This is the first post of a series dedicated to one large golden egg weighing on everyone's mind when beginning a divorce, going through a divorce or even considering a divorce…money. How do you lower costs in a divorce? How expensive is a divorce? Can a divorce be inexpensive?
Although you can't escape some costs associated with obtaining a divorce in Georgia, there are a few actions during the divorce process YOU can take in order to control or even reduce the cost of the divorce.
For starters, a number one way to lower your divorce costs is to pick your battles. Some battles aren't worth the war time and money. Don't fight over pick-up and drop-off times for visitation when the real fight should be the well-being of the children. Don't fight over a house neither of you can afford when the best interests for both of you would be to sell the marital property and split the net proceeds. These divorce issues, although valid in heart, can easily drain your retainer overnight. It is often difficult to separate emotion from reality; but, it is in your best interest to maintain a level head and focus on the resolution rather than the battle. The Atlanta Divorce Team believes if you allow these minor arguments to exist, you will end up spending more money during the divorce process than what can potentially be gained post-divorce. Time is money. If you must fight, remember to make it over meaningful facts. Resolving issues without divorce attorney intervention is a definitive cost cutting method.
How do you know when to pick your battles? There are four major areas of divorce to consider: Child Custody, Child Support, Alimony and Equitable Division. Review our articles and determine your non-negotiable items and negotiable items. This will provide you with a starting point as to what battles loom on the horizon and what items can be easily settled with minor negotiations. Divorce hurts…but it doesn't have to be nasty.