How Long Will My Divorce Case Take And How Much Will It Cost?
Someone who wants to end the marriage relationship may have lots of questions in their minds. One of these burning questions is how long their divorce will cost and how long it is likely to take. An experienced divorce lawyer will likely tell you that such questions have no definite answers. There are so many factors that come into play. It will depend on whether you have contested or uncontested divorce, whether you have children, assets, or debts, among other issues.
How Much Your Divorce May Cost
According to statistics, most people who choose to be represented by lawyers always worry about how much their divorce will cost. It makes sense because one has a future to plan for. If you find a lawyer who is charging way less than others, the reason could be because they don’t have the adequate experience needed or are desperately looking for clients. Statistics from nolo shows that an average person is likely to pay around $12 900 while the median cost of divorce is$7500. The cost is inclusive of all the services given for the whole divorce process. Meaning, there is the lawyer’s fees include, court costs, and the costs of all other experts needed for a successful divorce case. There are so many reasons why the cost of divorce may be high. The reason why there may be a massive difference in the cost for different divorce cases is due to disagreements arising from:
- Child support: Even though there are formulas to comes up with the figure for child support, still issues arise as to who will cater for private tuitions, child vacations, etc.; such arguments could lead to spending more money for depositions, among others.
- Child custody: Child custody arguments are the most challenging issues to tackle. If one parent decides that he/she is the one to keep the children, an evaluator must be present to ensure both parents’ fairness.
- Division of assets and debts: A good number of divorcing couples with children issues also have property division issues. Hiring a separate financial evaluator is not easy. These arguments lead to more time being spent as well as the cost for accountants or appraisers. Resolving child custody or child support issues requires someone to advocate on your behalf to ensure your child’s best interest.
Parents who have disputes from the above may pay more and spend more time completing their divorce cases. And this makes divorce expensive. Without legal representation, one may end up spending even more than they anticipated. Again, one may not be conversant with the law and may not know the loopholes to avoid and protect their rights. To have a smooth divorce process, one may consider looking for family lawyer in Brampton.
How Long Will The Divorce Take?
How long a divorce case will take is one of the pressing questions on divorce. The period taken from when the petition is filed to when the divorce decree is granted differs depending on each case’s circumstances. On average, some divorce cases, especially the uncontested ones, may take up to 12 months to be completed. However, the period may be longer if the case moves on to trial.
How Do I Cut Down The Cost Of Divorce?
There are so many ways a person can do to lower the cost of their divorce. Some of them include:
- Have uncontested divorce: If you and your spouse can agree on the terms related to your divorce. This is a clean way to ensure you reduce the expenses related to your divorce. Besides, the process taken will be much faster and could take between 4 to 6 months.
- Look for a lawyer: One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to step into your divorce process without legal advice. Having a legal representative is the only you can ensure your rights will be protected. Even if you may not afford to hire a lawyer for the entire divorce process, having one to consult for a fee would be much better. With an experienced lawyer, you can save on divorce costs.
- Choose to mediate or collaborate: Mediation and collaboration are two main ways that divorcing couples can choose to reduce divorce costs.
Decisions can be made together with the help of a mediator. The purpose of mediation is always to ensure both divorcing couples contribute to the divorce agreement. In case both spouses agree to have mediation, they still find it useful to have a lawyer guide them throughout their process. This helps to ensure the final agreement is legal and serves to serve each party’s best interest.
If you are wondering how much your divorce will cost and how long it will take. It would be better to consult an experienced divorce lawyer. Each case is different and will require you to have an understanding of your rights and responsibilities.