When it comes to divorce, every party blames the other for wrongdoing. In California, this is not the case. Since California is a no-fault divorce state, no one can blame the other their wrongdoings as the bases of divorce. If your marriage relationship has come to an end, either party can decide to file a divorce complaint. Whether you decide to reach a settlement on your own through a mediator or go to court, there will be some expenses incurred. This brings up the question of how much does a divorce cost in California. With the help of a divorce lawyer Chula Vista, knowing the cost or any other issue that may crop up during your divorce may be easy.
Factors That Influencing Divorce Cost
Every divorce case is different. Thus, determining the cost of divorce will also vary depending on the circumstances of each case. This may depend on:
- Whether you will hire a lawyer and how much the lawyer will charge: Experienced attorneys tend to charge more. There is no surprise; their probability of success is high
- Whether you have children: If you have children involved, both of the parties will either be required to provide child support. The amount will depend on the amount of income each has. This is the same case if one is required to provide spousal support.
- The number of assets or debts that will be divided during a divorce.
The above also dictate why some divorce cases are costlier than others and how long a divorce may take.
How To Lower The Cost Of Divorce
When coming up with the divorce decision may pose a potentially and expensive process, especially for those who don’t have any legal advice. Again, the information on the internet is overwhelming, and you can get the wrong advice within no time. It would help if you had some legal advice to understand the laws in your state and also your rights and responsibilities. If you want to spend less in your divorce, you can agree on:
- Collaboration/Mediation: If both parties agree to mediate, they can look for an experienced mediator. The best way to approach this is to have some legal advice guide you on how to go about the process. This is because mediation is not for every divorce
- Having uncontested divorce: According to research, uncontested divorces have much lower costs and are faster compared to contested ones.
It’s extremely difficult to articulate how much a divorce will cost at the onset since there are many issues involved. With the above, you may have your divorce cost low if you consult an attorney to help your review or prepare the agreement you have made. The only disfavor you can do is to choose to have self -representation. This may end up escalating the total cost. You will spend more time, as your amicable separation will have turned sour to require a trial. A trial will be another added cost on top of other divorce expenses.