If you are at a point in your marriage where you are contemplating divorce you probably have a number of questions and concerns about the divorce process itself. Unless you have been through it before, divorce can be an intimidating process, particularly if it is your first foray into the legal system. Along with the process itself, you may be concerned about the cost of a divorce. One question we are frequently asked is “ How much does a divorce cost? ” Because no two divorces are the same there is no universal answer to that question. Legal fees in a divorce are typically determined on an hourly basis. Therefore, the final cost of your divorce will depend on how complicated and, most importantly, how adversarial your divorce turns out to be.
A divorce can be “contested” or “uncontested”. If you divorce is uncontested that means that you and your spouse have reached an agreement that resolves all issues in the divorce. In an uncontested divorce your attorney will then reduce the agreement to writing and submit the agreement, along with all other required documents, to the court for approval. Your appearance in court for a final hearing is likely to be the only time you spend in court. If you are able to resolve your divorce in this manner it will dramatically reduce the cost of the divorce.
A contested divorce, on the other hand, is one in which you and your spouse are unable to agree on at least one of the issues in the divorce. Typically, this means that you and your spouse cannot agree on how to resolve one, or more, of the following:
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Division of marital assets
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Division of marital debts
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Custody and/or visitation
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Child support
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Spousal support
The more adversarial the divorce is the more time it will take to resolve the contested issues. If an agreement cannot be reached that addresses all the issues in the divorce, you will end up at trial where a judge or jury will resolve them. The bottom line is that the longer it takes to reach a resolution the more your divorce is likely to cost.
If you are contemplating divorce, or you have been served with a petition for divorce, you should consult with an experienced South Carolina family law attorney right away to ensure that your rights are protected throughout the proceedings. Contact the experienced South Carolina family law attorneys at Kuhn & Kuhn Law Firm by calling 843-577-3700 to schedule your appointment.
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