I'm here for the $500 Divorce.....

Such has been the first line in many a conversation I have had lately with clients coming in for a free consultation. I have resisted for years the temptation to charge hourly as other attorneys do for the sometimes 45 minute brain picking session which results many times in never hearing from the client again. I usually allow no more than 30 minutes which I consider generous but inevitably there is always that "one more question." The most frequent request lately has been for the mythical "500 divorce." Although I am sure these clients have seen this somewhere, in that too many of them have requested this fee, I still have not found the exact source. In NY the filing fees alone almost exceed this price with the filing Fees at approximately $390.00 depending on how many certified copies you need. After reading my post about Do it yourself Divorces, why would anyone want to do it themselves? They don't; they want me to do it for $500. I am also asked to do a real estate closing for $500. When did $500 become the magic number? Sure I will sit at any closing for $500, but that will not include negotiating the contract; ordering and reading your title report to insure that there are no title problems; ordering your termite inspection; checking for all co's and cc's on the house figuring all the costs involved in the closing and how to make the checks payable. I tell my clients, if I do my job correctly the closing should just be a formality taking no more than an hour. (Provided the Bank has its act together as well). Client's don't bat an eye at real estate commissions exceeding $10,000 but a $1200 legal fee becomes something they want to negotiate. In fixing up that "Old House" I guess Bob Vila made it difficult out there for all of us by showing ordinary man he can do anything. Well maybe he can, but not for $500.