People contemplating divorce often feel anxious about the costs involved. They know that they have to split their property and that they may have tens of thousands of dollars in divorce-related expenses. People frequently try to control divorce expenses by limiting their reliance on professionals.
Some people put themselves in a difficult situation by trying to pursue the process on their own initially, only to encounter complications that require the support of a professional. Others hire lawyers, but they may intentionally avoid working with any outside professionals during the divorce process. For example, they may decline a request to attend mediation because they assume that paying another professional increases the overall cost of their divorce.
While it may seem counterintuitive at first, the reality is that successful divorce mediation actually reduces overall expenses. When spouses understand how mediation can limit divorce costs, they may be more open to settling their disputes outside of court.
How does mediation save money?
Paying an outside legal professional in addition to both lawyers may not seem like a cost-effective solution. However, contrary to what people might assume, the services of a mediator can drastically reduce total divorce expenses.
When looking at what divorce costs on average, litigation is the main factor to consider. The more issues that spouses have to present to a judge for review, the more they pay for the divorce. If spouses disagree on financial support, property division and parenting matters, their divorce could cost far more than most other divorces.
Uncontested divorces, on the other hand, are often far more cost-effective. Mediation helps people control their costs by providing them with an opportunity to resolve their disagreements outside of the family courts. The ability to establish a nuanced divorce settlement and to control the final terms can also be very appealing to those facing contentious negotiations.
Provided that both spouses approach the process in good faith and make a reasonable attempt to work together, they can significantly reduce how much they pay for the divorce. If they reach an agreement, they can integrate the details of their agreement into a binding contract. The terms of that agreement then guide their uncontested divorce filing.
Understanding how divorce mediation can actually save couples money may inspire people to explore this option. Spouses who work together can control how much they spend to divorce and can also retain more control over the outcome of the divorce process.