Divorce can be an expensive process, especially if the couple is unwilling or incapable of working together and communicating. However, there are some strategies you can implement during your divorce to help keep costs down.
Here are a few examples of some of those cost-saving strategies.
- Avoid a trial: Trial divorces will be significantly more expensive than alternative methods, such as mediation or collaborative divorce. Mediation will generally save you the most money and it allows you to maintain control over the results of your case.
- Get organized: If you have a thorough understanding of your finances and have all of your records already organized, the discovery process will take significantly less time, which means less money spent on legal expenses. Getting organized can save you quite a bit of money.
- Use email with your attorney: As much as possible, opt for email communication with your attorney instead of phone calls. The more time your attorney has to spend on your case the more money you can expect to pay, and phone calls take up more time than emails. That isn’t to say you should never call your attorney; just be honest about whether this is a simple issue that could be resolved via email, or if it’s an in-depth issue that requires a conversation.
- Try not to pay for appraisals: If possible, try to avoid paying professional appraisers, as this can result in major fees. Use the Kelly Blue Book value for vehicles, and ask a realtor to give you a comparative market analysis for your home.
- Divide household items: You and your spouse should divide up household items in your home as much as possible. This will save time and money in your divorce case, as you can instead use attorney time to focus on the larger assets and issues.
For more divorce tips, contact an experienced Minnesota divorce attorney at Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A.