Let's face it.  Divorces can be expensive.  Most lawyers charge by the hour, so the more time your lawyer has to spend on your case, the more it will cost you.  If you and your spouse cannot agree on certain issues, then your lawyer will have to deal with those issues and charge you for the time spent.  By the same token, the more you and your spouse can agree, the less time your lawyer will have to spend.  That results in a cost savings to both you and your spouse.

An uncontested divorce is one where you and your spouse have already agreed on all the issues, such as child custody, visitation, child support, alimony, and the division of property and debts.  When you hire a lawyer to handle an uncontested divorce, you present your agreement to the lawyer, who then drafts all the documents you and your spouse need to sign, usually for one flat fee.  Keep in mind, though, that the lawyer can only give you legal advice while drafting the documents.  He or she cannot act as an attorney for both you and your spouse.

The cost of an uncontested divorce can vary depending on the number and types of documents the lawyer will need to draft.  For example, an uncontested divorce involving children will be slightly more expensive than an uncontested divorce not involving children.  Why?  Because the lawyer will have to draft a "parenting plan," calculate child support, and most likely draft an "income deduction order" for the payment of child support.  Similarly, if you and your spouse have agreed to divide retirement plans, the lawyer will have to draft special orders to divide the plans.

If you and your spouse have come to a complete agreement on all issues, please feel free to contact me, a Jacksonville uncontested divorce lawyer, to discuss how I can help you at a minimal cost.