This is the next article in my series on the question of “how much does a divorce cost in Las Vegas, Nevada?” My last article provided an overview of topics which this series will be addressing. It also stressed the need to speak with an attorney as soon as possible if you or a family member are considering ending a marriage. It is important that you speak with counsel sooner, and not later, as allowing the current situation to go on too long may result in the Court issuing rulings which you may be unhappy with. In this article I will discuss why the legal fees in a case vary from situation to situation. If you are in need of immediate assistance then contact my office today to speak with a lawyer.
There is no set answer to the question of how much a case may cost. The more complicated the matter, then the more the costs will increase. There are three primary factors which can impact the cost of a case. These include whether there are children involved, the nature of the parties’ finances, and the willingness of the parties to reach an agreement.
Nevada divorce costs are impacted by whether children are involved and whether the parties have complex finances
The most common issue which increases the cost of a divorce is the involvement of children. Child custody is required to be decided as part of any divorce. If the parents are not in agreement on the issues of custody, support, and visitation then litigation will be required. This can become expensive as such matters often require extensive discovery and numerous hearings may be held in between the filing of the case and trial. Such hearings may involve requests to change temporary custody, requests to hold the other parent in Contempt of Court, and more. If the parents are able to reach an agreement in mediation, or if they settle the issue of custody on their own and through their attorneys, then the costs of the case can be greatly reduced.
A second issue impacting the case is the complexity of the parties’ finances. In situations where the parties hold jobs and the only assets are their home and retirement accounts, then the issues may be more streamlined. The most common issue in such situations is whether spousal support is to be paid. In cases where the parties own one or more business, multiple investment properties, and other such assets then the division of property can quickly become more complicated. Also, when one of the spouses is self-employed then the payment of support also becomes more complex due to the variable nature of that spouse’s income. Finally, in cases where one spouse earns a substantial income, they may potentially try to hide assets, which can increase the cost of litigation due to discovery. In short, the more complex the parties’ finances then the greater the chance that expensive litigation will ensue.
Las Vegas spouses who are willing to settle their divorce case can greatly reduce the potential cost of legal fees
An important factor in determining how much a case may cost is the willingness of each side to settle. It is not uncommon for spouses to wish to litigate the matter, even when their attorney has advised them as to a potential outcome. These spouses may expend substantial legal fees only to reach an outcome which could have been predicted by the attorney and reached early through a settlement. Unfortunately, a settlement requires agreement between both parties and if one spouse wishes to “go to war” then the cost of the litigation will greatly increase. If, however, the parties are able to come to an agreement early, then they may save substantial sums of money on legal fees. There are, of course, times where litigating the matter is justified. How to best proceed in a given situation will always depend on the specifics of the case.
If you or a loved one are in need of assistance then contact my office today to speak with a Las Vegas divorce lawyer. Part of your initial consultation will include a discussion as to how much the matter may cost. I pride myself on providing honest and up-front advice to my clients and I work to provide the highest level of service. Contact my firm online or by telephone today for an initial consultation.