I have yet to meet a client who is excited about paying lots of money for their Massachusetts divorce. If you are one, please call me right away!
As consumers, we like to know how much something will cost. It is difficult to plan otherwise. Let’s 
compare divorce legal fees to another relatively unpleasant task – car shopping:
Chuck, a Car Shopper: “So, how much will this car cost me?”
Salesperson: ”Well, tough to say. Could be $30,000.00. But it could be a lot more.”
Chuck: “Why is that?”
Salesperson: ”Well, there are a lot of variables. I am not sure how much time it will take for me to talk with you, answer your questions, arrange your financing, get your new registration, prep the car, blah, blah, blah.”
Chuck: “I just want to know how much it is going to cost.”
Salesperson: ’We can get you into the car for $30,000; then if we need more money from you we will ask you for it then.”
It is safe to say that the above scenario would not sit well with most of us.
So, why do people pay for their Massachusetts divorce in the same manner as in the example above?
That is the way it has always been done, some would say.
True – but that doesn’t mean it is the best idea.
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Fixed fees for legal services are not a new concept, yet they have been slow to catch on in most practice areas, including divorce, and frankly are not welcomed by many lawyers.
The Divorce Collaborative LLC in Medway, MA and Attleboro, MA provides options for clients when selecting the best process for their Massachusetts divorce, and a variety of fee arrangements. For example, we provide couples a comprehensive divorce mediation program with a fixed fee as an option to traditional hourly billing. This option is quite popular with couples who understand the benefits of divorce mediation and the peace of mind a one-time, set fee provides. Our flat fee mediation program is unique and provides a high-level of service and features, including participation by an experienced divorce coach and/or certified divorce financial planner, detailed financial reports such as post-divorce, after-tax cash flow analysis, in addition to the not so helpful court financial form, and one on one guidance and support from an experienced mediator (who is also a lawyer) all along the way – for a reasonable fee of $6,000.00.
That is about what one person might pay (in the Medway and Medfield, MA areas for example) a divorce attorney for a retainer in a court-based or collaborative divorce case – and again that is just the retainer and not the total expense. While the Comprehensive Mediation Program is popular with many of our clients, divorce mediation itself may not be for everyone.
In an effort to provide additional choices and peace of mind to couples facing divorce, we are pleased to now extend the flat fee option to those considering a Massachusetts Collaborative Divorce in Norfolk, Bristol, Middlesex, or Worcester counties. If you live in another county, additional travel charges may apply.
For more information on the collaborative divorce process, please see the posts and information on this site, or visit the International Association of Collaborative Professionals website.
For more details on our fixed fee collaborative divorce option, please call us at (508) 533-3300, or send an email to steve@divorcecollaborative.com. The fee for the flat fee collaborative divorce is $7,500.00.
