A huge mistake that people make in divorce is underestimating how expensive the process itself can be. Many people get tunnel vision regarding child support or alimony, but divorce itself can cost more than a house, potentially.
Fortunately, there are multiple strategies you can engage to save on your divorce. According to Debt.com, two of the best tips for saving money on your divorce is to do as much of the legwork yourself as you can and make sure that you monitor the ways that you communicate with your attorney.
Am I supposed to be my own attorney?
No. Your divorce lawyer will be responsible for everything directly having to do with the law. However, divorce is first and foremost a financial institution. This means that your lawyer is going to need as much information about your finances as possible. For instance, they are going to need information about your assets, as well as tax returns and other relevant items.
While you may not be able to write your own legal brief, you can certainly look up your own bank statements. Try to do as much of your own legwork as possible as this will save you a lot of money.
What about communication?
Be thoughtful when reaching for the phone. Of course, there are certain issues that are probably more expediently dealt with using live conversation. However, remember that your attorney likely works on a billable hours system. This means that the more time they spend on your case, the more the divorce will cost.
Before you pick up the phone, think about whether you could just send an email.
