Part 2 of 5 questions you should ask a Utah divorce attorney

This is the second of a 5 part overview of the essential questions that every client should consider asking a divorce attorney during their consultation.  Part I is avaliable now, and the future posts will be avaliable shortly.  As stated before, the main purpose of these articles is to help you prioritize your concerns, and gather your thoughts before your first meeting.

Question 2: How much is my separation going to cost?

For many of us, this may be the first question that comes to mind whether you are seeking the divorce, or have been served with papers.  The best divorce attorneys will be able to answer your questions honestly, to help you know where you stand given the circumstances of your marriage and case.  When people ask this question the intention is usually to try and balance what you stand to lose if unrepresented, versus the cost of hiring legal representation.

Financial concerns can be difficult to address.  You may be able to get a ballpark of costs, but they can change depending on several factors, some of which cannot be seen until the case moves forward.  It can be compared to remodeling an old home.  Contractors can give you their best estimate, but there could be hidden issues behind walls that can increase the overall cost. Because a lot of separation lawyers charge their customers hourly, it can be really tough to state precisely how much a divorce will cost. As such, it can be almost impossible for a divorce legal representative to give you an estimate that is rock solid and unchanging.  That being said, there are several things that can affect your case including:

( a) the attorneys’ per hour price:

( b) the advanced-deposit or retainer that will be required:

( c) if they have legal assistants or team that do work for them, what the paralegal/staff’s hourly rate is:

( d) will I have filing fees or any kind of prices other than your per hour charges?

( e) the actual details of your case.  Is it an uncontested divorce, are there children involved and what kind of marital property will need to be addressed, for example.

Ideally, the answers to all of these concerns will be able to be located in the separation attorney’s Representation/Fee Contract.

Finding the right divorce attorney for you

It may not be your natural inclination, but even more important than the hourly rate of your attorney is finding one that you feel you can work well with.  A divorce is one of the most stressful things a person can go through in life.  Having a solid legal team by your side will make all the difference.  If you are going through a divorce in Utah, consider contacting Burton Family Attorneys to receive a consultation or case review at (801) 393-1106.