Divorce attorneys handle the dissolution of a marriage and everything attached to it: division of property and debt, spousal support, custody and parenting schedules, retirement accounts, the family home, and business interests that have to be valued before they can be split.
How assets are divided depends on the state. Community property states start from an equal split of marital property; equitable distribution states divide on what the court considers fair, which is not always half. Whether your state requires a period of separation, and whether fault matters at all, likewise varies.
Before you hire
- Uncontested divorces can be handled cheaply and quickly. If you and your spouse agree on the substance, say so at the consultation and ask for a flat-fee quote.
- For contested cases ask about mediation. Most courts require an attempt at it, and settlements reached there are usually cheaper and more durable than judgments.
- Gather financial records early — tax returns, account statements, mortgage documents, retirement plans. Disclosure is mandatory, and doing it late is what makes divorces expensive.
Attorneys listed here also appear under family law, and many handle post-judgment modifications years after the decree.