Divorce often adds complications to both spouses’ lives. Whether it’s due to the massive amounts of paperwork, determining how to split assets and time spent in court, marital separation can be a lengthy and costly process for some. However, the time and money divorce often takes from couple depends on where they live. Because of this, some may wonder how much a divorce costs in Alabama.
According to GoBankingRates.com, Alabama is the 25th most expensive state to get a divorce. Luckily, marital annulment may cheaper for Alabamians than for some of their southern neighbors. Those include Florida, Texas, Georgia and Louisiana, which all landed in the top 20 most costly.
How the bill stacks up
As Alabama’s separation expenses fall right in line with the national average, couples looking to split up may want these questions answered before they move forward:
- The average price of a family law attorney: Depending on a spouse’s circumstances, Alabama family law attorneys typically charge $294 per hour of service.
- The length the divorce process will take: Here in Alabama, the minimum divorce processing time takes approximately 210 days. However, each couple’s situation often determines how long it could take.
- The average cost of filing for divorce: A divorce in Alabama usually costs around $215.
Divorce costs can also depend on if the separation is contested or uncontested. Uncontested divorces are usually cheaper and less time-consuming. That’s because spouses often don’t need to go to trial. However, in a contested divorce, there’s often more conflict that causes the proceedings to drag out.
Making the initial decision can be hard
When one or both partners exercise all of their options but can’t make things work, handing over the divorce papers may be their best option. But they may want to consider the costs beforehand so they can plan ahead.
