On behalf of The Law Office of Gustavo E. Frances, P.A.
If you are on the brink of a divorce or are about to file a divorce petition, the thought “Okay, how much does a divorce cost in Florida?” has probably crossed your mind once or twice. In a nutshell, a divorce is rather pricey, especially in Fort Lauderdale and other cities in Florida.
We brought our Fort Lauderdale divorce attorney to reveal how much it will cost you to get divorced in Florida in 2018. The answer may surprise you.
The Cost Of A Divorce in Florida
As we have warned you above, getting divorced in Florida is a rather expensive venture. The cost of the average divorce in Florida can climb up to nearly $13,500, which is considerably higher than the national average across the United States.
This can be a rather intimidating figure to even glance at, let alone afford it. The rather pricey cost of a divorce in Florida can be explained by the fact that divorce lawyers in the state charge higher hourly rates and that there are also higher expenses such as court filings and mediation.
The average divorce attorney in Fort Lauderdale and elsewhere in Florida charges nearly $10,700 in attorney fees on average. However, there is an affordable Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer out there who will provide you with a top-notch legal presentation for a cost that will not exhaust your bank account.
Here at The Law Office Of Gustavo E. Frances, P.A., our team of skilled legal experts has decades of experience in settling and litigating divorces in Fort Lauderdale and across Florida, and our attorney fees are one of the most affordable in the state.
How Much Do Divorce Attorneys Charge in Florida?
Pretty much all divorce attorneys in Florida tend to charge clients on an hourly basis. The average hourly attorney fee among divorce attorneys in Florida totals $326 per hour, which is above the national average, and the $409 divorce filing fee is the second-highest in the United States.
Given such high hourly rates among Florida divorce attorneys, many people going through a divorce choose to not seek legal representation. However, there are quite a few things that you may want to consider if you are preparing to file a divorce petition without a lawyer.
Do You Even Need A Divorce Lawyer?
First of all, with a Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer by your side, you are guaranteed to protect your legal rights and interests and handle all aspects of your divorce, including but not limited to child support, child custody, alimony, assets, and property division, and others, in your best interests.
Second of all, your spouse may be legally represented by a lawyer, which would even further aggravate your situation and create even more risks. You see, being legally represented gives you an edge, as a divorce attorney will conduct a thorough review of your case to determine the best legal strategy in your particular case.
Divorce attorney fees are not the only thing that is responsible for such a high cost of getting divorced in Fort Lauderdale and elsewhere in Florida. Other divorce expenses can be quite pricey, including but not limited to court filings, mediation, copying and sharing documents, compensation for expert witnesses, appraisers, experts, consultants, evaluators, financial analysts, and others. These expenses alone can total nearly $2,800 on average in Florida, compared to nearly $3,000 nationally.
What Is The Most Expensive Type Of Divorce in Florida?
The cost of getting divorced in Florida depends on its complexity. For example, a divorce involving children may be pricier and longer to settle or litigate, while divorces without children are cheaper. The average cost of a divorce involving child custody and child support issues is over $20,000. Meaning: the cost of a divorce involving children is almost 50% higher compared to a divorce with no kids.
Not sure how much it will cost you to get divorced in Fort Lauderdale or elsewhere in Florida? Contact our Fort Lauderdale divorce attorney from the Law Offices of Gustavo E. Frances for a free case evaluation. Call our offices at 954-533-2756 or complete our contact form to get a free consultation today.
