Many people who are going through a divorce concern themselves with how much they will need to pay in child support or alimony. However, the divorce process itself can end up costing tens of thousands of dollars.
Fortunately, there are ways to be thrifty about your divorce. According to Forbes Magazine, one of the best ways to save money on the divorce process is to choose a collaborative divorce over a trial divorce.
Why are collaborative divorces cheaper?
Collaborative divorces can save a lot of money because they cut out a lot of necessary legal personnel. For example, in a typical trial divorce you will be dealing with multiple lawyers, judges, paralegals and legal aides. All of this professional assistance can become expensive.
On the other hand, collaborative divorces do not take place in a courtroom. Rather, each party will have their own lawyer and discuss the terms of the divorce over a conference table. Not only can collaborative divorce save you a lot of money, but it also tends to be faster than trial divorce. Furthermore, you will have more active say in the terms of the divorce with a collaborative approach as opposed to leaving everything up to the final decision of an impartial judge.
What are the downsides?
In order for collaborative divorce to work, both parties need to be on reasonably good terms. If you and your ex-spouse cannot be in the same room without an argument, it is unlikely that you will be able to collaborate effectively. Furthermore, if you worry that your spouse may try to bully you out of your needs, it may be better to choose a trial divorce.