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Five Ways to Save Money on Your Divorce

 | Sep 22,2007


The average cost of a divorce in the United States is roughly between $15,000 and $30,000, according to the figures announced from Forbes.com. If you looked at those numbers and immediately felt sticker shock, you aren't alone. Unfortunately, many people going through a divorce don't know what it will cost until they are already way in to the proceedings and many times not until after the divorce is finalized and they get the nice hefty bill from the lawyers.

Fortunately, there are five beneficial things that you can do to lower the amount of the check you mail off to the lawyer once you become divorced.

Be Organized

Much of a lawyer's time is spent looking up paperwork and information that you can obtain just as easy. If you have joint accounts with your spouse, assets, public records, are all examples of things that a lawyer will typically need in determining who gets what. By providing all this information, you are cutting out billable hours that they would normally be charging you to get it themselves. Some lawyers will even tell you that they can get the information so you don't have to worry about it but you could be saving yourself upwards of $100 an hour to do the legwork yourself.

Pick Your Battles (or your Possessions)

Do you really want the wedding china? How much did it really cost? When you factor in the true cost of some material things you will realize that they aren't worth the time it will take for your lawyers to go back and forth in order to get you the turtle dove embossed china that you said you hated in the first place. Keep in mind that material things are replaceable and the less you need to go back and forth over the less time your attorney can charge you for.

Make Use of Your Time

One thing that lawyers always wish that their clients would remember is that they are an attorney. They are there to help you with the legal aspects and decisions of divorce. They are not there because your emotions are running high. That's a whole different bill and profession, but every time you call your lawyer for the big and the small trivial things, you are most likely getting charged for it. If you really must talk to your lawyer keep it to the point and make sure it is a legal issue they can help with. If your soon to be ex won't have the oil in the car changed, there is probably not much they can help you with.

Children are Not a Bargaining Tool

Assuming that there are children involved, you would do them and yourself a world of good if you sat down with your spouse before things got really dirty and nasty and work out a custody arrangement and child support agreement. Most lawyers will go back and forth for months before a decision is reached, save yourself the cost and headache of third party involvement and come up with one on your own. Take it to your lawyers and have it placed in the final agreement. This way your children will also know that mom and dad are working really hard to do what is best for them.

Go It Alone

A trend that is gaining in popularity is to do your divorce without the use or minimal use of a lawyer. In some cases, people can spend as little as $50 on obtaining a divorce. You have to be sure that this is the route for you though, as it's just you and your soon to be ex, working out all the details. Even if you can't come to all decisions on your own, you can employ the assistance of a mediator who can help guide you over the rough spots. Either way, you stand to save a large amount of money with this option.

It's true that most of the cost of a divorce goes to the lawyers. That is usually due to the fact that they do most of the work. Everything from obtaining records to making copies is usually left to the lawyer and his or her staff. However, by being informed of your options and the different things you can do to make the attorney fees smaller will help to alleviate your stress during this emotional and trying time.

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