Planning a divorce can be stressful, emotional, and, unfortunately, expensive. You’ll need to pay for an attorney and court fees, possibly hire a child custody expert, consult with a tax advisor, and obtain a real estate appraisal. Costs can also increase if you need to rent an apartment or buy a second set of furniture and clothes for your children.

Fortunately, working with the right lawyer can help keep the costs down. Lyons & Associates, P.C. are experienced divorce attorneys who can help you determine the best type of divorce for your situation. Here’s what you need to know before you begin planning your divorce.

Planning for A Divorce: How Much Does a Divorce Cost?

Money and divorce go hand-in-hand. Arguments about finances are a top reason for divorce. Unfortunately, the divorce process can be expensive.

Several factors can increase the cost of your divorce. Is it uncontested? Does your lawyer charge per hour, or can you hire them on retainer? Do you have children?

Some of these factors are situational, and you won’t be able to influence their cost. However, others depend on your choice of lawyers and mediators and whether or not you and your spouse can agree.

Contested or Uncontested

If you and your spouse can agree to an uncontested divorce, your costs will decrease significantly. To ask the court for an uncontested divorce, you and your spouse will need to meet the following qualifications:

• No pretrial proceedings, including discovery disputes
• No major disagreements about child custody, alimony, property division, or visitation schedules
• There is a signed property settlement agreement which discusses the terms of your divorce

An experienced divorce lawyer can help you determine if you are eligible for an uncontested divorce.

Child Custody

Outside of financial disagreements, child custody and visitation schedules are some of the most hotly contested aspects of divorce proceedings. If you and your spouse cannot agree on custody, you will need to work with child custody experts to determine legal and physical custody of your children.

Once you’ve worked out the details, usually in mediated sessions with your lawyers present, you’ll need to work out the child support costs.

Note that these agreements take time to form. If your divorce involves multiple children, and you and your spouse cannot agree on a custody arrangement, it’s likely you will have to pay your lawyer a retainer fee up front rather than by the hour as you go through the process. In New Jersey, it is not permissible to charge a flat fee for matrimonial matters, whatever the arrangement, the longer it takes to reach a conclusion, the more expensive it will be.

Property Division

Nothing combines divorce and money like property division in a contested divorce. Particularly if you share a mortgage or share multiple high-cost assets, your costs will rise to include a real estate appraisal.

An experienced divorce lawyer can help you find an appropriate, unbiased real estate appraiser and help you determine the best financial division of property between you and your spouse.

Arrange a Consultation With Lyons & Associates Today

Even in an uncontested divorce, a lawyer can help ensure you file your paperwork correctly and that your agreement is equitable.

In a contested divorce, you and your spouse must have separate representation. Lyons & Associates, P.C., is led by Terry Lyons, a talented divorce attorney who received her master’s degree in social work. The largest divorce firm in Somerset County, Lyons & Associates, P.C. boasts the most cases of any law firm in the Somerville courts.

Call Lyons & Associates, P.C. at (908) 575-9777 or contact us online to arrange your free consultation and learn more about all your options for your divorce.

• Category: Divorce