The cost of a divorce depends on many factors, including the type of case, whether or not there are children involved, and how complex the property division is.
Lawyer fees are a major part of a divorce, and they can vary greatly from one lawyer to the next. In addition to attorneys’ fees, you may also have to pay court filing and service fees.
Attorney’s Fees
Attorney’s fees are a significant part of the overall Divorce cost in Missouri. They vary based on the nature of the divorce, the complexity of the case, and the attorney’s experience level.
In Missouri, attorney’s fees average about $300 per hour. This amount can be significantly more if the case is complex and requires many hours of attorney’s time.
A highly contested divorce can be expensive due to lengthy disputes over property and child custody. If you and your spouse agree on everything in a negotiated divorce, the costs will be much lower.
Court Filing Fees
Divorce can be a very stressful time. It’s a time to think about your future, and how your finances will be affected by your divorce.
It’s also a time to consider your emotions. You’ll want to have a legal advocate on your side who will help you protect your rights throughout the process.
If you have minor children, your divorce will also include child custody issues. There are two primary forms of custody in Missouri: sole physical custody, where a child permanently lives with one parent, and joint physical custody, where a child spends time with both parents on a regular basis.
The cost of a divorce in Missouri will vary depending on a number of factors, including your location, the complexity of the case, and how much time it takes to resolve the matter. The average contested divorce in the state costs $13,500, but this figure can be higher or lower depending on how many assets and/or children are involved.
Document Copy Charges
If you are filing a divorce in Missouri, you will need to pay a divorce document copy fee. This is a one-time fee that covers the cost of a certified divorce certificate and provides an initial copy of your marriage record.
A divorce certificate is often needed as proof of your divorce in many circumstances. It can be used to change your name on important documents like a driver’s license or Social Security card.
Divorce records are public records in Missouri. This means that anyone can view or copy them unless they specifically request to be excluded. It is also possible to have all or some of your divorce records sealed. This is an option that should be considered when possible. It will vary by state, but it can reduce the amount of information that is visible to the public.
Custody Evaluations
In an ideal world, divorced parents would be able to come to an agreement on how they want to share parenting responsibilities. But sometimes, a judge is called in to help craft a custody arrangement that is in the best interests of the children.
In this scenario, a family court judge may order a custody evaluation to assess the parenting skills of the parties and identify which parent can best provide for the child’s needs.
The evaluator will gather information, interview all the parents and children and put each parent through psychological tests to assess their parenting style, reactions and ability to care for their children.
The evaluator will prepare a report for both attorneys and the court that will be used to make a final decision on custody and visitation arrangements. The judge will usually give considerable weight to the evaluator’s recommendations, but it is important to understand that every judge is different and may deviate from an evaluators recommendation.
Appraiser’s Fees
When a couple is divorced, there are many factors that will affect their finances. One of the most important is determining what will happen with their home.
In Missouri, we follow a system known as equitable distribution, which means that courts divide marital property (and debts) based on what is fair to both parties under the particular circumstances of their case.
In order to do this, judges rely on professional appraisers. Appraisers have extensive experience and can provide reliable appraisals based on various methods. These include cost, market and income approaches.
