How Exactly Do You File for Divorce and What Are the Costs Involved? – Guest Post

Divorce is never an easy process, or a cheap one either. However, there are different ways in which you can go about getting divorced. If you’re considering taking this step and want to know how exactly you file for divorce, there are a few ways that can help you get on with your life after the end of your marriage.

Let’s delve into the details to file for divorce further: There are two general types of divorce that you can opt for – contested and uncontested divorce. Each will have its own costs associated with them and a varying amount of time needed to complete the process. In addition to these two options, there is also mediation as an alternative to court proceedings if both parties agree on all terms of the divorce beforehand.

Contested Divorce

A contested divorce means that you or your spouse does not agree to the divorce or does not agree on some of the issues related to the divorce. In a contested divorce, you need someone else to help you navigate the issues and find an agreement that works for both of you.

In this process, you will need to attend court and may need to hire a lawyer to represent you. You will also be expected to cover your lawyer’s court costs and fees. If you cannot cover these fees yourself, you can apply for legal aid. This entire process can take anywhere from a few months to a few years, depending on how long the legal proceedings take. Hiring divorce lawyers for a contested divorce can range anywhere from $15,000 to $100,000. In addition to the costs of the divorce itself, if you have children, you will be expected to pay for your children’s education, healthcare, and other expenses. You may also be ordered to pay spousal maintenance to your former spouse and, in some cases, their legal fees.

Uncontested Divorce

You can opt for this type of divorce if you and your partner can agree on all issues related to your divorce. You can decide to do this without the help of a lawyer or with the help of other professionals such as a mediator. The process for an uncontested divorce is quicker than that of a contested divorce. This is because you and your spouse can agree on the issues, which means fewer hearings and meetings and less paperwork.

However, you should still expect this process to take several months. Since you won’t attend court as often, you won’t have to pay the associated court fees and legal costs. You will, however, need to pay a filing fee of approximately $300-$400 and some other fees. The average uncontested divorce costs around $600.

Mediation

This is another way of getting divorced without having to appear in court. If you and your spouse agree on all terms of your divorce, you can use mediation to get a divorce by agreement. You can choose to do this on your own or with the help of a professional mediator. If you choose this route, you can expect the process to be quicker than if you go through a contentious divorce. The process can take anywhere between a few days and a few months, depending on how long it takes for both parties to agree. You will not be required to pay any court fees in this process. However, you might have to pay mediation fees, which average around $7,500.

Divorce is never a pleasant experience, and it can be an extremely stressful and costly experience as well. However, you do have options. Discussing your file for divorce case with a lawyer may help you determine how best to proceed so you can get the quickest, most inexpensive divorce possible for your situation.