That largest cost of any divorce is almost always the amount you pay to your divorce lawyer.
So how can you control that cost? Here are 3 major ways you can take control of that cost.
1) Shopping around and doing your homework before hiring a lawyer can save you thousands or tens of thousands of dollars in divorce lawyer fees. If you truly want to save money then you will "bargain" shop like many people do for christmas presents. All attorneys are not the same and their rates and billing arrangements are not all the same. It is better to exercise patience and take your time finding for a good lawyer who knows divorce well and charges a reasonable fee for his or her services. Always remember the wise old adage, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
2) Speak with your spouse and reach an agreement on your own to bring your case to a reasonable resolution if at all possible. It's best not to let your attorney sway you from what you believe to be a reasonable resolution that you can live with simply because your lawyer doesn't agree. Remember that this is your life with your spouse. When it comes to what is "reasonable" for a resolution to your marriage, your lawyer may know the law but only you know what you consider reasonable for a settlement. Ultimately, the longer your divorce takes, the more money the lawyers make and the less money and property you end up with.
3) Remember to tell your lawyer that you want the lawyer to talk to you about each action to be taken in your divorce and how much time it will take or how much it will cost you for the work to be done. If possible have the lawyer put it in writing, even if it is only via an email. If you don't want the action taken then make sure to inform your lawyer in writing whether you would like the action taken or not. Ultimately, your lawyer is your guide through the proceeding, but as the client you have the ultimate right to make decisions over what happens in your case. If you hand the case over to the lawyer and things aren't clear between you and your own lawyer, then don't be surprised if your divorce lawyer starts filing motions and sending out documents that may not be needed at all. You could save yourself a lot of money by preventing your divorce lawyer from doing work that is not necessary in a case if it can be resolved early simply by communication between you and your spouse or exchanges of offers and counteroffers until you arrive at a settlement.
The worst thing you can do is to simply hire a divorce lawyer and turn everything over to him or her and expect that things will be done the way you would like them done.
Leave a comment