Divorce is often associated with high costs, but the truth is that the price of a divorce can vary greatly depending on the circumstances. While some divorces can be resolved quickly and without the need for a lawyer, others may require legal assistance and can be more expensive. In addition to financial costs, divorcing couples should also consider the emotional toll that parenting conflict can have on the whole family, especially children. When it comes to the financial cost of divorce, it is important to remember that you don't always need a lawyer.
Divorce mediation can help reduce costs if there are contested issues that need to be resolved. However, the level of cooperation or conflict between the two people who are divorcing will significantly affect how to handle a divorce. With a lawyer, your divorce could cost anywhere from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on how much of the lawyer's time you are billed. The cost of divorce mediation can also vary widely depending on the circumstances of your case and whether you use private mediation or court-sponsored mediation.
If parties can find a way to communicate clearly during and after their divorce is resolved, they can be more successful in resolving disputes and reducing divorce costs for everyone involved. In some cases, hiring an attorney may be necessary or strongly recommended. While every divorce requires legal dissolution of marriage, those who have an uncontested divorce generally pay only a filing fee, while couples contesting issues may have to pay additional fees for motions, court reporting services, and other miscellaneous court expenses. More and more divorcing couples are turning to mediation as a way to save money and reduce the conflict and stress of divorce.
Online companies will charge to prepare divorce documents, but they can also have lawyers review them for you. The Supreme Court has ruled that the Constitution guarantees Americans the right to a lawyer in criminal cases, but there is no such right for civil cases, in which matters such as eviction, child custody disputes, and divorce are litigated.
