Does Divorce Have to Cost a Fortune?
That’s really not as simple a question as one might think. If you are someone who requires daily phone calls and e-mails with your attorney, if you change your mind about strategy like some people change shirts, and if you want to argue over every aspect of your divorce, the answer is usually “yes.” The more difficult and time consuming the divorce, the more expensive it can be.
But for someone who is motivated, clear-headed about their objectives, and willing to work with the other side, the answer is often times a resounding “no!” In our practice, my partner and I work very hard to be flexible with our clients, and we have different methods to bring divorce to closure. Some of these are far less expensive than all-out litigation. Collaborative law, mediation, and just old-fashioned negotiation in which you have realistic expectations about settlement, custody, visitation and other matters, can work to keep costs to a minimum.
Most matrimonial and family lawyers charge by the hour. In our practice, we have implemented fixed fees, agreed-upon in advance so that our clients never have to worry about getting a surprise bill in the mail. Sit down with the law firm you have chosen, and decide what works best for you now and going forward. Find an attorney you are comfortable with, and who will listen to you and work with you.
There are ways for you to minimize your legal bills in a proactive way that will help you and your attorney to settle the matter and not to unnecessarily dragging it out. Remember, time is money, and the less time spent haggling over small things, the better off you might be in the end.
A few things to keep in mind:
· Make sure you have a written retainer agreement with your attorney that is as comprehensive as possible. An attorney who appears cheaper on the surface might not be after you check out the fine print. There could be hidden costs.
· Come to some resolution with your spouse over easily agreed-upon elements of your divorce. That way your attorney will not waste time and money working on aspects you can work out yourself.
· Keep emotions out of the process as much as possible. Sorting out emotions takes time and therefore money. Resolve ahead of time to keep emotions to a minimum.
· Consider collaborative law and mediation as possible options. They cost less in both money and emotion.
These are just a few pointers. The best thing to do is to find an attorney that you feel you can trust, and listen to their advice. Divorce can definitely be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be.
