Annulment Vs Divorce Cost

Both annulment and divorce costs can vary based on location and types of agreements entered. Let’s take a look at average costs for these processes below.

How Much Does An Annulment Cost?

An annulment is utilized by couples to render a marriage invalid. It is essentially a legal procedure that makes it appear that you and your partner should not have been married in the first place. The average annulment will cost between $500-$5,000, according to Costaide.

Exact costs will depend on the agreement you and your-soon-to-be-ex spouse come to ahead of time. For example, the cost would be quite lower if both parties signed a joint petition for annulment than if one spouse is filing it alone. Total expenses can also vary based on location. Each state has its own varying regulations related to this process.

One form of annulling a marriage is related to religion and referred to as an ecclesiastic annulment. This form of annulment can cost up to $1,000 total. Any appeals made by one of the spouses will ultimately cause the price to increase.

Here is a look at typical annulment costs:

• Lowest Cost: $500.
• Average Cost: $1,000.
• Highest Cost: $5,000.

How Much Does A Divorce Cost?

$20,000 is the average cost of a divorce in Arizona with a lawyer with costs ranging from as little as $10,000 to $100,000 per party but if you can get divorced without the use of a lawyer the total drops to just $577.

Lawyers in AZ can cost as much as $550 per hour. The cost to file a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage Maricopa County is $349.  The responding party will be required to pay $279 when filing their Response, or if both parties have agreed to a Consent Decree, the $279 is still due and owing from the other party when they respond.

Divorces can vary widely on costs depending on the kind of divorce you want to pursue. While there are no specific rates, averages from the past can give an indication. Undoubtedly, a contested divorce with protracted proceedings will be more costly than an uncontested divorce. While no set rates apply here, it is possible to estimate cost based on historical averages of similar divorce cases.

Normally people do not spend in excess of $10,00 per person. There are always additional costs people do not often think about. Those that go to trial will have additional financial burdens for child custody evaluations, depositions, maybe a business appraiser as well as forensic accountants. The parents may have to attend a Parental Information program and if a private divorce mediator is utilized there will also be additional costs.

• Lowest Cost: $10,000.
• Average Cost: $20,000.
• Highest Cost: $100,000.

Contested Divorce Cost

While costs will likely range from $2,500 to $30,000, the price tag will depend on how combative the divorce is and whether or not alternatives like collaborative divorce or mediation are utilized. The typical cost of a divorce is $15,000 per person in the U.S. This estimate includes court costs, attorney fees and hiring of outside professionals, such as real estate appraisers, child custody specialists or tax advisors.

Here is a breakdown of the average contested divorce costs:

• Lowest Cost: $2,500.
• Average Cost: $15,000.
• Highest Cost: $30,000.

Uncontested Divorce Cost

Choosing to hire an attorney for this process can be very helpful when you have a particularly complex divorce or struggle to agree on certain issues. An attorney is only able to represent one spouse during this process. Your attorney will assist you in negotiating aspects of the divorce, including child custody, property distribution, as well as any debt settlements. Once the attorney files all the necessary paperwork and the court date is scheduled, he/she will go to court with you and present your case.

Hiring an attorney for an uncontested divorce tends to result in less expenses than an average divorce without representation. Attorney fees will go up, though, when the case becomes more complicated and/or contested. Usually, a divorce attorney retainer fee ranges from $2,500-$5,000.

Here are the average hourly attorney fees:

• Lowest Cost: $150 per hour.
• Average Cost: $275 per hour.
• Highest Cost: $400 per hour.

When Should You Annul vs Divorce?

Due to the brief duration, many believe that a very brief marriage can be annulled. However, a brief duration does not constitute a legal ground for annulment. The marriage must still meet one or more of the conditions listed above in order to be annulled.

Additionally, a long-term marriage may be ineligible for annulment. Many states will not grant an annulment after a certain period of time has passed. For example, in California, an annulment based on fraud must be requested within four years of the fraud’s discovery (one partner alleges that the other deceived them into agreeing to the marriage).

An annulment may be sought immediately following the conclusion of a marriage. In some states, however, a couple must be married or in a committed relationship for a specified period of time (typically one or two years) before filing for divorce. In some states, both parties must live apart for a specified period of time before filing for divorce.

*These are cost estimates. Contact the team at High Desert Family Law Group for more information!