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There are several precautions you can take to help ensure that you will not spend more money than you absolutely must throughout the course of your divorce. Here are two options that are available to potential divorcees that will help keep costs down:
1. Mediation
For spouses who feel they could tolerate each other long enough to make it through the mediation process, mediation is a comparatively inexpensive route, usually costing less than $5,000.
During mediation, the couple hires a neutral mediator to oversee negotiations on all terms of the divorce. This mediator, who is usually a lawyer, is trained in conflict resolution and will facilitate discussion with the goal of helping each spouse make rational demands, and decide on fair compromises.
Though hourly rates for mediators and lawyers are typically very similar, mediation is less expensive than a formal trial for a few reasons:
· The couple will spend far less time with a mediator than they would in court and with their lawyers
· Court costs are avoided
· The couple can split the bill
2. Collaborative Law
For spouses who don’t feel they could handle the mediation process, collaborative law is a less potentially confrontational, and increasingly popular option.
During collaborative law negotiations, both spouses hire separate lawyers just as in a trial divorce. The difference is that both lawyers make a commitment to resolve conflicts without going to court. Court costs are thus avoided.
Collaborative law negotiations typically cost a little more than mediated divorces, but they still cost far less than typical trial divorces. Most collaborative law divorces cost about $3000 per spouse.
Need a divorce attorney or mediator? Please contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced and effective divorce lawyer who can aggressively defend your best interests in trial, or fairly mediate your negotiations.