In reality, even if you and your spouse agree on everything, it may take more than 30 days to finalize your divorce and for the judge to sign your divorce decree. Extremely complex cases may take several years to resolve. The fee to file a Complaint for Divorce varies by county in Alabama. If you hire a special process server or attempt to serve your spouse by certified mail, there will be additional up front costs. Also, if you retain counsel, there will be lawyer's fees.
Lawyers handle divorce cases a couple of different ways.
Primarily, lawyers handle divorce cases either on a set flat fee or on an hourly rate, depending on the complexity of the case and the issues involved. Your attorney's fee could be anywhere from several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars, depending on the issues involved and complexity of your case. Make sure your lawyer explains the fee arrangement at the beginning of your representation so there are no surprises. Alabama law allows a Court, in its discretion, to award an attorney fee in a divorce case, but there is no guarantee that the Court will make an award. A lawyer can only represent one party to a divorce.