Divorce can be very expensive. Many people go into divorce concerned about the expenses associated with child support or alimony. However, the actual legal process of divorce itself can end up costing you tens of thousands of dollars alone.
Fortunately, there are some things you can do to ensure your divorce costs are as low as possible. Two good money-saving steps to take are to ensure that you do as much work on your own as possible and that you manage your communications with your defense attorney efficiently.
Why DIY?
Naturally, you will want to rely on your attorney for anything directly related to the law. It is not advisable to be writing your own legal briefs. However, keep in mind that divorce is essentially a civil lawsuit reliant on financials. This means that your attorney is going to need access to all of your assets, both marital and non-. If you have your lawyer do all of the legwork for this, it will take more time and cost you more money.
Anytime that your lawyer needs information, ask if you can fetch it yourself. You can save thousands of dollars this way. Spending some time organizing your assets can make your divorce faster, too.
Communicate well
Understandably, divorce is very emotional. However, you should seek support for this through trusted friends and family or professional counselors. It is a mistake to pick up your phone and spend an hour complaining to your divorce lawyer about your ex.
Some communications are definitely better over the phone. However, always stop and ask yourself if you could send an email instead.
