Low Cost Divorce Attorneys in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake
Hampton Roads lawyers helping families with affordable divorce solutions
Contested divorce can be financially challenging. At Harding, Harding & Harding Attorneys at Law, we are sensitive to the needs of clients to keep costs down. Our low-cost divorce attorneys in Virginia Beach offer counsel on uncontested divorce and use of mediation. These options can reduce overall expenses to a fraction of the costs of a contested divorce. However, saving money doesn’t mean skimping on the quality of your legal representation. We draw on decades of experience to fully protect your rights and deliver optimum results while containing costs.
Factors that affect the cost of divorce in Virginia
The costs of a divorce increase with the complexity of the case. Thus, in uncontested divorces, where parties avoid the expenses of discovery and trial preparation, the costs average a fraction of that of highly contested divorces. However, there are situations where legal battles are necessary to secure parental or property rights, such as:
- Significant disagreements about raising children
- Disputes over the fitness of a parent
- Failure to make full financial disclosure
- Attempts to hide assets or underreport earnings
You should not forfeit your rights in disputes over crucial matters. However, spouses who cooperate do not have to incur the high legal expenses associated with a trial.
Strategies our lawyers use to keep divorce costs low
Our firm prioritizes uncontested divorce, which are based on agreements prepared for quick court approval. We encourage mediation, which substantially reduces the need for trial. We leverage online tools for filings, thereby cutting administrative costs. We identify issues where spouses can agree easily and work to solve these quickly. When the parties cannot reach complete agreement, we draft partial settlements to minimize the issues at the court hearing.
Uncontested divorce as a cost-saving option
Virginia's most affordable path to marital dissolution is an uncontested divorce, where spouses agree on all terms. Requirements for a Norfolk uncontested divorce include six months' Virginia residency, grounds (e.g., no-fault separation) and mutual agreement on property, support and custody. Our attorneys can also help you streamline military divorce in Virginia. Many parties to divorce consider do-it-yourself options and forms downloaded from the Internet. This can speed the process along but it can also lead to errors and oversights without professional guidance from a seasoned divorce lawyer.
Using mediation and alternative dispute resolution
There are multiple options in Virginia for resolving divorces out of court. One is mediation, in which a neutral third party facilitates agreements by guiding discussions towards mutually beneficial solutions. Mediation can be voluntary or court-ordered. Another alternative dispute resolution method is collaborative divorce, wherein the spouses and their attorneys promise not to litigate matters. Instead, they work cooperatively towards a settlement that avoids court and reduces expenses. Each ADR forum is private and confidential. There is no public record, so the parties are able to speak freely.
When a low-cost divorce might not be the best option
Low-cost options may not work in some scenarios. A history of domestic violence or relationships with severe power imbalances make mediation inadvisable. Marriages with complex and valuable assets, serious disagreements about child custody or uncooperative spouses may require litigation to achieve fair outcomes. If one party hides assets or underreports income, the other cannot rely on their disclosures without incurring an unfair settlement.
Contact our Virginia Beach attorneys for tailored advice on low-cost divorce
Harding, Harding & Harding Attorneys at Law provides low-cost divorce services to clients in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, or Norfolk. To schedule an appointment for a free initial consultation, call 757-499-2600 of contact us online.
