San Antonio law firms have seen a shift in legal trends during the past two awkward years of pandemic times: Three couples in my circle got divorced.<\/p>\n
Todas tienen hijos de la edad de mis hijos. Todos los hijos fueron a la misma escuela primaria. Los tres anuncios me tomaron por sorpresa porque conoc\u00eda a las parejas desde hac\u00eda a\u00f1os y todas parec\u00edan felices. (Quiz\u00e1 eso demuestra lo buena que soy interpretando situaciones sociales).<\/p>\n
Bueno, eso no es la parte m\u00e1s extra\u00f1a.<\/p>\n
The weirdest part is this: They all get along super well now that they are divorced. They show up at the same parties; they express great affection and even love for each other. Usually, they even say they get along better after the divorce as friends than they did as married couples. This is wild! It seems anomalous but is definitely great and preferable for everyone since they have kids and share many friends.<\/p>\n
\u00bfQu\u00e9 tiene que ver esto con el dinero y los negocios, te preguntar\u00e1s? Se los dir\u00e9<\/p>\n
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, San Antonio-based family law attorney Lauren Smyth of Carrington Smyth PLLC and her husband, Jeremy Smyth, launched a \u201claw-tech\u201d firm called Uncontested.com to address this very situation: couples who do not intend to fight over kids or money and simply want a fast and affordable way to file for divorce. None of the three divorcing couples in my life used Uncontested.com, but all agreed it pretty much fit their situation.<\/p>\n
One side of a divorcing couple goes to Uncontested.com and answers a series of in-depth personal and financial questions, enough to provide all the data to prepare divorce documents. With Carrington Smyth PLLC as the law firm of record and Lauren Smyth as the attorney, technically the client is the person who filled out the online questionnaire. The other person in the couple also needs to sign the agreement.<\/p>\n
Normalmente, el precio de un divorcio absolutamente sencillo en el que todas las partes est\u00e1n de acuerdo en todo es de $2,500 a $3,500 USD. Uncontested.com ofrece un servicio b\u00e1sico, con s\u00f3lo los documentos, por US$500, m\u00e1s US$500 adicionales por el trabajo legal de tramitar el divorcio, lo que hace que el costo total sea de US$1,000. Se trata de una opci\u00f3n sumamente econ\u00f3mica para las personas que no quieren pelear por nada.<\/p>\n
\"Queremos recompensar a los clientes que pueden llegar a un acuerdo con una opci\u00f3n m\u00e1s barata, hasta ahora no disponible, d\u00e1ndoles los servicios legales limitados que necesitan para completar sus asuntos legales\", dice Jeremy.<\/p>\n
About 12 percent of users choose the \u201cdocuments only\u201d option, while the vast majority opt for the full documents, filing, and final hearing service.<\/p>\n
Kate McConnico, a Houston-based attorney certified in family law, specializes in representing one side in contested, complex divorces. She says her cases often cost from $20,000 to $60,000 to resolve. Even contested cases without extraordinary assets cost from $7,000 to $14,000. I mention this just to note that, ordinarily, the legal fees for getting a divorce are really expensive.<\/p>\n
Como dice McConnico de sus clientes: \"Lo que m\u00e1s quieren fuera de su vida es a su abogado. Siempre les digo a mis clientes: 'Tienes que deshacerte de m\u00ed, y yo te dir\u00e9 c\u00f3mo hacerlo'\".<\/p>\n
Ten\u00eda la curiosidad de saber si McConnico pensaba que Uncontested.com a $1,000 ten\u00eda sentido. Ella revis\u00f3 el cuestionario en l\u00ednea y estuvo absolutamente de acuerdo.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis fits a niche for people who don\u2019t have enough money for in-person litigation but don\u2019t qualify for pro bono,\u201d McConnico said. \u201cFor technology-savvy people, this will fill a need.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ella estim\u00f3 que el 30 por ciento de los divorcios se tramitan sin conflicto en Texas, lo que sugiere un mercado muy grande.<\/p>\n
Carrington Smyth PLLC is one of the many San Antonio law firms offering legal services, but Uncontested.com sets itself apart with its innovative and tech-driven approach. To date, 74 percent of its clients have come from the local area, although Uncontested.com works in all Texas counties. A few counties in Texas require physical appearances, which means clients would need to use the $500 \u201cdocuments only\u201d service.<\/p>\n
San Antonio law firms are increasingly embracing technology to provide more cost-effective solutions for their clients. Jeremy told me Uncontested.com has ambitions to expand to both the U.K. (where he is from and where Lauren is already licensed) and additional states as soon as next year. Family law \u2014 and requirements for an online divorce document template \u2014 varies by state and country. But a coalition of 35 states will synchronize their statutes in 2023, making a \u201claw-tech\u201d solution potentially easier to expand, using one template.<\/p>\n
He revisado la plantilla del sitio web y he comprobado que se tarda menos de 10 minutos en iniciar el proceso. No puls\u00e9 el bot\u00f3n de contratar a Uncontested.com por los $500 de \"s\u00f3lo documentos\" o $1,000 de \"servicio completo\", ya que odiar\u00eda divorciarme accidentalmente en el curso de la investigaci\u00f3n. \u00a1Eso ser\u00eda un shock!<\/p>\n
San Antonio law firms have traditionally provided legal services in a conventional manner. However, with the rise of online platforms like Uncontested.com, the landscape is changing. More and more individuals are opting for affordable and efficient online legal services, particularly in family law. This shift is not only making legal processes more accessible but also paving the way for further innovations in the industry.<\/p>\n
For individuals seeking legal assistance, San Antonio law firms now offer a variety of solutions, from traditional in-person consultations to fully online, tech-driven legal support. This flexibility is crucial in ensuring that legal services remain affordable and convenient for all clients.<\/p>\n
San Antonio law firms continue to evolve, ensuring that clients have access to the best legal services possible. With more law-tech solutions emerging, people seeking legal help will have even more accessible options in the future.<\/p>\n
With so many San Antonio law firms to choose from, it\u2019s essential to consider factors like affordability, technology adoption, and legal expertise. Whether someone needs a simple uncontested divorce or a more complex legal solution, there are multiple law firms in the city ready to assist.<\/p>\n
For more information, feel free to Contacto<\/a> and explore how law-tech innovations can benefit you.<\/p>\n