The number one question most clients ask their Tulsa divorce attorney is, “How much is the divorce going to cost?” Although many individuals are not wanting to lead a conversation with finances, this is an important question to ask any prospective attorney. Oklahoma divorce costs vary according to numerous factors.
Before discussing the cost of a divorce attorney, we will illustrate the importance of representation and why having an attorney is essential to your case.
Do I Need a Tulsa Divorce Attorney?
Imagine stepping into a job the first day with no experience in the field. Suddenly you are thrust into a job, expected to perform perfectly right away, and any mistake could cost you months of income.
In this case, if you represent yourself you are subject to the court clerks that may reject any form filed incorrectly. The consequences of representing yourself could result in a default judgment against you, visitation issues, custody awarded contrary to your wishes, insufficient preparation for trial, and an unwanted outcome in your case.
A divorce is a serious matter; you should be able to focus on yourself and your children during the process, not learning an area of law that individuals go through three years of graduate school to master.
How Tulsa Divorce Attorneys Can Help the Process
A Tulsa divorce attorney provides many benefits to his or her clients. Attorneys not only attend three years of professional graduate education, but they also serve under experienced attorneys in aggressive internships during their schooling.
The best family divorce attorneys then serve under a mentor and spend countless hours learning the family law specialty and memorizing case law and statutes. They are able to more accurately predict your case outcome as well.
Finally, a local divorce attorney understands the Tulsa court system, knows the judges and clerks, and is an expert at the local court rules. An individual representing himself or herself simply cannot compete with the years of relationships, education, and experience a qualified attorney possesses.
Invest for the Best Outcome
It is important to first understand how serious divorce is and why the last thing you want to do is to look for the least expensive divorce attorney. You should choose a divorce attorney based on how comfortable you are with him or her.
The cost of a divorce in Oklahoma varies according to many different factors; no two divorces are alike. Divorce costs can range from minimal when you represent yourself to very high in cases of a high-conflict or high-asset divorce.
Factors that can increase your Oklahoma divorce costs include the parties being unable to cooperate, bringing conflict into the divorce proceedings, arguments over custody, and disagreement over assets. Any conflict can increase costs.
Many attorneys do offer fee structures based on income and ability to pay. Be wary of any divorce attorney that offers a flat-rate amount; it is impossible to predict how many hours your case may take, and even harder to predict that amount in the first meeting.
Be prepared to give a retainer for the divorce attorney’s services. It is common for these retainers to be called “evergreen retainers.” This means that invoice amounts will be deducted from the retainer. Once the retainer reaches a minimum balance, it must be replenished before any further work on your case.
Oklahoma divorce costs range from $4,000 to $27,000. Again, this depends on the factors previously discussed.
Court Costs and Divorce Classes
The costs that you cannot avoid are the court costs associated with your divorce. To file for divorce, the Tulsa County Court fee is between $176 and $191 depending on your circumstance. You can reference the fee list here: http://tulsacountydistrictcourt.org/files/Family_Division_Filing_Fees.pdf.
Other counties in the state have similar Oklahoma divorce costs; these vary only by $5 to $10.
Additionally, every time you must serve a form to the other party, there will be a fee for the process server, copies, and other basic office supplies.
Divorce classes have become mandatory in Oklahoma if the divorcing couple has minor children. These classes cost between $15 and $60.
In some counties, divorcing parents are also required to take parenting classes; these classes are approximately $20 to $30 per person.
Initial Consultation with a Tulsa Divorce Lawyer
The divorce process is what you make it — the higher the conflict, the more expensive your case becomes. Hiring a skilled and experienced Tulsa divorce attorney ensures your rights are protected and explains all necessary and unnecessary steps in the process.
Contact an experienced Tulsa divorce attorney when you need to go through the Oklahoma divorce process.
For a initial, confidential consultation, call 918-924-5526 now.