How much does a divorce cost?

How much does a divorce cost in Warsaw?

Embarking on married life, we hope it will be based on trust, fidelity, and understanding. A breach of any of these principles often ends in disappointment and separation. Divorce is never easy, and whether or not you use the assistance of a professional representative such as a legal advisor or a lawyer, you will be obliged to pay court fees. The decision to end a marriage is never easy, but one of the main factors that lie at the end of an emotional and social relationship is cost. In most cases, legal fees will constitute the biggest cost of divorce – the question is, however, whether not using professional advice will not often cost significantly more. From experience, I know that the later you seek professional help, the more you stand to lose. It is better to entrust this one of the most important matters in life to a professional at the earliest possible stage; this really allows you to save a lot of costs and time. If you are considering how much does a divorce cost in Warsaw and not only that, this article is for you

That's how much really does divorce cost?

The basic court fee is PLN 600. What is the final cost of divorce in Warsaw? The final cost of a divorce case usually includes fees for legal assistance from a legal advisor or lawyer, other court costs related to, for example, the division of assets, and the costs of hiring external experts, such as psychological assessments (e.g. in OZSS when child custody is discussed) or a property appraiser. Usually, the degree of conflict between the parties and the time spent on the case determines the final cost. Divorce cases in Poland can last from 4 months to several years. Therefore, one must include not only the costs directly related to the case, but also the number of days missed from work, travel costs, and above all – the most important cost is lost time and nerves, as such a case is not indifferent to anyone.

What factors influence the cost of divorce?

As with other court cases, the average cost of a divorce is difficult to determine. Costs depend on various factors – from whether you or your spouse agree on specific terms, to whether you or your spouse decide to use a professional representative – as their assistance often paradoxically contributes to a faster resolution of the case and cost savings, or reduces losses associated with unprofessional defence. Factors influencing the average cost include:

• The nature of the divorce (turbulent or conflict-free)
• Legal aid costs
• Child custody disputes
• Value of the disputed property
• Maintenance
• Mediation
• Additional matters and settlements

One of the first things to realize is that divorce is technically a legal process, but it is somewhat unique in that it brings together two people who may have some common and some opposing interests.

Divorce without a finding of fault

The more factors or issues that are not resolved by the spouses themselves, such as prior settlements, alimony, child custody, property maintenance, or other shared assets such as investments, pensions, financial support, the more likely the divorce costs will be higher. If you and your spouse agree on important issues, no matter how many, you can file for a no-fault divorce. Submitting such an application costs PLN 600, half of which will be refunded after the end of the court case. If the parties are in complete agreement as to the method of dividing the property and want to receive an appropriate judgment, they must pay an additional fee of PLN 300. When handling such a case, it is always better to seek the help of an experienced lawyer specializing in family law or property matters. Before we make the most important decisions in life, it is definitely better to spend a few hundred zlotys on supporting someone for whom such matters are their daily bread - after all, we only know our own case, or selected cases involving our closest family or friends. An experienced legal advisor or attorney has seen dozens, if not hundreds, of such cases.

Divorce with a finding of guilt

This form of divorce is much more expensive and time-consuming – although sometimes it seems there is no other option. In such a case, filing for divorce costs 600 PLN. If the spouses wish to apply for a division of property within the same proceedings, they must also factor in an additional cost of 1,000 PLN. If we are dealing with the dissolution of co-ownership, e.g. of real estate, it is necessary to obtain expert opinions. This is another cost, which is usually around 2,000 PLN. A party to divorce proceedings may also apply for the eviction of a spouse. In such a situation, the party not being evicted is obliged to pay a fee of 200 PLN. Typically, lawyers and legal representatives participate in contentious divorce cases. The Regulation of the Minister of Justice regarding fees for solicitor's activities (consolidated text from January 2018) states that the minimum remuneration for a lawyer in a divorce case with a fault finding is 720 PLN. These are minimum rates, set by the Ministry of Justice, however, they do not reflect the real costs we may incur when working with a legal representative. These are, however, amounts that the party found solely at fault for the divorce will have to reimburse the other party.

Divorce costs of a lawyer or legal advisor

The true cost depends on the solicitor's experience, location, and chosen billing method. For those who prefer an hourly billing model, the cost in the smallest law firms situated in smaller or more competitive towns often starts from £250 (and sometimes even £100) for each hour of work, and goes up to around £900 for each hour in the most prestigious law firms in the largest cities. In fixed-fee models, a lawyer most often states a rate for a specific block of hours anticipated for a case – depending on the complexity of the case and the solicitor's price list, this is typically an amount ranging from £2,500 to £50,000. Therefore, it is impossible to definitively predict how much handling your case will cost, as it depends on the consideration of many additional factors. In our Law Firm, we have prepared an innovative solution known as the 'divorce package', which includes a fixed fee for 20 hours of the solicitor's work at a cost of £6,900. This usually allows us to handle the entire case from drafting the lawsuit to obtaining the verdict. However, this is not a mandatory model – for those who only wish to use our consultation services or whose case has a different scope, hourly billing or the negotiation of an individual package is also possible.

How much does a divorce cost in Warsaw – Summary

Anyone who has been through a divorce knows that the process is not easy. Couples almost always make bad and very bad decisions under the influence of emotions. How much does a divorce in Warsaw cost? In practice, it costs as much as the parties decide to pay for it – from a minimum amount consisting of a PLN 600 court fee to even PLN 80,000 in extreme cases. However, most cases are usually settled for between PLN 5,000 and PLN 8,000. Considering the mountain of financial, practical and emotional matters and tensions that need to be sorted out, it's no wonder that many couples make critical mistakes on the road to divorce. Setting strong emotions aside in favour of cooperating with your soon-to-be ex-spouse is definitely worth it in the long run – although it is often impossible without professional support. When deciding on a divorce, it's worth considering the costs you will have to bear. The awareness of the possibility of using professional legal assistance from a legal advisor or lawyer can be compared to visiting a really dangerous city with a guide by your side – it's better to have one, because not only will they likely be useful in difficult times, but they can also help avoid many of them. Not using professional help usually costs significantly more.