The Billing Process for Divorce Lawyers

Before you proceed much farther with your divorce, you need to know how your divorce lawyer will bill for the process. To be sure divorce is a very complex process and does not entail just one flat fee for the entire service. There is an entire fee structure involved in the filing of a divorce and usually includes not only their services but those of others in their office as well. For instance, you may find charges for research, copying, telephone calls, postage, copy paper and much more. This is the reason you will find that divorce lawyers—and lawyers in general—use a combination of flat fees and hourly rates depending on the job requirements.
In most cases you will find that the only flat fees involve the preparation and filing of necessary paperwork. In addition your divorce lawyer will charge for the filing fee the court requires in addition to any fees they must pay for certain documentation to prepare your case (this might include copies of bank statements, financial records, loan balances, and possibly even credit reports if they are relevant to your case). Since most fees are by the hour, the more work they need to do, the more you will pay. This is why it's better for you to obtain as much information as possible since it will be less costly.
Do not be fooled into thinking you will be able to obtain an accurate estimate of how much you will need to pay for your divorce. There are many different factors that go into the fee structure of a divorce, and until they actually begin working on your case it will be impossible for them to even give you an idea how much it might cost. They can tell you how much most people with similar circumstances pay but that is as far as it goes.
There are a number of different tasks your divorce lawyer will perform either personally, through his office staff or by sub-contracting those services. The cost of each function will vary among lawyers; there is not a set fee for these services.
Prepare and file your divorce petition
Prepare an assessment of all marital and business assets
Prepare an assignment of property ownership
Prepare all ancillaries as needed
Represent you in court
Conduct negotiations with your spouse's lawyer
Re-assignment of the deed to real estate if necessary
Prepare the divorce settlement
Assignment of office tasks such as copying, sending letters, filing, research, making phone calls, etc.
Fees for the process server or certified mail related to the divorce filing and the final decree
While not all of the items above may be necessary in your case, it is important for you to understand your lawyer handles the billing of the divorce steps. Some lawyers may even combine some of the processes instead of billing them individually. However, you can be sure each divorce lawyer will provide billing that is a combination of hourly and flat fees that are relevant to the filing of your divorce petition.

10 Websites to Help You Save on Monthly Bills

Everyone knows that bills are a part of life, and the reason most of us go to work every day. There are so many different things that we need to pay for each month, from electricity to insurance to groceries. There are many websites that exist solely for the purpose of saving you money on these monthly expenses. Here are 10 to explore in your spare time.

Alpha Buyer - This free group buying site uses the power of people in numbers to lower monthly bills you likely have, such as electricity and natural gas. The site negotiates with local suppliers in your area that are willing to give discounted rates to groups of customers just like you.

Insurance Quotes - Insurance can be a confusing thing to shop for, but it doesn’t have to be. After entering the type of insurance you are looking for, along with your zip code, this site searches through many of the top insurance companies in the country to find you the lowest rates possible. The site also offers many articles that can answer any questions you may have regarding insurance.

Bill Shrink - By providing this site with a few simple details of your monthly wireless, gas, and credit card bills, you can find specific deals in your area. This free service gives you personalized recommendations based on your current payments, usage, and needs.

Retail Me Not - This easy-to-use, free website offers thousands of coupons and discount codes for over 90,000 online retailers. You can sign up for a periodic email newsletter, which highlights the most popular coupons and discounts at the time.

White Fence - Finding the best deals on many of the services you use each month can be a daunting task. This free site searches your area for the most reasonable rates and provides you with a list of plans that may suit your needs, allowing you to compare rates and providers. They offer bundles on services as well, saving you even more money.

Lower My Bills - For over ten years, this site has offered services that allow you to compare rates and lower your monthly living expenses. They provide tools for refinancing mortgages and other loans, give you information and quotes on various insurance types, and provide help with debt relief and consolidation.

Grocery Saving Tips - This free site provides you with numerous grocery shopping tips that are sure to save you money on your next shopping trip. They also provide online sales flyers from various grocery stores, and free, printable coupons for a wide variety of products.

Gas Buddy - By providing you with local gas prices, this site allows you to compare them and choose the gas station that offers the cheapest gas prices nearest you. This site relies on customer involvement, and encourages you to post your local gas prices on a regular basis.

Price Grabber - Online shopping is easier when using a comparison shopping site like this one. It provides customers with the lowdown on products, prices, and merchants before making their purchases. This site is free to use, and you can also sign up to receive email notifications when a product you are shopping for has dropped to the best price.

Mr Rebates - Signing up with this free website allows you to earn cash-back rebates when you make a purchase at any of the more than 2,000 online stores that participate. You can also combine online coupons with your cash-back rebates to save yourself even more money.

Since so much of your hard-earned money goes to your monthly bills, it is refreshing to know that there are still some places out there that help you save money. All you have to do is know where to look, and you could end up saving a bundle.
Guest post from Bailey Harris. Bailey enjoys writing about insurance, finance, and related topics.

Creating the Liquidity Needed to Finalize Your Divorce Settlement

The time from final determination of asset assignment to the receipt of those funds can be quite some time. In fact, if there are a substantial amount of assets, for each party to receive his or her just share of the marital assets it may be necessary for one of the parties to obtain cash through liquidation in order to settle the asset distribution with the other spouse. For instance if the wife receives the marital home in the divorce settlement she will need to generate cash in order to buy out her husband's interest. The same may be true of other assets such as vacation homes, timeshares, motor vehicles and even household goods. Your divorce lawyer can provide you with more detailed information on these issues.

If you find it necessary to generate some cash flow in order to finalize your divorce settlement, there are several options you may wish to consider although some are better suited to the situation than others. Some of the most common ways to obtain the cash you need to make good on your divorce settlement include the following:

• Evenly distribute any remaining funds in joint checking and savings accounts
• Liquidate all liquid and near liquid assets such as checking, savings, CDs, cash on hand, coin collections and bonds and securities
• In order to distribute the marital assets pertaining to the family home you can refinance the property in order to obtain the cash you need to buy your spouse's interest and thus retain the home in your own name
• Research the possibility of borrowing against your 401K Plan. While the government sets regulations regarding withdrawals and loans, it's possible you may be able to borrow against it if there is real property involved
• Get a loan from your bank

While the last two options may not offer the best solutions, they are certainly available if you need them and have no other way to generate liquidity. During the distribution phase of your divorce it is necessary for all marital property to be distributed in accordance with the court order; this means you must use any means necessary to fulfill your obligation in the process. While there can sometimes be an extreme delay in the finalization of real property such as when the court determines the custodial parent can continue to live in the marital home until the minor children are of legal age, it is essential to make sure all marital property is distributed as quickly as possible.

Your divorce lawyer will be able to help you determine what divorce steps you must take in order to ascertain a quick and equitable distribution of all assets. The property settlement is usually always the longest of the ancillaries to reach finalization, but if you prepare in advance it will take less time. Determine what you must do and begin the process right away especially if you think there is a possibility it will take some time. For instance, if you need to obtain a mortgage in your own name it may take several weeks to complete—more if you are looking to obtain a government-insured mortgage. Keep all of these factors in mind as you begin to negotiate the terms of your divorce settlement.