Cost of Divorce – the shocking truth!
If you each use a divorce lawyer, you could spend $100,000 and years of your lives fighting while trying to find closure. Litigation is just not worth it. Keep it amicable!
Consultation Fees – You each pay a lawyer to understand your rights. Most lawyers charge a consultation fee.
A Retainer – These fees are usually in the $3,500 – $5,000 range and that is per spouse. These fees get the process moving forward and you are billed on average $275-$400 per hour (remember that is per person.) You keep “topping up” the retainer, over and over again, until your case is completed, or until you run out of money (which many do!)
Court times – This is where most of your issues will be resolved if you cannot come to agreement with your spouse. This can drag on for years and end up forcing you into bankruptcy.
Child custody – This is often the most expensive part of divorce. Child custody by itself could take years and more money than you have to resolve the issues. Between custody evaluations and a trial that may last for weeks, it could cost each spouse $10,000 to $20,000 to have a judge, who knows nothing about your family, make an order that neither of you will like.
So, the quest must be asked – Do you prefer to fund the college education of your divorce laywers’ children or your own?
Paying for your spouse’s legal fees – Yes, this can happen, so it could end up being a “double whammy.”
But there is good news – THERE IS A SOLUTION!
Have you run out of money paying your divorce lawyers? Or are you about to file for divorce in British Columbia?
TRY DIVORCE MEDIATION (an understatement)
Mediation can cut your legal fees down to a fraction of the cost and still get you a WIN-WIN resolution. But if you choose divorce mediation, you and your spouse have to both agree since it takes two to mediate.
Okanagan couples are finally realizing the enormous savings by using a divorce mediator. Kelowna Divorce Mediation has helped them recognize that putting their family’s interests first does not mean they must endure a 1-3 year court battle (or longer,) and spend their life savings on divorce lawyers.
There’s a good change you can do it, too, but you have to be willing to do the work. In as little as 2-6 months, you could have a fair, durable separation plan including a healthy parenting plan.
Why have a judge who knows nothing about you and your children tell you how you are going to live the rest of your lives? A judge’s order is far less flexible than a family agreement negotiated between you and your spouse.
On the Doorstep of Divorce, or do you need help in Rebuilding After Divorce?
Give us a call at
250.707.0928
, or
request a consultation.
About Kelowna Divorce Mediation Services
We are not expensive lawyers; we are family divorce mediators and rebuilding coaches . Our boutique divorce mediation firm has become Kelowna’s first choice when dealing with separation and divorce, and beyond. It is possible to reduce stress , time and conflict . Our mediation and rebuilding models educate and empower our clients, so that when you leave you have a document that will stand the test of time, and a process for rebuilding your life.
