How can I lower the cost of a divorce?

Divorce may be a necessary outcome in some cases, but it can also be expensive and frustrating. Particularly if you are over 50 years old, a divorce can end up costing you over $100,000 in some cases if all expenses and property division are taken into consideration. According to Forbes Magazine, one of the best ways to reduce the cost of divorce is to do everything in your power to avoid a trial.

While most people probably think of a courtroom when they think of divorce, it is also possible to engage in mediated divorce with a third-party individual. Mediation is often far less expensive than taking a divorce to trial. There is also the option of collaborative divorce, where lawyers work together to reach an agreement. Collaborative divorce is typically more expensive than mediated divorce but is still less expensive than trial divorce.

It is also important to have all of your financials organized prior to going through the divorce process. Most of the work that a divorce lawyer does is work to understand what finances are at play and what needs to be legally divided. If you are completely organized before going into this process, you will end up saving a lot of money because the lawyer will charge you fewer billable hours.

You will also save money by emailing your lawyer as opposed to spending hours on the phone with him or her. Of course, your lawyer will still charge you for time spent reading emails, but if you can write concisely and get to the point without a lot of rambling, you will spend less money on communicating necessary details.