Most couples will do anything to save their marriages before resorting to divorce. The process of divorce is often tedious and costly, but for couples who have no choice but to call it quits, it’s always best to hire a divorce lawyer.
Legal reference publisher Nolo once surveyed divorce proceedings in the country and it revealed that on average, filing for divorce could set you back by $15,000, and that can go higher if a trial is needed. Aside from state differences such as procedural differences on how to file for divorce in Colorado or Houston, there are a lot of other considerations you must take into account.
To ensure you don’t break the bank trying to end your marriage, here are seven strategies to save money on your divorce.
1. Choose Your Lawyer Carefully
According to the Stange Law Firm, choosing a divorce lawyer is like choosing the best partner in this battle. You have to hire the best lawyer who has a proven experience in handling divorce cases and custodial matters. These lawyers are already established in this particular specialization, and they are accessible with offices in your locality.
Remember that the legal profession is highly specialized, and lawyers tend to have specialization. Make sure to check that before choosing your divorce lawyer since a poorly-chosen attorney could set you back even more.
2. Work On Your Case
Remember that divorce lawyers are billing by the hour and convenience on your part translates to heftier legal fees. To make sure you reduce the hours that your attorney has to work, prepare the documents needed for the procedure. This means that you will have to go through different government offices to recover marriage certificates, financial records, and even police reports if applicable. Taking on the legwork also means making calls and falling into long lines, which will take time.
In the end, you will find that the transportation costs and the additional phone bills are still way cheaper than anything your lawyer will incur if they did the same legwork you do.
3. Check Out Limited Scope Services
If you’re gearing to get out of your marriage but still have a lot of bills to pay, you can cut down on legal services. Usually, lawyers offer complete representation for your case, covering the hearings up until claims processing. If doing the legwork still isn’t enough, you might want to ask about ‘limited scope representation.’ This is usually in tandem with the second strategy previously mentioned.
In this option, you get to choose which particular legal services you will avail of and pay for. Admittedly, it becomes more difficult as you will have to perform or complete other requirements no longer covered by the divorce lawyer bundle.
4. Stay Professional
Throughout this article, we will always go back to the point that lawyers, in general, are paid by the hour. To save more money, you will have to make sure that the hours you spend are focused only on the performance of their legal services.
Understandably, going through a divorce is an emotionally draining experience. This is on top of the physical and financial challenges. However, you better speak with friends or a counselor about your woes and keep your divorce lawyer on the proceedings only. It’s an easy way to dish out an additional $200 to $350 per hour.
5. Try Going Into Mediation
Divorce is often caused by neglect, abuse, or infidelity. Although there are a lot of other possibilities, these three are the most common causes. This makes a lot of divorce proceedings awful and awkward. However, it is in your mutual interest to check out mediation.
In divorce mediation, a neutral third-party mediator meets with both parties to reconcile their difference. Take note that this doesn’t necessarily mean you two need to get back together, but be civil about the proceedings and find mutually agreeable terms on delicate matters such as property distribution and custody of the children. More importantly, it saves you both from going to trial and shouldering the additional costs associated with it.
6. Avoid Litigation
Another benefit of calmly going into divorce is that you can also avoid litigation proceedings. By mutually agreeing to file and proceed with the divorce, you will no longer need to file a lawsuit against each other. In trying to save money on divorce, this probably is the best outcome anyone can hope for. This keeps you from the trial preparation that your divorce lawyer will have to work on, which amounts to several hours all billable to you.
7. Try a DIY Divorce
If there’s no need to file lawsuits or go to trial, you might want to start working on your divorce by yourself. This is recommended for couples who are essentially friends. If you agree on the custody of the children and the sharing of assets and liabilities, this is a worthy option.
You will acquire, fill up, and process the necessary forms. It will require additional time, research, and legwork since the procedure might vary from state to state. You will still need legal assistance, though, but only in terms of guiding or walking you through the process.
Though this option is plausible, it’s not advisable considering the complex nature of divorce. At the end of the day, it’s still easier to work with a reputable lawyer.
Final Word
Not all marriages are meant to last, although they can all serve as a learning experience, especially to the couple undergoing the procedure. While the emotional difficulty is a challenging endeavor that requires time, you can start cutting down on the financial woes that come with this decision.