Clear Parting Docs vs hiring two attorneys in New Jersey
Two retained attorneys is the default many people assume. For a New Jersey couple who already agree, it is often the most expensive way to reach the same judgment. When it is worth it, and when it is not.
What hiring two attorneys is
Each spouse retains their own New Jersey family lawyer, who drafts, negotiates and files. It is the right answer for a genuine dispute, a complex estate, or a relationship with a power imbalance — and the wrong answer for two people who have already decided everything and want it written down correctly.
- Retainers commonly start in the thousands per spouse and are billed hourly against
- A New Jersey attorney cannot represent both spouses — two lawyers means two bills
- Full representation: advice, drafting, negotiation, court appearances
- Timelines depend on both firms' calendars as well as the court's
Side by side
| hiring two attorneys | Clear Parting Docs | |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | Full representation for each of you | The complete packet, prepared from your decisions |
| Price structure | Two retainers, billed hourly | $299, or $399 with children, once per couple, no renewal |
| Legal advice | Yes — that is the product | None. Software that records your decisions; a named New Jersey firm you can engage directly for any piece that needs judgment |
| Speed | Two firms' calendars plus the court's | Your own pace; the court's clock after filing |
| After you file | Handled | Deadline clock from your real filing dates, the 35-day window, judgment tracking, the after-divorce checklist |
Choose hiring two attorneys when
- You do not actually agree, or one of you is not sure
- There is a business, a complex pension, or significant separate property to trace
- There is fear, coercion or a serious imbalance between you — do not self-serve
- Either of you may be in the military
Choose Clear Parting Docs when
- You agree on everything and the estate is simple
- You want to keep the cost near the court's own $300 fee
- You still want a lawyer's eyes on one piece — buy that one piece, not two retainers
The honest verdict
If you have something to fight about, hire lawyers. If you have already agreed, paying two firms to write down your agreement is the expensive path to the same piece of paper — and buying one flat-fee review of that paper is usually all the lawyer you need.
Facts about hiring two attorneys are drawn from its own public materials as of September 2026, are structural rather than promotional, and may have changed — verify on its site. Clear Parting Docs is not a law firm and gives no legal advice; this page is a product comparison, not a recommendation about your case.
See ours before deciding
The complete finished packet is published as real PDFs — no account, no payment.
Other comparisons: Hello Divorce · DivorceWriter · 3StepDivorce · LegalZoom · a divorce mediator