For those who have been through divorce, I'm wondering about what it cost you? I had to get tough with my attorney today and insist he itemize as he keeps asking for money and won't be upfront about the final cost. My first divorce was over $7,000 due to being contested, child custody, property, etc. My stbx's divorce was $350; no children or property. I have a friend who just got divorced, no children, it was $850.

So far I've paid my attorney $300; now he wants another $800. As I said, I told him I wanted an itemized bill before I pay any more. We have property together, but no children. And my stbx is being mostly cooperative and we are in agreement on most everything.

My first D was easy. We went to a paralegal, agreed on everything and paid $250 plus filing fees. 2 kids, houses, 401's, etc.

This one (2nd) has been tough. She gave her atty $3500 retainer and I gave mine $1500 retainer. Mine tells me if we go to mediation it'll be another $1,000 retainer. Court will be more. Don't know about hers.

This week we agreed on everything and she signed. I waiting for my atty to get papers so I can sign. I should be divorced next week. Different states tho.

Hope this helps.

For a total it was about $3500+ if I include what I think my ex also paid his respective lawyer before we got back to mediation.

Not too bad but bad enough.

My legal fees were the least expensive thing in my divorce. Total cost for legal assistance - $1,000. However, since I had to pay HIM - my total debt was well over $35,000 - I assumed all of the debt - he wouldn't sign the papers unless I did. So, my divorce cost me a LOT!!

Laura

I think mine was $750 plus filing/service fees. We have 2 kids, property and a jointly owned business (we still co-own the business).

XH and I paid $500 to another attorney - I was going to hire him to represent me. When *we* went to see him, the attorney decided he wanted to represent XH (!!!!!!!!!)

We agreed that I would get another attorney and that sleaze would represent XH.

I sat down with my attorney and hammered out a settlement and presented it to XH. It was a fair agreement. XH had ample opportunity to take it to his sleaze-ball lawyer and negotiate changes, but he declined to do it - so effectively we spent $500 for nothing on his attorney.

The court proceeding was short - the agreement was in place and in force, I asked for an income deduction order for support because XH was going way weird with his money and I wanted court protection - XH signed the order at my asking.

Quick - but hardly painless.

Then last summer I had to file a contempt motion because XH bounced a check that was part of our property settlement. When my attorney called him to make good on it, he blew it off. So rather than get into an argument over it, he had his chance to make it right - I filed a contempt complaint.

The judge found in my favour - legal fees were $1000 plus service/filing fees. Judge ordered XH to pay $500 of that back to me. Sucks that I still had to lose $500+ because XH can't balance his checkbook.

In a messy divorce the only winners are the attorneys... $$$.

JinGA