We’ve all seen them - billboards advertising cheap, quick divorces for just a couple hundred bucks. You may think “cheap and quick! What could be easier?” Well, unfortunately, like most things in life, “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

And here’s why...

First off, divorces, by nature, often bring out the worst in two people, no matter how low conflict, amicable or friendly both parties are when the divorce starts. A cheap, uncontested divorce might start out seemingly simple. Then, the respondent is served with their copy of the petitioner’s motion, suddenly decides to get rattled and now you (the petitioner) have a very much contested divorce on your hands. So, you’ve started the ball rolling with a paralegal that you’ve likely spent very little time with, who charged you to fill out paperwork you could have downloaded on your own, and who won’t be representing you in court. Your spouse hires an actual divorce attorney, and now things have gotten messy.

The most significant mistake people make in an uncontested divorce is failing to properly outline child custody issues including future time sharing, expense sharing, medical insurance, and relocation. Using a “cheap, quick divorce” agency to deal with these issues in an uncontested divorce is never recommended and is almost guaranteed to leave you with regrets and countless more arguments in court.

Even if you and your spouse don’t have children, there are issues of money, property, and income that these “cheap, quick” agencies commonly gloss over or improperly transfer. An actual divorce attorney will go over everything with a fine-toothed comb along with providing advice, counsel, and representation in court so you’re not left “holding the bag.”

It’s also vital to remember that while these agencies may advertise “excellent customer service and support,” there is no guarantee that you’ll ever speak to an actual attorney when you contact them. Quite the contrary. It’s highly unlikely they’re a lawyer at all, and even less likely a licensed Florida attorney. 

The bottom line is that the fine print in these so-called “cheap and easy” divorces will ultimately cost you much more money and stress in the long run.