Divorce is often one of the largest expenses a couple will have, in some cases costing as much as a wedding. While those cheap, DIY divorce ads sound appealing, those kinds of options only apply to Plano couples who have no children, no mutual assets they disagree upon, and who only need help filing the paperwork.
But many couples do not fall into this category, and need help walking through the legal process of marriage dissolution. As such, a divorce in Texas can end up costing well over the price for a DIY divorce.
Costs Associated with Divorce
Divorce can cause sticker shock, no doubt. While some divorces can be relatively inexpensive, people can spend tens of thousands of dollars on a messy divorce. Why can divorce be so expensive?
There are numerous costs associated with divorce, including fees for:
- filing;
- mediators;
- attorneys;
- third-party services (mental health evaluations, real estate appraisals); and
- court costs.
With divorce, there is no one-size-fits-all figure. Complicated divorces, such as those involving proving fault, bitter custody battles, or large estates will take a considerably greater amount of time to resolve, and therefore will rack up more legal fees.
Contested vs. Uncontested Divorce
During the divorce process, all big issues have to be addressed which include:
- property division;
- custody;
- child support; and
- spousal support.
When a couple agrees on all the issues (or when there are no children and little communal property), the divorce is considered an uncontested divorce and the process is far quicker and less expensive than when couples battle it out.
Contested divorces, on the other hand, occur when couples cannot come to an agreement. The mistake many people make is making decisions based on emotions. Couples will duke it out over a $1,200 entertainment center, and rack up $2,000 in legal and mediation fees because of it. Not wise.
Even though emotions might be on overdrive during a divorce, it’s far better – financially speaking – to put your heart and ego aside and look at the divorce settlement from a business standpoint.
Tips for Keeping Your Costs Down
It takes good planning and levelheadedness to keep your divorce costs down, two things that the majority of divorcing couples often lack.
Here are several tips that may help you keep your fees low:
- Try your absolute best to settle amicably. If you and your ex can reach an agreement on your own, you could save thousands of dollars.
- Do footwork on your own. Whenever possible, make your own calls, obtain paperwork, etc., to avoid having to pay a legal assistant to do it.
- Compromise. When couples are hurting, compromise seems like an impossibility particularly if you’re the “wronged” spouse. But keeping a stronghold on unimportant issues simply to “get back” at your spouse will hurt your pocketbook more than it hurts your ex.
- Don’t procrastinate. The longer you keep a lawyer on the books, the higher your legal fees. Sign what you need to sign, collect what you need to collect, and agree to what you need to agree to in order to expedite your divorce and reduce fees.
Our Divorce Attorneys in Plano Can Help
Our firm understands how strenuous finances can be during a divorce, and we try to do everything we can to keep your costs low. To speak with a divorce attorney, contact Warren & Migliaccio in Plano today at (888) 584-9614.
