Many people know that divorce costs money, but did you know that you can determine how much your divorce costs? Here are some of the measures you can take to keep your divorce costs down.
Don't Go To Court
If you decide to go to court, you must prepare to shoulder litigation fees, court filing fees, expert witness fees, and other fees that come with a litigated divorce. If you don't agree on many issues with your spouse, the divorce can drag on for a long time and even cost more money. Opt for either of these two alternatives to divorce litigation.
Mediation
In this case, you sit down with a mediator who guides the negotiations to make sure you are both heard. The discussions involve your partner, the mediator, you, and your respective lawyers. The mediator doesn't make a decision; their role is to facilitate the negotiations.
Collaboration
Collaboration is a bit like meditation in that you sit down with your spouse to negotiate a divorce settlement. The major difference is that you don't need a third party to facilitate the negotiations. It is just your partner, you, and your respective lawyers working together to reach an agreement.
Both options have their pros and cons. Consult a divorce lawyer to go over all these forms of divorce so you can make an informed decision on which route to take.
Set Realistic Goals
It's critical to set realistic goals. If you set unrealistic goals, you may end up wasting a lot of time negotiating for things you cannot achieve. The more time the negotiations take, the more fees you will have to pay your lawyers.
For example, some people think they can walk away with all major marital assets if their partners cheated on them. Asset division doesn't work that way and trying to deny your partner their fair share of asset division is just a waste of resources. In fact, you are unlikely to get everything you want during the divorce so you should prioritize your wants and needs and negotiate for things that you consider important.
Reveal Everything
Lastly, both of you should be utterly honest with each other during the divorce. This is particularly true if you have avoided litigation. Your negotiations and compromises will only work if each of you knows every relevant about the other. Hiding an asset or refusing to produce a necessary document will only prolong the negotiations.
For more information, reach out to a local divorce attorney.
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