What Price Having Lawyers Battle It Out For You ?
Lawyer fees (could be up to $600 an hour) at $450 an hour:
Initial meeting and information gathering 10 hours = $ 4,500
Discovery 50 hours = 22,500
Trial preparation 100 hours = 45,000
Pretrial motions 30 hours = 13,500
Court time 15 hours = 6,750
Total 205 hours = $ 92 ,250
Expert Fees
Custody evaluator 40 hours at $250 $10,000
Actuary 15 hours at $200 (if you are lucky) 3,000
Vocational evaluator 20 hours at $200 4,000
Deposition costs 2,500
Lawyer for the child 20 hours at $400 8,000
$27,500
Possible total: $119,750
Ditto for your spouse = $239,500 of your retirement, home equity, kids’ college money
The following five guidelines explain the legal basics of divorce:
* Most divorces are settled out of court in the hallways and cafeteria–after all of the above.
* Don’t expect the legal system (or a lawyer) to take care of you.
* Your future is in your hands — not the court’s.
* It’s easier to write laws than to enforce them.
