How to Get Attorney Fees Paid in Divorce 

You may be wondering how to get attorney fees paid in divorce. There are a few different ways to do this. Generally, a judge will look at your ability to pay and the disparity in your financial resources. If you have more money, assets, or liquidity, you can get the fee you deserve. If your spouse has been unreasonable in the marriage and has a habit of misbehaving outside of the divorce, the judge may award you your fees. 

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Paying for your legal help in divorce 

Unless your divorce is simple, paying for your legal help in divorce can be difficult. However, divorce courts try to make sure that spouses are on an equal footing in terms of finances. Therefore, the court will not award fees for one party unless the other party has engaged in unrepentant behavior. In some circumstances, the court may award fees to the person who has more assets, liquidity, and financial resources. 

Limiting your fees in divorce 

If you have a significant financial burden, you may want to limit your attorney fees in a divorce. If your former spouse has been paying for your divorce attorney, it may be in your best interests to ask him or her to pay for your fees. Most divorce proceedings require that each party pay their attorney fees, but some courts order you to reimburse your former spouse. Here are some tips to help you limit your attorney fees in a divorce. 

Bad faith as a factor in determining if your spouse must pay for your legal fees 

In some circumstances, a court may order your spouse to pay your attorney fees. In such a situation, the lesser earning spouse should not be awarded the costs of the legal representation. In other instances, a financially better-off spouse may borrow money from a family member to help pay for the attorney fees. In such a case, the court can order the lesser earning spouse to pay for the attorneys’ fees in exchange for some equity in the marriage. 

Extensive litigation 

In cases where the husband and wife have shared assets and both have financial means, getting attorney fees from one spouse can make it easier for the other to pay their own. The process to obtain fees is not as simple as filing paperwork and requesting them from your spouse. It requires a fair amount of work on your part to show that you are not equally entitled to the assets and need legal assistance. Then, the court has to order that you pay your spouse’s fees. 

Using marital funds to litigate a divorce 

Using marital funds to litigate if one partner is still living in the family home is an option, but you need to do a cost-benefit analysis. After all, you’ll need to find a new place to live and move all of your possessions. Moving is expensive, and some of those things may be subject to equitable distribution. Additionally, the cost of keeping two households will be higher, mainly in attorney’s fees and uncertainty over the finances. In addition, you should consider how you will proceed if you have children with your spouse, because the custody decision may affect the use of marital funds. 

Payment arrangements for attorney’s fees 

To receive payment for your divorce attorney’s services, you must understand how the process works. In many states, a contingency fee arrangement means you will need to reimburse your attorney for expenses incurred in your case, even if you lose. Before you retain a divorce attorney, it’s crucial to establish a budget. By doing so, you can save money and formulate a strategy for financing your divorce.