Upwork Online Divorce Services Review

Breadth of Services

Upwork is an online resource that connects service providers with service buyers. The list of services you can shop for on Upwork is pretty vast. Legal assistance is just one of many categories and, it appears, not the largest on the site. Upwork itself doesn't provide any legal services or employ any lawyers. All of the attorneys who market their services on the site do so independently. Each determines what services they will offer on his or her own. So to truly understand the breadth of services offered on Upwork, you really need to read individual attorneys' listings. 

Upwork doesn't make it particularly easy to find a divorce attorney. We tested the site's search feature and filter options by entering the terms divorce and divorce lawyer. The recommended service providers that the site brought up ran the gamut from patent application writers to paralegals, There were attorneys sprinkled in, too, but many specialized in areas other than divorce proceedings. There were also a number of service providers who appeared to offer services to attorneys, such as website and digital content developers. Here's a tip, though: search using the term "family law" and the site may return somewhat more relevant results. But there is still a great deal to sift through. Some users may become frustrated paging through listing after listing of unrelated service providers. We noted, too, that you can't narrow your search by zip code. That means you'll have to read each attorney's profile to find out whether he or she is licensed to practice in your state. So the attorney you need may well be out there on Upwork. We just wish the company made it easier to find who you're looking for.

In addition, there are several ways to end a marriage. The issues that must be dealt with to complete the divorce process vary from couple to couple. Some couples are very agreeable and can come to terms on their own. Often a simple dissolution is the most economical way to go if your circumstances are similar. Some divorces involve bitter disagreements over property, child custody, spousal support, and other issues. Upwork doesn't make it easy to find a lawyer who offers or specializes in dissolutions or complex custody battles. If you can locate a divorce attorney on the site, you'll need to read his or her profile to find out whether the specific help you need is available. 

Pricing and Transparency 

Most service providers on Upwork post an hourly rate prominently in their listings. Divorce attorneys on Upwork are no exception. Divorce attorneys—no matter how you find or hire one—often charge by the hour. Some offer "package prices" for simple, uncontested divorces or dissolutions. In order to get a clear picture of what it will cost you to get a divorce, you're going to have to have a detailed conversation with any attorney you hire. That's true on Upwork, too. In the non-virtual attorney marketplace, many divorce lawyers offer a free initial consultation. That's something you can discuss with an attorney online through the Upwork platform before making a hiring decision.

Educational Resources

Upwork doesn't publish any articles or provide a guide to divorce proceedings. You can count on your attorney to get you up to speed on the basics of divorce law, but you may wind up paying for that privilege. Spouses who want to hire an attorney through Upworth would do well to seek out educational resources and get themselves grounded in the topic before interviewing any attorneys on the site.