Going through a divorce can be one of the most emotional and costly experiences of your life. There are two (2) options for legal representation for divorce:1) traditional full-service legal representation—you retain the lawyer, and the lawyer handles all aspects of the case for you and 2) unbundled (or Limited Scope) legal services. Full-service legal representation offers comprehensive legal assistance from start to finish. In contrast, limited scope legal representation is an affordable alternative where you only hire the lawyer to handle certain parts of the divorce case.
Full-Service Legal Representation for Divorce:
Full-service legal representation is the traditional method of providing legal services. Full-service offers comprehensive legal assistance for every aspect of a divorce case, including drafting legal documents, representing you in court, negotiating settlements, and providing legal advice at every turn. Clients who want an attorney to handle everything for them and who have the financial means to afford it choose full-service legal representation. Full-service legal representation is expensive. The up-front retainer fees vary depending on the complexity of the case, the attorney’s experience, and the location. In general, the retainer for a full-service divorce ranges from $3,500 to $25,000 or more. Think of it this way: the more your lawyer must do to take care of you, the more it will cost you. A lawyer bills for time, and if you are using a lot of the attorney’s time, you will have a hefty bill.
Benefits of Full-Service Legal Representation:
While full-service legal representation is more expensive, there are several advantages:
- It allows you to focus on your emotional well-being and take care of yourself during the divorce proceedings.
- It provides you with a comprehensive legal strategy that considers all aspects of your case.
- It offers peace of mind that your attorney is handling everything on your behalf.
Full-service legal representation is especially beneficial in complex divorce cases with significant assets, complex financial issues, or child custody disputes.
Unbundled Legal Services (Limited Scope Representation) for Divorce:
Unbundled legal services, also known as limited scope representation or discrete task representation, offers the same level of competent legal representation as full-service representation, but only for specific parts of a divorce case. Limited scope representation allows you to hire an attorney to handle specific tasks while you handle the rest of the legal proceedings yourself. This option is best suited for people who want to save money on legal fees and are willing to take on some of the work themselves.
Limited Scope Representation Menu of Services
The cost of unbundled legal services varies depending on the specific services requested. The following is a list of common services and the starting rates:
Legal advice meeting: $150
Review of documents: $150
Document preparation: $250
Representation at a hearing: $1,000
Mediation representation: $2,000
Benefits of Unbundled Legal Services:
In simple cases where budget is the primary concern, limited scope legal representation gives access to competent legal counsel:
- You to save money on legal fees by only paying for the services you need.
- You have access to a divorce attorney to counsel and advise you.
- You to retain some control over the legal proceedings by handling some of the work yourself.
- You to have access to counsel and to the courts at a much lower cost.