In today’s society divorces have become more socially acceptable than they have been in the past. This has increased the divorce rate in the U.S. Couples may seek a divorce for several reasons. However, regardless of the grounds for divorce, divorce can cost a significant amount of money. Depending on the type of divorce a couple selects, it could increase or decrease the overall cost of their divorce. If you are seeking the dissolution of your marriage, please don’t hesitate to contact a trusted and determined Monmouth County Divorce Attorney who can help you choose the right divorce path for your situation.
What could affect the cost of a divorce?
There are several factors that could affect the cost of a divorce. Every choice a couple makes in regard to their divorce can either increase or decrease the overall amount. The following factors may affect the cost of a divorce:
- A contested or an uncontested divorce. The divorce path the couple opts to take can significantly impact the cost of the divorce. A contested divorce is a divorce where the couple cannot agree on all major issues including the division of assets, child support, property division, and other disputed issues. An uncontested divorce is a divorce where the couple agrees on all major issues and agrees on the terms of their divorce agreement. A contested divorce costs more than an uncontested divorce. In a contested divorce, the couple will usually have to pay a substantial amount of money in court and legal fees. However, in an uncontested divorce, the couple has already agreed on the terms of their divorce agreement so they can avoid lengthy litigation. This saves couples an enormous amount of money. Depending on the divorce path a couple chooses, it could increase or reduce the cost of a divorce.
- Divorce mediation. Couples may choose this alternative divorce procedure that avoids litigation. Since this method avoids litigation, couples do not have to pay as much for court and legal fees. Divorce mediation is a cheaper option than a traditional divorce. The purpose of divorce mediation is for an unbiased third-party to mediate the couple’s disputed issues and help them reach a mutual divorce agreement. Divorce mediation can cost anywhere between $3,000 and $8,000.
- Serving divorce paperwork. Every party who files for a divorce regardless of where they live must serve their former spouse the divorce papers informing them of the situation. Spouses may not want to involve their friends and family and instead hire a process server to serve their spouse with divorce papers. Typically, a process server will cost $100 for each attempt. If a spouse makes it challenging for the process server to find them in order to serve them, they may have to make a couple of attempts. This can increase the cost of a divorce.
- Over-utilizing an attorney. An individual may over-use their attorney by calling them for advice or to vent about the situation. The individual may not want to speak about divorce with their friends or family. This makes them turn to their attorney, however this will cost them a pretty penny. Each time an individual speaks with an attorney they are charged a legal fee. This can add up pretty quickly and increase the cost of a divorce.
If you are seeking a divorce, reach out to one of our experienced and skilled attorneys. We strive to achieve favorable results for our clients. We are ready to help you today.
