Child custody trial cost

However, you must be prepared to do all your own legal research and file the necessary paperwork to have your agreement approved by a judge. If your custody case is more complicated due to long distance living arrangements, history of domestic abuse, or you cannot agree on a custody schedule, you should consult a professional immediately. While working with a professional may be more expensive, it will help to protect you from future litigation and costly future changes to the agreements.

Usually, each party in a child custody case is responsible for paying their legal fees. A judge might make an exception if one party makes substantially more money than the other, or if one party cannot afford legal representation.

However, it is natural for anyone to be skeptical about attorneys representing their clients for free. Unbeknownst to many, the American Bar Association has mandated that lawyers, whether they are public prosecutors or private practitioners, must commit to at least 50 hours of pro bono service per year.

In some states e. Illinois lawyers are not required to comply with the hour requirement but they must still file an annual disclosure of their pro bono services.

As implied by the earlier discussion, the idea of a pitched legal battle is never consistent with a low-budget child custody attorney cost. But when court trials are unavoidable, the best strategy to curtail massive financial loss is to aim for joint custody. The quicker a legal party becomes agreeable, the faster the costs end. What makes a joint custody advantageous is that, in most cases, it often acts in the best interest of the child. Any legal proceedings related to child custody must cater to the most aggrieved participant — the child — who suffers the worst consequence of having to live with disagreeable parents.

Anyone who is obstinately against joint custody is practically putting oneself on the losing end of the case — morally and financially. When it comes to joint custody, the legal aspect e. Ideally, you will settle your custody dispute without going to court. If the parties are unable to reach an agreement and head to trial, the case can take months to complete. It depends entirely on the circumstances, so it is difficult to provide precise estimates until you talk your case over with one of our child custody lawyers.

There are some general fees and expenses that apply to a parent in this situation. These include:. There is a good breakdown of court filing fees from the State of Colorado here. This is the main document you will need to complete when filing for child custody in Colorado. If you were already granted child custody in another state, you will need to register to make it valid in Colorado.

If you would like to introduce testimony from a witness located in another state during custody proceedings over the phone or in-person , you will be required to register for this. Note that extra filing costs will be incurred if you need to file for a restraining order against the other parent. The best way to keep the costs of a child custody case down is to try and reach an agreement with your ex out of court. However, bear in mind that whatever custody and parenting plan you agree on must be approved by the court.