Cheap Divorce Lawyers

Divorce Papers > Divorce Lawyers > Cheap Divorce Lawyers

When a marriage ends in divorce, it adds emotional as well as financial burden to the divorcing couple. A couple can opt for a divorce without a lawyer if it is an uncontested divorce. But in a contested divorce, the couple needs to take guidance of the lawyer. It is not necessary that a highly paid divorce lawyer would be able to provide the best assistance. The divorcing people who do not want to add to their existing financial burden can opt for cheap divorce lawyers with good knowledge and experience. You can reduce the consulting fees by opting for a lawyer whom you need to pay on an hourly basis. At the same time, additional charges for meeting hours can also be reduced after discussing about it with the lawyer. The financial status of an individual decides whether he or she is eligible for free legal services or not.

Notion Regarding cheap divorce lawyers

The term "cheap divorce lawyer" makes the listener think that this lawyer is not good at his work. However, it must be believed that there is a plethora of divorce lawyers who are perfect in their work and yet work at a lower rate. So it is recommended to eliminate the fear of this term by gathering relevant data regarding the prospective lawyer before the hiring services. One should collect information regarding the credentials, experience and more importantly the references. It would be useful if one arranges a meeting with the lawyer and discusses what the lawyer feels about your case. The client can ask the lawyer if he or she has handled cases in the past similar to the existing one and what was their outcome.

A skillful Lawyer is a Cheap Divorce Lawyer

When a client hires a lawyer, the lawyer offers a contract in which the amount and occasions of payment are mentioned. Some lawyers have a flat fee structure, which indicates that a specific amount of money is charged by a lawyer irrespective of the number of hours worked on the case. Other lawyers have an hourly fee structure, which means that the amount of money to be paid is more if the number of hours worked are more. In a nutshell, a skillful lawyer would finally become the cheap one.

Hourly Rates of Low Cost Divorce Attorneys

The most common method by which a lawyer charges fees is by hourly rates. This rate is multiplied by the total number of hours for which the lawyer has worked on the case till it is resolved. This results in the total bill. This hourly rate is dependent on the following factors:

• The experience of the lawyer
• The operating costs
• The location of the lawyer's practice

A client must bear in mind that a lawyer who has a low hourly rate is not necessarily better. Another lawyer who charges higher rates may solve the problem in less time and the results may be less overall bill. It is a fact that more the experience of the lawyer, more will he/she be able to estimate in a better manner; the number of lawyer hours necessary to solve a particular issue.

The following rates are applicable to 2009­2010. They can be used to get a rough idea of the scenario.

The experienced attorneys in small towns and rural areas usually charge 100 to 200 USD per hour. Those in major metropolitan regions generally levy 200 to 400 USD per hour. If an attorney has expertise in specialized areas, then he or she would obviously have a higher rate. In a nutshell, the legal fees extend from 50 to 1,000 USD per hour.

Advice to Decrease the Lawyer's Fees

• During the course of the case, if the client has any documents or evidence relevant to the case, the client must be prompt in offering these to the lawyer. Due to this, the lawyer need not contact the client or anybody else to collect that information. If the lawyer tracks down the information by himself/herself, then the client will be charged for every minute invested in this process.
• Whenever the client thinks of some questions or queries regarding the case, these must be written on paper. These papers must be referred to while discussing the case with the lawyer. Due to this, there is no need for the client to remember what was to be asked and consequently the hourly based charging can also be maintained.
• The documents which are to be filed in the court must be personally delivered, so that the exorbitant courier service fees are prevented.
• The venue of the case and the office of the lawyer must be close to each other. This results in reduction of billable hours and travel expenditure.

Low Cost Divorce Attorneys Services

• There are some organizations that provide prepaid legal plans to its members. These plans may be inclusive of a 'no cost' or low cost consultation of attorneys. Some uncontested divorces are completed at very low costs.
• Individuals should confirm whether his or her insurance policy mentions the following:
  • The insurance company would pay the fees of the lawyer who defends the individual in the lawsuit.
  • The policy comprises of coverage for lawyer fees.
• If any divorce case is work related, this person must speak with the union representative. There are several unions who offer free legal services to their members.

It is a common assumption that cheap divorce lawyers may not be able to guide their clients appropriately. But it is possible that you research and obtain a relevant feedback regarding the fee amount which is manageable within your budget.

Divorce Papers