How to Save Money on Your Utah Divorce

Divorce and Utah divorce attorneys can be expensive. (This said, you might be surprised to know that an average divorce at a competitively priced divorce law firm costs less than maintaining your car for one year.) Fortunately, there are strategies to minimize the bills from your divorce attorney. Let’s talk about a few.

(Note: It might seem odd for a divorce attorney to explain how to reduce your bills, but it really isn’t. These are the same strategies we share with our clients at the beginning of their cases. Paying too much for a divorce doesn’t help anyone.)

Before we talk strategies, let me explain how attorneys bill. Almost all attorneys bill for the time spent on a case. This form of billing is called the “billable hour.” Every task completed on a case is billed separately, and usually at a minimum rate of .2 hours (i.e., 12 minutes). So, when you exchange emails with your attorney for five minutes, you will be billed .2 hours. So, minimizing time is the key to minimizing your bills. With that, let’s talk strategies.

First, maximize the efficiency of your communications with your attorney. If you send emails to your attorney everyday asking only one question in every email, your bill will be sky high. If, instead, you send one email containing a number of questions that can be answered at the same time, your attorney will spend less time answering your questions and will bill you less. Same goes for phone calls. If you call your attorney everyday, expect a large bill.

Second, do what your attorney asks you to do, and do it quickly. If your attorney asks you for documents, get him or her those documents ASAP. If your attorney asks you to do something, do it right then. If you don’t, your attorney will need to follow up with you multiple times, which takes time, and your case will languish, which increases costs.

Third, minimize conflict with your soon-to-be ex. There is no surer way of blowing up your divorce costs than having constant conflict with your ex. This doesn’t mean you roll over and play dead, but swearing at and insulting your ex in texts and emails will absolutely increase acrimony and costs. People are much less likely to negotiate when they are disrespected.

We hope these strategies help you control the costs of your divorce.

Published On: December 31st, 2015Categories: Financial PlanningComments Off on How to Save Money on Your Utah Divorce
Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!
About the Author: Marco Brown
6d8a23cf114c43e68fc064216eff550b?s=72&d=mm&r=g
Marco C. Brown was named Utah’s Outstanding Family Law Lawyer of the Year in 2015. He graduated with distinction from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 2007 and is currently the managing partner of Brown Family Law, LLC.
Contact Us – We Are Here to Help You

Schedule a time to talk with us – we are here to help you. When you meet with your attorney, we will go over your entire case, your children, your money and everything else that’s important to you. Our goal is to remove the fear associated with divorce by protecting your money and maximizing your time with your kids, all within 3-6 months. We look forward to meeting with you!

Call us 24/7 at 801-685-9999 to Speak with a Live Representative
Get A Legal Consultation With An Experienced Utah Attorney
Your privacy is 100% guaranteed, your information will never be sold or shared.

While this website provides general information, it does not constitute divorce advice. The best way to get guidance on your specific divorce issue is to contact a lawyer. To schedule a divorce consultation with an attorney, please call or complete the intake form above.

The use of the Internet (or this form) for communication with the firm (or any individual member of the firm) does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form.