Tips for Saving Money on a Divorce Attorney
Many people hire a lawyer at the beginning of their divorce case but run out of money halfway through when they need a lawyer the most. But, if you follow a few tips, you can prevent this from happening to you.
- Tip #1: Talk to your lawyer about your budget
- Tip #2: Understand what your lawyer will bill you for
- Tip #3: Do some of the work yourself
- Tip #4: Take advantage of free or low-cost solutions
- Takeaways
Tip #1: Talk to your lawyer about your budget
If you have a limited budget, have an honest conversation with your lawyer. Ask your lawyer if:
- Your budget is realistic, and how far it will take you.
- They have suggestions for how you can save money or stretch your budget.
- There are things you can do yourself instead of paying your attorney to do them for you.
Tip #2: Understand what your lawyer will bill you for
Your lawyer will bill you for everything they do in your case. They usually bill in 6-minute or 15-minute increments. Lawyers typically bill for all of these tasks:
- Talking on the phone with you or other people involved in your case
- Reading and responding to emails and text messages related to your case
- Going to court for you
- Drafting legal paperwork for your case
- Meetings with you or your spouse's attorney
- Gathering records and other evidence for your case
- Reviewing documents and evidence
- All other work related to your case
You can see how legal fees can add up quickly!
Tip #3: Do some of the work yourself
It's becoming more common for divorce attorneys to offer "unbundled legal services" or "limited scope representation." This means you're hiring a lawyer to help you only with a small part of your case instead of the whole case. For example, you and your spouse could agree on the terms of your divorce and then hire a lawyer to help you draft your divorce paperwork.
Caution: Unbundled services aren't a one-size-fits-all package. Because of this, it's important to understand what tasks your lawyer will help you with and which tasks are your responsibility. It's also important to understand the risks. Your lawyer must clearly explain all of this to you. Be sure to read all agreements carefully and ask any questions you have!
Tip #4: Take advantage of free or low-cost solutions
If you need help with your divorce, hiring a lawyer isn't your only option. You can also:
- Use the court's free divorce forms.
- Get help with your forms from a family law facilitator.
- Consider other ways of resolving your case, like mediation or having an informal trial.
Takeaways
- Divorce lawyers can be expensive, but there are ways to manage the costs or find help if you can't afford one.
- If you can't afford a lawyer, use Oregon's free court forms and your local court's family law facilitator services. You can also use the Legal Directory on this site to see if there are any free or low-cost family law lawyers or law firms in your area.