On behalf of The Law Office of Gustavo E. Frances, P.A.
“How much does it cost to get divorced in Florida?” if you are reading this, then this question has probably been running circles in your head in the past few days or weeks. Your marriage may be on the brink of a divorce or you may be happily married but still curious about divorce costs in Florida.
Luckily, today is the day when you find out how much money you will have to spend to get divorced in Fort Lauderdale or elsewhere in Florida. To answer your questions, we invited our Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer from The Law Office of Gustavo E. Frances, P.A.
What’s The Cheapest Way to Get Divorced In Florida?
Regardless of your financial status and wealth, you are probably looking for a low-cost option to get divorced. Many believe that the cheapest way to get divorced in Florida is to stay away from divorce attorneys and avoid divorce courts at all costs.
Unfortunately, this is hardly the solution. In fact, divorcing without an attorney in Florida is a tricky endeavor, as it can ultimately cost you your property, assets, and even children.
Get an attorney if you want a low-cost divorce
Before we get to the meat and potatoes of how much a divorce costs in Florida, let us warn you that divorces can be very costly, especially those involving issues such as child support, alimony, child custody, and division of property.
As contradictory as it may sound, but a divorce attorney in Fort Lauderdale can actually help you save your hard-earned money when getting divorced in Florida. In many cases, those who choose not to be represented by a divorce lawyer end up spending more on their divorce case and face long-term financial consequences of an unfavorable divorce outcome compared to those who step into the courtroom with a skilled attorney by their side.
Divorce Filing Fees in Fort Lauderdale
So how much money will you have to spend to get divorced in Fort Lauderdale or elsewhere in Florida? Keep in mind that divorce fees may differ depending on where you are getting divorced and what type of divorce you are pursuing.
Let’s review the filing fees and other divorce-related expenses that apply to divorce cases in Fort Lauderdale:
- Dissolution of marriage and annulment – $410;
- Separate spousal maintenance – $310;
- Motion for custody, visitation, paternity, and support payments – from $200 to $300;
- Divorce-related modifications – $50;
- Restraining orders or injunctions – $100;
- Other motions and petitions – from $200 to $400 each.
In addition to that, Fort Lauderdale courts impose separate fees for responding to petitions and other divorce-related counterclaims. Typically, a fixed fee for divorce-related counterclaims ranges from $250 to $295.
Our divorce lawyer in Fort Lauderdale says that the court will impose separate fees if your divorce case involves children, child support, and violence or domestic abuse allegations. Also, do keep in mind that there will be additional fees for miscellaneous divorce expenses such as:
- a fee for processing documents;
- a fee for clerk’s services;
- a fee for making and obtaining copies; and
- other miscellaneous charges.
Estimate the cost of your divorce in a free consultation
The total and final cost of your divorce also depends on attorney fees as well as whether your divorce is contested or uncontested. Our Fort Lauderdale divorce attorney says that the costs of a contested divorce range from $2,000 to $7,000, while an uncontested divorce can cost you up to $4,000. In an uncontested divorce, the parties reach a consensus and resolve their differences without getting the court involved (which explains why the costs of an uncontested divorce are lower than those of a contested divorce).
Schedule a free consultation with our lawyers from The Law Office of Gustavo E. Frances, P.A. to evaluate your particular case and estimate the total cost of your divorce. Call our offices at 954-533-2756 for a free case evaluation today.
