You swore to stay together no matter what. Years after you realize
it's just not working; so you think of getting a divorce. While you are
contemplating about this, you might as well think about the costs of divorce before you make up your mind.
Many couples who are planning to live their separate lives fail to
think about how much it will cost them to get a divorce. What most of
them think is that this process is as easy as filing a case, appearing
in court, signing papers, and voila! But the truth is this: the cost of
divorce alone can impede married couples from dissolving their marriage.
The following are some of the costs that you must consider when getting a divorce.
Divorce Kits
You do not really have to hire a lawyer to get a divorce. That is if you and your spouse have no children and have nothing to argue on. A divorce kit, priced from $25 to $70, contains legal forms that you can fill out. Such forms include details about real estate, alimony, personal property, and name change. When the documents are filed in the court, an explanation for the filing is then made before a judge. When the judge signs the papers, the divorce then becomes final. Unfortunately, not all states in the U.S. accept the kit as valid.
Using a Lawyer
Couples hire a lawyer when the divorce is disputative. The lawyer
will work to ensure that child support; alimony, assets, and other
things are covered and handled fairly. Attorney's fee here is generally
higher ranging from $100 to $450 an hour. However, when the couples have
agreed on all the terms, the lawyer just works to be sure that all
other issues are addressed. In such a case, legal fees are lower. So as a
rule of thumb, the more emotional and complicated the divorce is, the
more you have to pay for lawyers (i.e. the lawyers will spend more time
on your case).
Other Fees
Other than the lawyer's fee, one has to also spend on court-related
matters such as the initial filing fee and subpoenas. Court fees are
also paid each day of the trial for the preparation of witness,
discovery, and temporary orders.
In some cases, lawyers may
also charge for travel expenses, phone calls, photocopying, and faxing.
It is important to note that telephone conversations with your lawyer
will be clocked and charged to you as well.
Long-Term Costs
The costs mentioned above are just for a short-term period. The real
and long-term costs start when the divorce has been approved and when
one has to start giving child and spousal support every month. Today it
is more common than ever for women to be the primary breadwinner; this
means that a woman can end up paying alimony and child support to a
former spouse. In some cases, especially for those who have an average
income, divorce can also result in a drastic lifestyle change. That
means that one has to also adjust with a reduced income because there
will no longer be a spouse to share expenses. Additionally, one must
consider that assets that were gained during the marriage (even though
thought to be owned separately) could be subject to division by the
courts.
Divorce never comes cheap. Thus, before you make up
your mind on dissolving your marriage, think ahead of how much this will
cost you. Other than the emotional struggles you have to face, the
amount you will spend in getting a divorce is a serious matter.