Fee & Billing FAQ
How Much Will this Cost?
You can find more information on rates and billing in family law cases here.
WHAT ARE SOME OPTIONS TO PAY FOR MY DIVORCE OR FAMILY LAW CASE?
What are your funding options for paying for your divorce? Often, one spouse controls the majority of the assets, making it difficult, if not impossible, for the spouse without access to secure the representation they need in order to get an equitable distribution. You may be entitled to seek attorney’s fees from your spouse in the divorce process, but often how to get funds to get started is a concern.
- Cash or reserve funds. For people who have the savings set aside, the easiest way to pay for an attorney is by using savings or liquid assets.
- Credit cards. Many people use credit cards to deposit money into a trust account for a divorce. One possible advantage to using credit cards is that the total debt may be divided between spouses. This means if you don’t have access to funds but you do have access to credit, the debt may be reallocated later in settlement between you and your spouse.
- Borrowing money from family or friends. Many people receive financial assistance from their family or friends during a divorce. This may take the form of a gift or a loan. Third parties are free to pay for the representation of a friend or family member on a case, but they will not have any decision making in the case and are not the client. The client alone will control the objectives of the case.
- Personal Loans or Third-Party Divorce Funding. A fifth option, and one that is rarely utilized, is third-party divorce funding. Often, clients would like the attorney to offer financing or a payment plan. The law firm is not a financial institution and does not offer financing the way a bank or lender does. Your existing bank or credit union may provide personal loan options. In addition, third-party divorce funding is becoming an increasingly viable option for clients. A well-known company that offers funding is Balance Point Funding