Divorce Bakersfield

• Better service,
  • • • better price,
        • • better method.

A blended service with both an attorney and a team of paralegals.

A case will generally proceed as follows:

• • Intake.  Fifteen-minute meeting with clerical staff to sign contracts and make payment. 
  • Statistical conference.  One-hour meeting with paralegal with the goal of getting dates of marriage and separation, children birthdates, list of major assets, etc.
  • Initial consultation.  Thirty-minute meeting with a family law attorney and a paralegal.  During this meeting you will explain your case to the attorney and ask any questions.  
  • Planning conference.  Fifteen-minute meeting between the attorney and paralegal for the paralegal to receive instructions and ask any questions.
  • Document preparation. Preparation of Summons, Petition, Schedule of Assets and Debts, Income and Expense Declaration, Declaration Disclosure.
  • Document review by attorney.
  • Document clarification and update.  Paralegal calls client, obtains additional information as requested by the attorney, and updates forms.  
  • Service of process.
  • Wait for service of response.
    • If no response is filed, prepare default.
    • If a response is filed, but the parties agree, prepare a stipulation.
    • If a response is filed but the parties disagree, request a settlement conference and trial.
  • Try to settle.  Thirty-minute meeting with attorney and paralegal regarding settlement.
    • If the case settles, prepare a judgment and agreement
    • If the case does not settle, go to trial

Less expensive than a full-service attorney. 

Family law attorneys on Thumbtack cost $350 – $400 per hour.  These same attorneys charge $150 – $200 per hour for paralegal time and $120 – $175 for secretarial time resulting in an initial retainer of $3,500 – $7,500 and a total cost for a typical divorce ranging from $7,000 – $25,000. 

Better than a paralegal firm.

A paralegal firm (also known as legal document assistants or licensed document assistants) typically charge $600 – $1,000 for a divorce summons and petition.  Additional charges may include Default, Declaration Disclosures, Requests for Orders, or related matters, bringing the typical total cost to $1,500 – $2,500.  However, a paralegal firm cannot give legal advice or even choose which forms you should file.  There is, therefore, a significant danger that assets will be overlooked or misclassified, child support will be overestimated or underestimated, custody orders will be too ambiguous to enforce, or even the case never coming to a final judgment.

The fee paid during Intake covers all of the above.  If the case does proceed to trial, you can attend trial by yourself or you can hire the attorney to come with you.  The attorney is generally only needed in highly contested or difficult cases.  With adequate advice and preparation, most parties can represent themselves in court.