Luckily, most of us are not negotiating multi-million-dollar separations, and just a little effort can mean saving big. The less you do yourself the more you have to delegate, and that delegation doesn’t come cheap. So do your research, organize your finances and recognize that no one will be happy with who gets the dog. With just a little work it doesn’t have to be painful. Well, not that painful, anyway.
You’ve heard of DIY crafting? Well there’s also DIY divorce. It might not be as Pinterest-friendly, but doing the divorce yourself is the best way to save money, especially if your divorce involves simple assets and you’re still on speaking terms. Talk it over and assemble the necessary documents, and maybe hire a lawyer to give it a once-over before filing. For most of us with a simple financial situation this is an easy way to get things done.
If things are tense or assets confusing, however, consider hiring a mediator, a kind of separation guru there to help your divorce. Mediators don’t have to be lawyers--they can be anything from mental health professionals to financial advisors, or even just a third pair of eyes. This is a great way to get a third-party to help you divide assets without getting involved with nasty legal fees--mediators come at a much cheaper price, and because they’re hired by both parties, they’re not incentivized to delay proceedings for financial means.