Divorce is never easy and always draining emotionally and financially. Of course, the clarity of divorce costs enables you to make informed decisions in respect of budgeting. If you are considering divorce and looking for the services of a “divorce lawyer in Calgary,” this blog provides insight into the various associated costs of divorce.

Understanding Divorce Costs

Divorce is very unpredictable in terms of cost. This is because it relies on many factors. These may include the intricacy of the case, lawyer’s fee, and other related extra costs of the divorce. Among the key costs you are likely to incur on is hiring charges of a “divorce lawyer in Calgary”. Legal charges can fluctuate widely depending on various contingent aspects such as the lawyer’s experience, reputation, and details pertinent to your case.

Lawyer’s Fees: What to Expect

When hiring a “divorce lawyer in Calgary,” there is a need to understand how lawyers charge. Most lawyers charge either by a flat fee or by the hour. In uncontested divorces, flat fees are usually employed when the parties agree on most issues. Contested divorces, on the other hand, require negotiation and court appearances; thus, lawyers usually charge on an hourly basis.

The Law Society of Alberta calculates that the average hourly rate for a lawyer in Calgary lies between CAD 200 to CAD 500. So as to give you an even better estimate, you could estimate to pay from CAD 300 to CAD 400 per hour when paying a divorce lawyer. If your case is complicated and requires much time in and out of court-complete with negotiations-then the costs rack up quite fast. For more details, visit the Law Society of Alberta’s Rate Information.

Court Fees and Other Costs

Other than the fees of the lawyer, a divorce costs money too. One of the major costs in divorce is the court filing fee. In Calgary, an application for divorce requires an approximately CAD 250 filing fee to get your application filed before the Court and hence to start the divorce process.

Extra costs may also include serving the divorce, the process of which may range from CAD 50 to CAD 100, depending on the process server you engage. If your case involves mediation or arbitration, these services will add up to the overall expense too. It can be expected that mediation will cost anywhere from CAD 150 to CAD 400 an hour, dependant upon the mediator’s experience and the amount of intricacy in the issues being resolved.

Mediation

Many mediators recommend it as a less expensive alternative to an extended courtroom battle. Mediation involves a neutral third party who helps both parties come to a decision that is acceptable to them. Mediation could be much less expensive than going to court and might reduce the length and emotional strain of the divorce process.

According to the report provided by the Alberta Family Mediation Society, mediation can save the cost of divorce by up to 50% compared to the traditional litigation. For more information about the mediation services in Calgary, please refer to Alberta Family Mediation Society.

Cost Factors

The number of disputes, the complexity of the case, and whether there are children can also add to the overall cost of divorce. Generally speaking, child custody and child support, property distribution, and spousal support will make a case more complex and more expensive.

Contested divorces-where parties cannot agree on some key issues-are very much more expensive since the costs can begin to spiral out of control with court hearings, multiple consultations with lawyers, expert witnesses, and various other things. On the other hand, uncontested divorce-where the parties agree about the terms of the divorce-is less expensive and faster.

Controlling Divorce Costs

Because divorce costs could easily spiral out of control, it is very important that planning and budgeting for them be made. One such good idea is to consult the fee structure that your “divorce lawyer in Calgary” considers, discusses, and analyzes at the commencement. You will better understand how much you may have to pay and thus set a budget and not incur too many unforeseen costs.

Secondly, early legal advice could outline your rights and responsibilities and spare you from expensive court cases at a later stage. For simple cases, a person could easily involve oneself in various aspects of the divorce, hence saving money.

Conclusion

Though divorce can be expensive, there are many ways to keep the financial burden more bearable by understanding the types of fees and costs involved with divorce. The retaining costs of “divorce lawyers in Calgary” involve attorney fees, court filing fees, and other associated costs such as mediation fees. The overall cost might be determined by the complexity of a case and whether your divorce is contested or uncontested.

The divorcing process can be done smoother and money can be saved, especially if the client has gained enough time to prepare himself accordingly in terms of finances. In case you are living in Calgary and the marriage does not work out, finding an experienced “divorce lawyer in Calgary” for a consultation will definitely be of great support in helping one have proper knowledge about the whole situation and at the same time manage costs better.

For other divorce costs and attorney services, see Law Society of Alberta and Alberta Family Mediation Society. These shall help understand the factors much better and give a general idea about the cost of divorce in Calgary.