Cheap Missouri divorce? How much does an uncontested divorce cost in Missouri?

Cheap Missouri Divorce?

For anyone who has suffered through a "traditional" divorce case, the term "cheap Missouri divorce" may seem like a misnomer.  But, I'm here to tell you, your divorce can be completed at a relatively inexpensive rate if you and your spouse can come to an agreement on all aspects of your case.

So, first, how inexpensive is "inexpensive"?  I charge flat fees for my uncontested divorce cases.  That flat fee varies, case-to-case, of course, but generally falls in the ballpark of $700 to $1,000.  The factors that go into determining the exact price include the volume of property being addressed in the settlement agreement and whether or not the parties have children.

I provide my clients with their final price quote after I've had a discussion with them in regards to these factors.  Since uncontested divorce representation involves very little legal advice (ie, I'm not advising the client how to "win" his or her case), what I'm really trying to determine is how long it will take me to draft their paperwork.  The longer I anticipate the drafting will take, the higher the fee.  It's not much different than traditional attorney billing in that sense, except the flat fee is not a retainer and the client does not pay a single dollar over what they are quoted.

Besides attorney fees, what other fees will your uncontested divorce consist of?  You'll have a filing fee, of course, which will be paid directly to the court when the case is filed.  The filing fee is generally in the $150 ballpark, but varies court-to-court.  If you have children, you may also be required to attend a parenting class, where you'll learn how to recognize if your child is having issues dealing with the divorce, among other things.  That class is usually in the $50-100 range but, again, varies depending on what county court your case is filed in.

Take a look at my website at www.LinnenbringerLaw.com for more uncontested divorce pricing details, as well as a good deal of other information pertaining to divorce in Missouri.

Thanks for reading

Gerald Linnenbringer

Can I get my spouse to pay for some of this?

This scenario comes up all of the time:  I get a call from a potential client inquiring about an uncontested divorce.  I confirm that the case is uncontested, making sure the parties have an agreement on property division, debt allocation, child custody and support if children are involved, maintenance, etc.  Generally the client inquiring about an uncontested divorce will confirm that an agreement has been reached.

Then, about 10% of the time, the potential client will ask, "can we make my spouse pay for half of this."  My answer is usually, "maybe, but we won't be proceeding with an uncontested divorce."

For your divorce to be considered uncontested - from an attorney's point of view - we (the attorney) cannot be "making" anyone do anything.  Recovery of attorney fees and court costs could be applicable to your case, but if an agreement on the splitting of those fees and costs has not been reached prior to obtaining your attorney, he or she likely will not view your case as uncontested.  This does not bar you from splitting fees in the uncontested case, of course - I have clients split fees and costs all of the time.. but it's by agreement, like everything else in the uncontested dissolution situation.

Thank you for reading. Please feel free to contact me for more information.

Gerald W. Linnenbringer, Missouri Uncontested Divorce Attorney

GWL@LinnenbringerLaw.com
www.LinnenbringerLaw.com