Many people delay or avoid divorce because they fear the cost. However, this is rarely the safest or healthiest decision, and money should not stop you from prioritizing your happiness and wellbeing or that of your children. In this situation, many people ask: “how much is a divorce in WA state”?
While it is true that divorces can become costly, the Washington divorce attorneys at S.L. Pitts understand that costs can vary greatly depending on the situation. This can make it hard to determine the average cost of a divorce, but we can help you understand the factors that can increase or decrease the expense.
The Average Cost of Getting a Divorce in the Seattle Area
Washington is a no-fault divorce state, which means you can typically get one without having to prove wrongdoing by the other party. You and your spouse simply need to make the claim that your marriage is irretrievably broken. This can make the process much simpler, and often cheaper, than having to show your spouse’s wrongdoing.
Fee Structure Can Affect Cost
According to Ziprecruiter, Seattle divorce attorneys earn an average of $63 per billable hour. With this information, you can assume that you will pay more than that, and costs typically come out to be between $200 and $500 per billable hour.
Retainer
In many cases, you will provide a retainer for services, which can range from $ 1,500 to $10,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the case, the services required, and the attorney’s experience. This retainer is often collected and credited towards your services.
Flat Rate
A flat rate fee is typically used for basic services that are more predictable. For a divorce lawyer, this may include drawing up paperwork for an uncontested divorce. Though sometimes you may pay a single package rate for mediation services that include a certain number of hours of service.
Hourly Billing
Hourly rates are often the most expensive, but they can give your attorney the flexibility to do the work necessary to support your goals. The first several billable hours will typically come from your retainer, and your Seattle divorce lawyer will discuss your budget and the hours they estimate will be needed. A good attorney will ensure you are never surprised by the costs.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Divorce
When you are considering the costs of a divorce in Washington state, you may be able to get out of it for just the cost of filing fees if you and your partner agree on everything and you do not have high-value or complicated assets. However, in some cases, you may be eligible to have the fees waived, further reducing costs.
Contested or Uncontested
If you and your partner were not married for very long, did not acquire property or assets during the marriage, and did not have kids, you may be able to finalize your divorce for just a few hundred dollars. However, if you and your spouse do not agree on everything, costs can go up depending on the steps you take to come to an agreement.
Mediation
Whether you and your soon-to-be spouse agree on almost every issue, or none of them, mediation is often part of the divorce process and can contribute significantly to the overall cost of your Washington divorce.
Oftentimes, divorce attorneys in Seattle, Washington, can help you find appropriate mediation services. Lingering disagreements can often be resolved in one or two mediation sessions, which is typically cheaper than working with an attorney to prepare for litigation.
Value and Complexity of Assets
Attorney fees are impacted by several things. First, the fee structure of the divorce lawyers in Seattle is important to consider. However, the cost is further affected by the assets you have.
If you acquired a valuable asset during your marriage, you may need to obtain external valuations to ensure a fair division of assets. This can mean additional expenses for these third-party experts, as well as additional time for your attorney to help negotiate on your behalf.
How Children Can Affect the Cost of Divorce
A Seattle divorce is often more expensive when children are involved. This is due to the additional time, resources, and paperwork required to ensure the divorce proceedings prioritize the child’s best interests.
Custody Agreement
Coming to an agreement when it comes to child custody and parenting time is often an incredibly stressful and emotional component of a divorce. In most cases, the courts feel that the child is best served by maintaining a relationship with both parents.
However, this division can look different depending on factors such as the quality of the established relationship with each parent, each parent’s ability to provide a safe and stable environment, and each parent’s ability or willingness to facilitate an ongoing relationship with the other parent.
Evaluation Costs
If you are coming from a higher conflict marriage, or you and your child’s other parent are unable to agree on terms, you may need to submit to other evaluations. This may be a parental fitness evaluation, bonding assessment, or simply paying for a guardian ad litem to make recommendations on behalf of your child’s best interest.
Depending on the specific needs, these services can cost hundreds of dollars.
Court-Mandated Classes
In most dissolution proceedings that include minor children, one or both parties are required to take some kind of parenting education course to prepare them to handle some of the upcoming challenges their children will face. Depending on the course, these classes can range from $25 to more than $100.
Why It’s Worth Hiring a Divorce Lawyer
While it’s true that working with a divorce lawyer can be a hefty expense, doing so can save you money, time, and stress in the long run. Some people may be able to find a fair and amicable agreement with their partner without any kind of outside legal support, but those couples are the minority, especially where children are concerned.
Knowledge of Washington State Divorce Laws
If you and your spouse are not in agreement on any part of your divorce, it can be critical to have a deep working knowledge of divorce law to help you ensure a fair and reasonable resolution.
Even if you and your soon-to-be ex happen to agree on all of the components of your divorce, the judge will not approve it if it is not fair and legal, making it important to at least consult with an attorney prior to submitting your proposed agreement.
Point of Contact
In most divorce cases, the process is deeply emotional and often comes with unpleasant feelings, even if you know it is the best thing for you and your family. When you work with our team, we will serve as the primary point of contact for anything regarding the divorce. This takes some of that day-to-day stress off you, allowing you to focus on planning for and establishing your new life.
When we work as the primary point of contact, it also helps minimize your liability by preventing you from accidentally saying or doing something the other party may try to use against you.
Third Party Support
Going through a divorce can be lonely. The person that you once thought would always be on your side is now your adversary. It can be difficult to advocate for yourself effectively, whether you just want the situation to be over or you want to avoid making it more difficult for the other person. A third party who is not emotionally attached to the situation and is prepared to advocate for what you want and need is often invaluable.
We always prioritize our clients’ goals and will provide you with direct and honest advice on how you can meet them.
Property Division Disputes
Asset and property division are often a key component of a divorce that determines what each person walks away with. If you do not have an attorney who is experienced in how the law protects you, what you are obligated to provide, or helps you identify and recover hidden assets, you may walk away with less than you deserve.
A skilled divorce attorney can help you find creative solutions to property or asset disputes during negotiations, helping you walk away with as many of your goals as possible met.
A Divorce Attorney Can Protect You From Unfair Power Imbalances
If you are leaving a marriage that had unfair power imbalances or domestic violence, working with a firm experienced in these cases can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case in terms of asset division, and even custody or parenting time agreements.
When you are leaving an abusive or violent situation, it can be easy to act on impulse, and this can have a negative effect on the outcome of the divorce. You can best protect yourself by contacting an attorney early on, and they can help you prepare.
A Divorce Attorney Can Help You Protect Your Interests in Complex Assets
If you accrued significant wealth or complex assets, such as stock options from an employer, a joint business venture, or other endeavor that is difficult to value, divide, or liquidate, it can be incredibly important to get legal support from an attorney. The divorce attorneys at S.L. Pitts are well-versed in helping our clients manage high-asset and high-net-worth divorces. This can include:
- Helping you identify hidden assets
- Connecting you with forensic evaluators
- Supporting fair and accurate valuations
We will work with you, third-party experts, and anyone else necessary to support full and accurate financial disclosure on all parts, and advocate for you to receive assets at the values you deserve based on the total valuations.
Options for Paying for Your Washington Divorce
In most divorce cases, legal fees are often paid out of marital funds. Therefore, the marital funds pay the fees rather than the individuals, and the remaining funds and assets would be divided out afterwards. This understanding can often help each spouse make reasonable decisions about who their attorney is and how high their fees are, because they know they are likely to end up paying the fees.
Many people see the value in having an attorney, but they still worry about how to pay for one. In some circumstances, you may successfully request that the judge order your spouse to cover legal fees. This is not always the case, but you can discuss the possibility with your attorney.
Some of the more common reasons this may happen include situations in which you need representation but have limited ability to pay. This is common when there is a significant income disparity or when one party provides domestic labor to support the marriage. This may also occur in situations of Intransigence or bad-faith behavior, where the other person intentionally delays the process or wastes resources to raise the cost.
Requesting Attorney Fees
To request that your soon-to-be ex covers your attorney fees, you must formally request it with the courts by filing a motion. This will often require you to provide the reason for your request, as well as financial disclosures to support your need.
Contact our S.L. Pitts Divorce Lawyer in Seattle, WA
Divorce is a difficult experience, even when you know it is for the best. You must face the unknown head-on emotionally, physically, and financially while also mourning the life you thought you would have when you married. The Washington divorce lawyers at S.L. Pitts understand that transparency and clear communication are often a key part of making our clients feel comfortable, and that will begin with what you can expect in terms of cost.
We can help you determine the strengths of your case and identify where it may require a little more work to get where you want to be, but we endeavor to always be honest and offer sincere advice. To schedule a consultation, contact our family law firm today.