Pittsburgh Paperwork-Only Divorce Lawyers

Experienced Divorce Attorneys Helping People in Allegheny County

A “paperwork-only” divorce is the term attorneys use to describe a divorce that does not require litigation. In other words, every single issue that would come up in a divorce is already settled, converted into a contract, signed, and executed. The divorce would be filed and completed as an uncontested divorce.

Divorce Documentation in Pittsburgh

There are two main parts of the paperwork-only divorce process, assuming that the spouses have settled all of their issues on their own or through mediation with the help of an attorney (or two attorneys). The first part of paperwork-only divorce is the Marriage Settlement Agreement that settles all of the issues and is signed by the parties. The second part is the filing of the Complaint in Divorce, and other documentation necessary to get a decree in divorce. Often other paperwork is needed to divide assets, such as the drafting of a deed that conveys title to a property, or the preparation of a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) that divides certain types of retirement accounts.

Initiate a Paperwork-Only Divorce

There are usually two ways to initiate a “paperwork” only divorce through an attorney. The first is when a spouse hires an attorney to draft the required paperwork for the divorce. Once a couple decides that they are going to get a divorce and have discussed how they’re going to through the process, it is not necessary for them to go through litigation or pay for unnecessary services. All a divorce needs is an attorney who can put their divorce agreements in the required paperwork. Only one of the spouses has to speak to an attorney to complete the necessary paperwork because a lawyer can only represent one party in a divorce action.

If a client insists that both spouses be present to explain what they want “drawn up,” then both spouses may be able to speak with an attorney together. However, it’s necessary to identify which of the two spouses is the client. Our attorneys can draft the paperwork for one spouse, as long as both spouses are willing to sign everything to complete the divorce. Often, only one or two appointments in our office are necessary because the parties can have their documents signed and notarized anywhere.

Divorce Mediation

The second process is through mediation. Over 25% of our attorneys’ work is handling mediation cases. It is a popular option because it requires no appearances in court and is usually less expensive than a litigated divorce. The process takes into consideration the actual needs and desires of the parties themselves. Additionally, assuming the mediation is successful, the mediator will draft what is called a “Mediated Settlement Agreement” or a “Mediated Memorandum of Understanding,” which is the contract that settles out the case. As stated above, the two parts needed to finish a settled case is the Mediated Agreement, filing the Complaint in Divorce, and all related documents to get the divorce decree.

The divorce will have to be filed on your own, through an attorney, or processed online to grant a divorce decree. The mediator can’t put their name on a Court filing as representing one party or the other. This is something the mediator will explain at the conclusion of the mediation. 

What Is the Cost of Paperwork-Only Divorce?

It is difficult to predict the cost for paperwork-only divorces because the prices can vary drastically. Attorneys bill by the hour, so it is difficult to predict how many hours a divorce will take before it has even begun. The good news is that in a paperwork divorce the fees and hours involved are much more predictable, because there’s not as much room for issues when you’re just drafting paperwork. When a paperwork divorce is filed through an attorney, it will usually cost a minimum of $1,000 to $2,000. The total cost will depend on the nature of the agreement and the contact.

In a mediated divorce, the typical cost of the mediation is a minimum of $1,200, depending on the hours involved. The average price of filing the divorce documents and getting the decree varies from attorney to attorney, and also depends on the process. The filing fees alone might be an average of $50 to $350 depending on the county and the cost of the paperwork. The drafting of just the uncontested divorce documents may range from $199 to $1,500.

Paperwork-Only & Mediation Divorce Attorneys in Pittsburgh

If you and your spouse don’t want to go through the stressful process of litigation, our attorneys can help you. If you wish to go through a mediation divorce to settle your legal issues, or you only need to complete the required paperwork, our attorneys can help you. We have over 20 years of experience helping people throughout Allegheny County. To secure the services of our attorneys at Notaro Epstein Family Law Group, P.C. for medication or paperwork drafting, you can contact us today for a free initial consultation. We are happy to speak to you through phone or texts.

Contact our Pittsburgh paperwork-only lawyers today for a free initial consultation at (412) 281-1988!