How much does a divorce cost?

Marriages can fail for several reasons. Regardless of why the marriage didn’t work out, divorces can cost a significant amount of money depending on the circumstances. If you are seeking a divorce, reach out to a determined and skilled Nassau County Divorce Attorney who can help you through the complex divorce process.

What factors could effect the cost of a divorce?

Several factors could affect the cost of a divorce. Every choice the couple makes in regards to their divorce can either increase or decrease the cost of the divorce. Some of those factors include:

• Contested vs Uncontested divorces. A contested divorce is a divorce where the couple cannot reach a mutual agreement on major issues including the division of assets and child custody. An uncontested divorce, on the other hand, is a divorce where the couple reaches a mutual agreement on all major issues. Contested divorces are significantly more expensive than uncontested divorces because they take less time. Uncontested divorces can be finalized in as little as six weeks. Additionally, they can also avoid litigation which saves couples a substantial amount of money in legal fees. Depending on which route a couple chooses either contested or uncontested, it will affect the cost of the divorce.
• Filing a divorce petition. When an individual files a divorce petition they will have to pay a court fee. After the divorce petition is filed, they will have to serve their spouse with divorce paperwork. Once they are served, they will have to pay a court fee when they respond.
• Process server. As mentioned above, individuals who want a divorce must serve their spouse regardless of what state they live in. Sometimes individuals hire a process server to serve their spouse’s divorce papers. Typically, this will cost around $100. An individual’s spouse may make it hard for the process serve to find them in order to avoid being served. This results in additional costs as a process server is paid each time they  attempt to serve them.
• Divorce mediation. An alternative route some couples choose is divorce mediation. The process of divorce mediation involves an unbiased third-party who helps couples resolve their disputed issues to reach a mutual agreement on the terms that will apply to the termination of their marriage. The average cost of divorce mediation is between $3,000 and $8,000. This can help keep the price of a divorce relatively low. When divorce mediation concludes and the couple reaches a mutual divorce agreement, they will have successfully avoided litigation. This saves couples a significant amount of money as they avoid court fees. This is because couples typically are charged legal fees by the court and their attorneys.
• Over-utilizing an attorney. Sometimes individuals do not want to talk to their friends or families about their divorce which leads them to rely heavily on their attorney. Every time an individual calls their attorney they are charged. This can add up if the individual consults their attorney too often.

If you need help with your divorce, please don’t hesitate to contact one of our dedicated attorneys. With years of experience, we can help you make smart decisions that save you a substantial amount of money in legal fees. Our team is ready to help you today.