A divorce quotation is meaningful only when it identifies the issues and stages the lawyer expects to handle. Document preparation for a limited assignment is different from negotiation or representation in a contested case. Make a private list of the questions you need addressed and obtain professional guidance about urgent concerns; this worksheet is for organizing costs, not choosing a legal strategy.
Ask what the proposed engagement covers
Request a scope that distinguishes consultation, financial-document work, negotiations, mediation preparation, hearings and any later work. Tell the lawyer which issues are unresolved rather than assuming that agreement on one subject makes the entire matter uncontested. Ask which events could change the estimate and who must approve additional work. The Bar’s divorce resource is background reading, not a prediction of your process or result.
Build a document and expense inventory
Ask the firm which financial records, existing agreements, notices or other documents it needs and how to supply them securely. Request separate estimates for applicable court, service, expert, valuation or mediation charges. Record the difference between an advance payment and estimated total work. Do not count a possible payment from another person as available budget money unless a qualified professional has explained the specific position.
Set a workable communication and billing routine
Ask how updates, messages, document exchanges and urgent communications are handled and billed. Organize questions and records using the office’s requested process; that helps make the engagement understandable without replacing legal advice. Ask about the consequences for the budget if negotiations do not resolve an issue. Do not delay seeking help for a notice, safety concern or uncertain deadline while trying to complete a comparison spreadsheet.
Your written-proposal checklist
| Item | Question or evidence to record |
|---|---|
| Issues and stages | Written list of covered work and excluded later proceedings |
| Expenses | Court, service, mediation or expert charges where applicable |
| Billing updates | Invoice frequency, advance-payment treatment and approval of extra work |
| Records | Secure document checklist and immediate concerns for the lawyer |
Record the firm, document version, quotation date, assignment and unresolved questions in your own private notes. Do not upload confidential legal documents to this website.
Next step for this decision
Compare proposals for the same stage and issues in the quote tool. A low advance payment is not necessarily a low whole-case price. Use Florida Courts’ family-law resources for official forms information and consult a qualified lawyer about whether any form, deadline or procedure fits your circumstances.