Find a divorce lawyer in Mission Viejo, CA

Find divorce lawyers in Mission Viejo, CA

Q: How much does a divorce lawyer cost?

The average cost of a divorce lawyer is $100 to $400 an hour or $7,000 to $15,000 total. The price of a divorce lawyer varies by location, whether the divorce is contested, and if there are any custody disputes. You will probably pay a retainer fee, or an upfront amount paid before any legal work begins. A retainer is based on the lawyer's hourly rate and acts as a down payment that covers the costs of future hours. Many divorce lawyers apply the retainer to the total bill. The size of the retainer depends on the issues discussed during a free consultation: Child custody Child support Alimony or spousal support The division of property The division of debts

Share a few details and we'll show you the best divorce lawyers in your area.

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Find divorce lawyers in Mission Viejo, CA

Share a few details and we'll show you the best divorce lawyers in your area.

Zip code

Top 10 divorce lawyers in Mission Viejo, CA

Clients agree: these Mission Viejo divorce lawyers are highly rated for knowledge, experience, communication, and more.

Law Offices Of Tamara Benefield - A Certified Family Law Attorney - The Family Law Trial Advocates

New on Thervo

Offers online services

20+ years in business

Serves Mission Viejo, CA

We stand out from our competition because we have a unique combination of intellect strength and compassion to meet the needs of our clients. I am the owner of this company which started 17 years ago because I went through something very similar in my life and I could not find anyone who cared, that could work within my budget and that had the brain power to help me in my family life. We devote ourselves in faith hope and love to help people. I enjoy the opportunity to be of service to people by excellent advocacy in the courtroom and strategic navigation through the court process to achieve victory. I am the National Bar Associations 2017 To...

Your Divorce Attorney questions, answered

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Thervo.

How much does a divorce lawyer cost?

The average cost of a divorce lawyer is $100 to $400 an hour or $7,000 to $15,000 total. The price of a divorce lawyer varies by location, whether the divorce is contested, and if there are any custody disputes.

You will probably pay a retainer fee, or an upfront amount paid before any legal work begins. A retainer is based on the lawyer's hourly rate and acts as a down payment that covers the costs of future hours. Many divorce lawyers apply the retainer to the total bill. The size of the retainer depends on the issues discussed during a free consultation:

Child custody
Child support
Alimony or spousal support
The division of property
The division of debts

Can you get a divorce without a lawyer?

A divorce lawyer helps file paperwork and negotiate the division of assets and custody during a divorce. If you can mediate every issue outside court, a divorce can cost a lot less than average and will be over sooner. If the divorce is amicable and you have no major assets or debts, you may be able to file the paperwork on your own. Just be aware that it is a time-consuming and frustrating process and may be delayed further if there are any mistakes in the paperwork.

Should I get a divorce lawyer?

You should hire a divorce attorney if your case is complicated or there is little chance of arranging terms without outside mediation. Common reasons for hiring a divorce lawyer include:

Child custody disputes
Child support disputes
Excessive debts
Significant assets (e.g., cash, car, or house)

Do divorce lawyers work on contingency?

Divorce lawyers do not typically work on contingency, which means receiving a percentage of a settlement only if they win the case. Instead, divorce lawyers commonly charge per hour or work on retainer. Discuss fees and payment options with your lawyer before any casework begins.

Who pays for a divorce lawyer?

Both parties usually hire different divorce lawyers. This way, both parties are equally and objectively represented by someone who will advocate for them. Each party is responsible for the cost of their own representation.

How do I choose a divorce lawyer?

Start by searching our list of divorce lawyers, then:

Get 3+ estimates from different firms to compare.
Read reviews about previous cases on Thervo and Google.
Choose a lawyer with a good reputation and experience.
Verify that they passed the bar and are able to represent you.
Get a written estimate and contract before any casework begins.
Follow a payment plan instead of making large payments up front.

What questions should I ask a divorce lawyer?

When looking for a divorce lawyer near you, consider asking the following questions:

How long have you been practicing law?
When did you pass the bar?
Do you give free consultations?
Are you able to take on new clients at this time?
What are your rates? Do you charge by the hour, or do you work on contingency?
Will you give me a contract in writing?

Reviews for Mission Viejo divorce lawyers

Recent success stories from people in the Mission Viejo area.

Martha Catalina H.

Honest, reliable, reasonable and extremely professional.

Sánchez Siqueiros Law

Ben L.

I've been shopping around and most people I talk to are charging an arm and a leg. They also talk about money before they ask me about my situation and what I need. It's quite rare at Benari and Nguyen they actually care and advise on what would be best for your situation. It's hard to find people out there actually trying take time to consult with you on what will be best for you, not how they can make they can make the most money off of you. Also, very affordable prices. I highly recommend my attorney Chris. He's been great with all my BK needs and happy to answer questions.

Law Office of Chris T. Nguyen, APC

Ruel M.

Effective, timely and pleasant

Katje Law Group, APC

R. C.

As in-house litigation counsel for an Illinois company with a national presence, John’s ability to crystallize the legal issues unique to California and our case were indispensable and critical to achieving a favorable result for all parties involved. It was a pleasure working with John and his team. Whenever I have an issue in California, he will be the first attorney I call for advice.

Delman Vukmanovic LLP

Michael W.

Mrs. Desai has been an extreme pleasure to work with in every aspect of her field. She is professional, intelligent and I feel that she is looking out for our best interest in every way. She has great ideas that seem coincide with what we are thinking and also adds with better ideas and methodologies throughout the process. Roshni has the level of experience we were looking for as a Lawyer, a Real Estate agent and a counselor of financial family concerns and I am sure many more. I feel that she has the knowledge and credentials to back it up. It has been a real pleasure to work with her on all of our needs and issues that have arisen and she has come through in every way. Thank you Mrs. Desai for everything you do and have done for our family! Ervin Bright, Charleston, SC

Law Offices of Roshni T. Desai

Kim C.

Our families experience with Craig Walkon, and his Law office was exceptional. We have never been through anything like this before, and every step in the process was explained thoroughly. Walkon 's Law Office accepted our case, after many offices turned us down. He was thorough, efficient and always had our best interest in mind. I would definitely recommend Craig S. Walkon Law Office to anyone that would be in need of his services. I am very thankful for the professionalism and support I was shown, as well as the results we received in a very timely manner. Hopefully, we never experience another problem like this again, however, Craig Walkon would be the first person our family contacted. Throughout the experience I felt comfort to know our interest was in the best hands possible