Filing for divorce is a big decision, and one that shouldn’t be entered into lightly. There are many things that put people off getting a divorce. They want to give their relationship time to heal, or are worried about the implications for their careers, their children, their families and their friends. The main reason people put off getting a divorce is the costs involved in doing so. Luckily not all divorces are created equal, and there are some things that we can do to help reduce the cost of getting a divorce.
It’s not easy to say how much a divorce costs – it depends on the specific circumstances of the case. Solicitors are almost always expensive, and submitting the divorce petition will require court fees to be paid. The best way to reduce the cost of the process is for couples to agree reasonably terms for their divorce themselves beforehand. Key elements will include division of property, finances, childcare and even the maintenance of pets and livestock. It might be easier said than done to make agreements on all of these important issues, but thrashing out these matters in court is a costly as well as emotionally-draining experience. With mutually-acceptable plans in place to begin with the divorce can proceed through the court system much more swiftly and without bitter arguments and shock results.
Obviously if communication between you and your spouse have broken down then reaching reasonably agreements could be highly difficult. In this circumstance you might consider hiring a solicitor to mediate the communications between the two of you. This mediation can be expensive but a long, drawn-out court case is both expensive and embarrassing.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise to hear that divorce matters can take a long time to resolve. Typically a divorce involves property, money, assets, children and even pets. If relations have deteriorated and acceptable agreements reached, then these matters will be reviewed in court. If this is the case you could consider hiring a solicitor to prepare your case and tell you what you can expect in the courtroom.
It’s impossible for a solicitor to tell you exactly how the divorce is going to go, but they should be able to provide a rough estimate for the cost of the whole process. Remember that most solicitors will charge by the hour, that they will bill for any legal services they provide, whether it be over the phone, via email or in person, and that you may be required to pay additional costs including charges for documentation. Being well-organised with documentation is an important way of keeping costs down too.
It’s impossible to predict the cost of a divorce, as it depends entirely on individual circumstances and whether couples can reach agreements between themselves. If agreements can be reached on key matters such as property and childcare then there is a good chance that the divorce process will flow relatively smoothly and that it will be achieved at a relatively low price. One of the best ways of reducing the cost in these circumstances is to get a DIY divorce. DIY divorce websites allow you to download formal document templates that allow you to compile much of the documentation that may otherwise be completed by a solicitor. Using these templates can save you a fortune on solicitor’s fees.
A DIY divorce is not applicable in all cases, and requires a high degree of agreement to work well. If you’re looking for a cheap divorce then consider taking the DIY route and compiling some of the legal documentation yourself. It will be time-consuming but could ultimately save you a lot of money.
Getting a divorce is a big event in someone’s life, and it’s easy to understand why so many people lose track of the costs and end up with an unexpectedly-large bill at the end. If you’re considering filing for a divorce, then try to talk it through with your partner, and if things can’t be patched up then do each other a favour and have a discussion about how you think assets, finances and responsibilities should be split and shared as a result of the separation. Seeing eye-to-eye on these key matters is the main way of reducing the cost of divorce.