5 Ideas for an Inexpensive Divorce

Divorce can be costly. Many people spend thousands of dollars every year to end their marriages. In America, where the divorce rate is still between 40 and 50%, the divorce industry is worth $50 billion annually. This is an insanely high figure. But does divorce have to be so expensive? Is there a way to cut down the costs of divorce? If you would like to save yourself from falling helplessly into debt to end your marriage, keep reading. There are a few things you can do to have an inexpensive divorce. 

Divorce doesn’t have to cost a fortune if you follow the ideas below.

1. Online divorce 

If you would like to have an inexpensive divorce, getting an online annulment is one of the cheapest, fastest, and easiest ways to do so. There are many professional online divorce companies to choose from. A simple Google search will bring up a few of the best. Why is using an online divorce service inexpensive? Well, for starters some companies offer packages from $139! This is incredibly cheap and affordable. The cost of a traditional divorce is $15,000 per couple, and in some cases, $30,000 or more when it involves a long drawn out trial. 

Besides the services being cheaper, you also save money by being able to file for a divorce at home. You won’t need to leave home to see a lawyer, which means you won’t need to take time off from work. Or if you have children, you won’t have to spend money on a sitter. Even though this seems like a small expense, everything adds up eventually.

How does online divorce work? It’s really simple. You fill out an online questionnaire to see if you qualify for an annulment online. Once this has been done, the company will use the information you provided to send you the proper divorce papers. The best thing is that this is done within 24-48 hours. That is fast. In some cases with a traditional divorce, you might have to wait a few days. You are not the only client of your attorney, so you might need to wait a while. Once you have your forms, all you need to do is fill out the paperwork and get your supporting documentation. This would include things such as marriage certificates, birth certificates if you have children, your social security number and a list of your assets and debts. The online divorce company will tell you exactly what supporting documents you need. If you have any questions, customer service will gladly help you. Some online companies even offer attorney assistance at an extra cost to help you with any legal problems that you might have. Once everything has been done, you will then need to file your divorce papers by taking them to your local courthouse. Some companies might even file your paperwork for you, at an extra cost. 

Online divorce is for you if:

• You want an inexpensive divorce

• You have an uncontested, easy divorce

• You want to save time

• You and your partner agree to all the terms and conditions of your divorce

Online divorce is not for you if:

• You have a complicated or contested divorce

• You and your spouse can't agree on how to divide assets, debts or can’t agree on child custody

2. Don’t go with the first attorney you meet and make your time count.

If you need to use an attorney, don’t go with the first one that you meet. Shop around for affordable attorneys. Some attorneys even offer free consultations. Sometimes using paralegals is also a good option. Paralegals are capable of preparing the paperwork for you, and they charge less than a regular attorney. Once you choose your attorney, remember that they charge per hour. Some can even charge up to $500 an hour. So when it comes to time with your attorney make it count.  

How can you make your time count?

• Be organized - If you have all your documentation in the correct order, you will know where it is and what to give your attorney. This will help you save time.

• Don’t use your attorney as your psychologist - This is an important tip to have an inexpensive divorce. Many people use their attorney as their best buddy or psychologist. Don’t do this. The more time you spend talking to your attorney about how you feel and what went wrong, the more you’ll be charged. Stick to only talking about the relevant legal issues of the case, and nothing more. 

• Write all your questions down on paper - By doing this, you will save time. And saving time saves you money. You won’t forget to ask a question if you have all your questions in front of you. Forgetting to ask something means having to make another appointment to see your attorney costing you more money. 

3. Have a DIY divorce

A do-it-yourself ("DIY") divorce can be cheap and easy, but it’s not for everyone. By choosing a DIY divorce, you run the risk of doing something wrong, causing you to have to start the entire process all over again. You could also write the wrong thing in an agreement, affecting you for years to come. 

If you do choose a DIY divorce, you can get free divorce papers online, or pay a small fee, depending on where you get your papers. Most local clerk’s offices have their own sites where you can download your divorce documents. Once this is done, you will need to fill out all your paperwork and serve your spouse. When everything is ready and you’ve collected all your supporting documentation, you will file your paperwork at your local clerk’s office. The court will charge a filing fee at the time of the submission. The filing fee is usually $400 or less, depending on in which state you live.  

A DIY divorce is a really inexpensive way to get a divorce, but depending on the complexity of your case, it may be a good idea to have an attorney check your paperwork before you file your documents. This is especially true if you have children. 

4. Get your spouse to pay for the divorce

If your spouse is well off, they might consider paying for the entire divorce. This doesn’t always happen, but you never know unless you ask. If you don’t have money, but your spouse is well off, they might consider paying for you, to get the divorce finalized more quickly and with less overall hassle.

5. Try to avoid going to trial at all costs.

Going to trial is not only emotionally draining, it is financially draining too. Taking your divorce to trial can push the cost of your divorce up terribly. In some cases, as mentioned above, people have spent over $30,000 by taking their divorce to trial. To avoid a trial, you could use a mediator to help you come to an agreement on any unresolved issues. Mediation is a much cheaper and quicker option. On average, mediation lasts 2 -3 days and costs 40 - 60% less than litigation.

There you have it. These are a few of the best ideas to have an inexpensive divorce. The extra money you save could be used to go away for a small break to heal from the pain of your divorce and help you prepare for your new life after divorce.

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