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Financially Surviving the Cost of Divorce in the Orlando, Florida Area

How do you survive the cost of a divorce in the Orlando, Florida area? First, learn about the costs before you begin the process. Second, do not expect the attorney to work for free. Your attorney will expect to be paid when they bill you. 

Learn About the Costs

What are the costs of a divorce in the Orlando, Florida area? That depends. It depends on whether the case is uncontested or contested. If it is contested, it depends on how litigious the parties are in the case. It depends on whether you plan to hire expert witnesses. It depends on whether you will take depositions, attend mediation, and/or go to trial. 

It costs $408 to file for a divorce case with the clerk of court in the Orlando, Florida area. It costs $10 to obtain a summons to serve on the spouse that you are divorcing. It costs approximately $50 to have a private process server serve the party you are divorcing. You may also pay the sheriff to serve the divorce paperwork. It costs $295 for the spouse that is served to file a counter-petition. 

Experts for the Case

The costs of experts will vary. However, a financial expert will most likely want a retainer of $5000. A custody evaluation will cost approximately $7,500 for one child. A Guardian Ad Litem will probably want an attorney. They will probably charge $250 or more an hour. A private Mediator will probably charge $250 or more an hour. If both parties make less than $100,000 then they can utilize county mediation. That is usually $120 for a mediation per each party. If the parties’ combined income is over  $100,000, they must use a private mediator. 

Fees for Attorneys

Attorneys in Orlando, Florida will most likely charge an hourly rate of $200 to $500 or more an hour. The more experienced attorneys will be at the hirer end of the spectrum. The retainer will depend on the complexity of the case. Attorneys’ fees retainers can range between $2,500 for an uncontested divorce to $20,000 or more for a high net worth complex contested divorce case. An uncontested divorce might cost between $2,500 to $5,000 or more. However, a complex and protracted high net worth divorce case can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. This is all something to think about when entering the divorce process. A divorce case with a custody battle even without a high net worth can cost approximately $30,000 to $50,000. 

If you can amicably agree to an uncontested divorce wherein you execute a marital settlement, that will save you the expense. Further if you do your case by Collaborative divorce, it will save you money over contentious litigation. You have to analyze whether you will receive more in the divorce than the attorney’s fees and costs you will pay. These are a few things to think about when deciding how to proceed in a divorce case.  

If you have more questions regarding a Marital and Family Law matter, you may call Ann Marie Giordano Gilden at Ann Marie Giordano Gilden, P.A. at 407-732-7620 and set an initial consultation. 

This article is for informational purposes only and does not form an attorney client privilege.