Choosing a Divorce Attorney: Cost vs. Value Explained
The true cost of hiring the wrong divorce attorney and what to look for instead
One of the most common phrases we hear in our industry is: “I can’t afford an expensive divorce attorney.” However, our hot take is that you can’t afford the wrong one. Choosing a divorce attorney is about far more than the cost. Strap in for a divorce horror story that we were able to rectify recently and knew it was one for the blog!
A Real Client Story: When the Cheapest Option Became the Most Expensive
When this new client came to us, he had already spent $80,000 on another attorney. But get this – the attorney specialized in corporate cases and had supposedly done over 250 hours of work on his case. Yet, they couldn’t send us a case file on him. After all that time and money, he was frustrated, exhausted, and still not divorced.
He felt like his case had stalled, and wasn’t getting any sort of clear communication or strategy from this attorney. Progress was minimal, and every new invoice seemed to bring more questions than answers. So, he decided to take matters into his own hands and look for another attorney – enter Foundations Family Law!
Choosing a Divorce Attorney with Experience Can Save Time…and Money
One of the first things we explained was that while our hourly rates were significantly higher than what he had been paying, our goal is never to bill the most hours, but instead to help our clients reach the best possible outcome as efficiently and strategically as possible using our holistic team approach.
Even though we had to reconstruct his case from scratch, in less than five months, we finalized his high-asset, financially complex divorce case, with his total fees at our firm coming in at less than $30,000—less than half of what he had already spent elsewhere, with an attorney whose hourly rate was nearly double.
The Value of a Collaborative Divorce Team
One thing that most people don’t take into consideration when interviewing attorneys is that a more experienced attorney (who charges more) does so because they can spend less time figuring out what to do. They know which issues truly matter, where to focus their energy, and how to avoid unnecessary conflict and delay because they’ve learned from every case they’ve had and are experts in their niche. That wisdom and experience has intrinsic value.
Now, that being said, we also work alongside the following experts that everybody should have on their super star divorce team:
- Experienced paralegals
- Financial professionals
- Divorce coaches
- Mortgage brokers
- Other trusted experts when appropriate
This collaborative approach allows everyone to focus on what they do best, allowing us to create thoughtful strategies and stay in our zone of genius. This kind of collaborative approach often saves our clients time, stress, and money. Especially in the case of this divorce where we partnered with our Purple Cloud Power Partner, Sarrah Samraoui, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA).
Psst! Check out our Divorce Detox podcast episode where we discuss with Sarrah how to protect your finances while going through divorce.
The True Cost of Divorce: Choosing a Divorce Attorney Who Aligns with You
While every divorce is different and will resolve in different timing, this client’s story is an important reminder that the true cost of a divorce isn’t measured by an attorney’s hourly rate. It’s measured by the value and outcome they provide.
The right attorney for you isn’t necessarily the least expensive. Instead, it’s the one who communicates clearly, develops a thoughtful strategy, advocates effectively, and helps you move forward without unnecessary delay.
Divorce is already one of the most difficult chapters of your life, so why pick legal representation that makes it harder?
If this blog resonates with you, we’d love to connect. No matter where you are in your divorce, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with us today.