Divorce is a tricky time in anybody's life and it can also be a very costly time, especially in the event that you don't know the process and can't afford an attorney to represent you. "Divorce is a complex legal process. It is ideal to be aware of what the process involves and what to expect as it evolves. The more informed you are, the fewer surprises there'll be," Steven Fernandez, a certified family law specialist and managing partner of Fernandez & Karney, APLC informs SheKnows.
And needless to say, those surprises Fernandez said may be exactly what wind up costing you more money when i need a divorce lawyer and have no money. However, there are ways to save cash and you will find (believe it or not! ) ) Below are a few tips for obtaining a divorce on a significant budget.
How to pay for a divorce lawyer with no money
Agree to agree
OK, this may not be an alternative for every couple, but before you rule it out, let us talk. Divorces tend to be expensive because partners struggle over each aspect of the split. Fernandez says a divorce will be not as costly when spouses put aside their differences and agree to undermine. "A judge will refuse to sign off to a divorce before all issues -- including property division, alimony, and child custody -- are resolved. A contested divorce, in which spouses disagree, will take longer to resolve and demand more resources," Fernandez explains.
"Spouses who can not agree on how their divorce must unfold will need to look to others for help where i need a divorce lawyer and have no money. This help is not always cheap. Professional witnesses, like therapists and forensic accountants, can be costly. Employing arbitration or mediation is another extra expense." He adds that negotiating the terms of the split independently before the divorce papers are filed is the number one way to cut down on costs. In case you and your spouse can not agree on anything else, perhaps you can agree you both want to spend as little as possible to divide? It's at least a good place to start.
Hire a Attorney to consult and guide you through the situation without having that attorney represent you in court
Divorce attorney, Christopher S. Hildebrand, informs SheKnows that some attorneys are more than happy to ghostwrite all of your divorce records and may even file those documents with the court on your behalf. "They can also supply you information on an'as needed' basis and provide you with alternatives to settle your case," Hildebrand says.
"In the event your case goes to trial, then you may have the option of hiring that attorney to represent you at the last divorce trial. This strategy can save tens of thousands of dollars on attorney fees that would have been charged if the lawyer represented you in most pieces of your divorce."
Hire a qualified paralegal to draft All Your court records
It is important that you know the laws that apply to paralegals drafting court documents in your state to ensure the paralegal you employ is approved to assist with your divorce. But, paralegals are prohibited from giving you legal advice in all countries," says Hildebrand.
Finance your divorce
Even though this might not be a wise approach for everybody, Hildebrand says divorce finance companies provide financing for divorce and other legal matters. "This strategy, however, presents the danger of accumulating a significant quantity of debt in a time when finances are already stretched to their limits. Incurring more money through financing your divorce like i need a divorce lawyer and have no money, therefore, should only be contemplated if you are assured of getting a sufficient quantity of assets from the divorce to repay that loan and still have enough money to proceed with your life after the divorce."
Ask for a reduced fee
Don't be shy to ask a divorce lawyer if he or she will do the job for free or at a discounted hourly rate or i want a divorce but have no money to pay for it. "Although most attorneys expect to get paid their regular hourly fee, there are times when a case looks so compelling to a lawyer that he or she will agree to take the case pro bono or at a significantly reduced hourly rate," Hildebrand informs SheKnows.
Consider mediation instead of litigation
"Mediation is preferable for many couples because it gives a means for parties to work out the financial and logistical aspects of their divorce without the stress and financial hardship of an adversarial approach," lawyer and mediators, Christina Daigneault, Esq. and Joan Pangilinan-Taylor, co-founders of Orchard Mediation, Inc. inform SheKnows. "It keeps the decision making in their hands, instead of a judge. In reality, mediation is roughly 70 percent cheaper than litigation, normally. Further, some mediators supply a pay-as-you-go procedure to couples. With this opportunity, parties can speed their procedure in a means which works for their own budget and schedule." Pay-as-you-go sounds achievable.
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