How Much Will My Divorce Cost?
There is no one-size-fits-all price tag for divorce. Costs depend largely on how cooperative you and your spouse are, and which attorneys are involved. While litigated divorces can range from $15,000 to $30,000 or more, choosing mediation or a collaborative approach can reduce expenses if both sides are willing to work toward resolution. Fighting in a divorce isn’t required and usually only drives up the cost.
Why We Can’t Give You a Number
When someone sits in our office and asks for a price tag on their divorce, we explain that we have no real way of knowing how much it is going to cost. That’s because the biggest cost drivers are factors that we can’t control.
- Divorce cost largely depends on how cooperative the other side is. If your spouse (and their attorney) is willing to exchange documents promptly, avoid unnecessary motions, and sit down to discuss resolution, costs stay lower. On the flip side, if they want to fight tooth and nail, file motion after motion, and refuse to produce documents, costs climb quickly.
- Who your spouse hires as their attorney matters too. Some attorneys have a settlement mindset. While other attorneys are more litigious, thinking about court first which often makes everything more expensive.
Typical Divorce Cost Ranges (and Why They Vary)
Sometimes after a case gets going, we can give a better sense of what it might cost. In a litigated divorce, you could be looking at anywhere from $15,000 to $30,000 and that’s not even including trial. A trial is a whole different level of expense.
But remember, these are just broad estimates. The costs really come down to how long it takes to reach a resolution. And that is heavily influenced by the willingness of both parties to work through it.
Why Mediation or Collaborative Divorce Might Help Manage Costs
There are alternatives to going to court like Mediation or the Collaborative Divorce process. People often think these are automatically cheaper. That is not necessarily true. The real cost savings come from the mindset: people who choose mediation or collaborative are generally looking to resolve things.
You don’t have to be best friends, or even on good terms. You just have to be willing to work through the process to get to the other side. As I often say, you don’t have to like each other, you just have to want to get it done.
Fighting Isn’t Mandatory in a Divorce
A lot of people think divorce means a fight. It doesn’t have to be a fight. In fact, it is usually better, financially and emotionally, if it isn’t a fight. 95% of divorce cases don’t go to trial, so you might as well work on settling sooner rather than later, before your legal fees really pile up.
At the end of the day, how much your divorce will cost is mostly in you and your spouse’s hands. The more you are both able to set aside differences and focus on resolution of your divorce, the less it will cost.
To schedule a consultation, call 978-767-8383. Or visit https://rrlawfirm.net