from child custody, to property division, to alimony.  Instead, you should investigate!  Please talk with family and friends, and meet with the prospective divorce attorney, before you make this important decision.  While cost may be a factor, it should not be the only factor.

Divorce, Divorce Costs, and the "Good Old Days!"

[Photo from geenvillecountyva.gov]

Let's face it.  Not everything was good about the "good old days!"  But some things about getting a divorce were arguably better "way back when" than they are today.  Frankly, in my opinion, as an Augusta, Georgia divorce lawyer, we all should take a few lessons from our grandparents about how lawsuits were handled "back in the day!"  

Here are just a couple of examples of how we could improve divorce procedures. I got some of these ideas from a conversation I recently had with a kind, elderly gentleman who got a divorce over 65 years ago!

1. REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF DIVORCE PAPERWORK: 

The increase in the amount and number of court documents and paperwork was one of the things I discussed with this elderly gentleman.  Ideally, in my opinion, we should reduce the amount of paperwork in Georgia divorces.  For example, this kind, elderly gentleman told me that, when he got a divorce back in the 1940's, the judge signed a divorce decree which consisted of only one page!  Isn't that remarkable?  As a Georgia divorce attorney, I fully recognize that we cannot (and should not) eliminate all divorce documents which are part of a typical modern divorce, including parenting plans, child support worksheets, and the child support addenda.  Some change is good.  But it would also be nice if some of the tangential divorce documents and forms could be streamlined, or eliminated.

2.  REDUCE THE COSTS OF A GEORGIA DIVORCE:

Additionally, it would be nice if the costs of a Georgia divorce could be reduced.  The elderly gentleman told me that, when he got a divorce 65 years ago, it cost only $35.00!  Isn't that incredible?  Now, we all know that $35.00 was still a substantial amount back then, but the costs of going to court have easily out-stripped inflation.  One way to reduce the costs of a divorce would be for the Georgia General Assembly to reduce the amount of the court filing fee.  Last year, (as I have complained about before in this blog), our legislature increased the filing fee for all civil lawsuits, including divorces, from $80.00 to a whopping $205.00!  In my opinion, this filing fee increase was outrageous and unfair to Georgians who can no longer afford justice in this state.

What do you think?  Were the "good old days" really all that good?  What changes would you recommend?

Uncontested and Contested Divorces in Georgia: Divorce Lawyers And Pro Bono Divorce Cases

As you know, we are father and son divorce attorneys located in Augusta, Georgia, (and the Martinez, Evans, and Grovetown, Georgia areas).  Every day, we handle a number of both uncontested and contested divorces, which involve a number of different issues, ranging from questions about child custody and child support, to child visitation and property and debt division matters.

As divorce lawyers, we also are keenly aware that many of our Georgia divorce clients are going through a difficult time, financially, due to the economy and their divorce.  As a result, we sometimes get telephone calls from prospective divorce clients asking if we would be willing to take their divorce case "pro bono," i.e. for free.

The goal of this post is to attempt to explain why it is difficult for a Georgia divorce lawyer to agree to take a divorce case pro bono, or for free.  One reason is that it really isn't just for free.  In other words, the divorce lawyer would actually lose money, if he or she took the case pro bono.  Let me explain.  Even if the divorce lawyer charges no legal fees, the divorce lawyer would still actually go in the hole, if he or she must dig into their own pockets to pay for the divorce costs, including divorce filing fees, service fees, court reporter fees, guardian ad litem fees, and on and on!

Another reason why divorce attorneys generally don't take divorce cases on a pro bono basis involves the amount of time which some divorce cases take.  In other words, if a pro bono divorce case takes up a large percentage of a divorce attorney's time, over several months, then it makes it more difficult for that attorney to pay the law firm's overhead.  Put another way, time spent by a divorce attorney on a "free" divorce case could have been spent generating funds to pay the office overhead from "paying" cases.  This may sound cold, or callous, but, simply put, like in any other business, if a family law law firm cannot pay its overhead, then it cannot keep its doors open to help anyone!

As a result, in my opinion, generally, it simply is not practical to ask or expect a Georgia divorce lawyer to take your divorce case pro bono.  Instead, we recommend that you seek help from family and friends with the costs of your divorce.  We also suggest that you try to work out some sort of reasonable retainer and payment plan with your divorce lawyer.

We, at the Goolsby Law Firm, LLC, attempt to work with prospective clients concerning reasonable fees and payment plans, whenever possible.  We also offer very affordable rates -- one-half to one-third what some divorce attorneys charge -- especially for uncontested divorces, (even with children).  In addition, we offer free consultations and answer questions from callers about divorce and child custody cases every day!  (Many other divorce lawyers charge a fee for a consultation).  Finally, nearly every day, we also offer practical, tips, "pro bono," in this divorce blog, for you to discuss with your own divorce lawyer -- for free!

Divorce and Mediation: How Much Does It Cost?

In the last post, I extolled the virtues of mediation as a potential solution in many tough divorce cases. But in looking back at the post, I realized that I failed to give you any practical information concerning the costs of mediation. So, here goes!

In my experience as a divorce attorney in Augusta, Georgia, I have used mediators whose fees have ranged between $100.00 per hour to $250.00 per hour. (The latter rate was what a retired judge charged). Other mediators have charged $125.00 per hour. And you must also keep in mind that mediation may, in some cases, take several hours!

In short, while some mediators may be "worth their weight in gold," as I claimed in the last post, when you, as a divorce client, have to pay their bill, it may seem like they cost that much, too!

Please be sure to discuss all aspects of mediation, along with all other costs of your divorce, with your own divorce lawyer.

Divorce Costs: The Cost of Justice is Always Going Up!

In this blog by divorce lawyers in Augusta, Georgia, we try to offer, as a community service, some good, practical divorce information and tips for you to discuss with your own divorce attorney. We also occasionally talk about celebrity divorces, and even sometimes throw in a divorce "joke of the day," in order to try to keep it interesting!

Today, I wanted to address the topic of divorce court costs. If you plan to divorce your worthless spouse, "Sluggo," then you need to have some idea as to what it might cost! Of course, this list is not exhaustive and not all costs will apply to every divorce. Again, you will need to talk with your own Georgia divorce lawyer to get a full understanding of the "price of justice!"

First, you need to know that, in Georgia, the filing fee recently went up, from $80 to a whopping $205.00! Isn't that terrible!?

Also, the cost of paying a deputy to serve divorce papers on "Sluggo" was recently doubled, from $25 to $50.

In addition, in some cases, you may have to pay for the services of a guardian ad litem, if child custody is at issue. This can also run you hundreds of dollars, depending upon the hours required for the guardian to investigate the case.

Finally, in addition to divorce lawyer fees, in some divorce and child custody cases, you may also have to pay for mediation and court reporter fees, all of which you should discuss with your own divorce attorney.

Hopefully, this list gives you some idea of some of the costs involved in a Georgia divorce. Unfortunately, as you can see, the costs of justice, including the costs of divorcing "Sluggo," keep going up!

Other Costs in a Georgia Divorce

In this blog, we want to try to give you some good, practical information and tips about Georgia divorces and Georgia divorce attorneys. And maybe nothing is more practical than a discussion of the costs of your Georgia divorce!

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?

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."