A wedding in the United States costs on average more than $26,000. This doesn’t include the honeymoon. (Source: Average Wedding Cost) Add raising kids at a cost of $233,610 per kid and the cost of your family can be very, very high. (Source: It costs $233,610 to raise a child) Surprisingly, even with the high rate of divorce in America, people think very little about the cost of divorce until it is upon them.
Most Americans are shocked at the many tens of thousands of dollars it can take to get a divorce. In my experience, a contested divorce can be anywhere from $20,000 to $100,000 for the average couple in San Diego County. (This figure is based on the averages I have seen in my personal practice back when I used to litigate.)
Contested divorce expenses are usually higher because of high legal fees. People often overlook other “hidden” divorce expenses like the cost to refinance or sell a house. Not to mention reorganizing their social security, so that they are covered for when they retire and visit a Florida, New York, Illinois Social Security office, or any other region to make sure that they are prepared. Additionally, there can be increased costs for couples to have anything close to the same lifestyle they had before the divorce.
Moving to different households means that couples can’t pool their resources and efforts as they did before. When you are buying two gallons of milk instead of one, life just costs more. Finally, it is hard to put a price tag on the emotional toll on the family in tears, sleepless nights, stress and worry that are just part of an adversarial divorce.
Conflict Is Expensive
All in all, divorce expenses in adversarial or litigated cases with a divorce lawyer are worse because conflict is expensive. Conflict simply costs more than harmony. Spending money to fight, investigate, litigate and generally be adverse simply drives up the price tag.
Conversely, peaceful options for divorce such as collaborative divorce or mediation can help keep divorce expenses in check. At my family law office in Solana Beach, California, the average divorce mediation cost falls anywhere between $5,000 and $9,000.
Of course, the costslargely depend on the complexity of the case and the level of conflict. As a mediator, folks pay me for my ability to help manage and resolve disputes. When the conflict is higher, that means I have more work to do, which, in turn, makes it cost more.
Want to hire a mediator to negotiate your divorce agreement? Call us at 848-410-0144.
Divorce mediation cost is generally less than going to court. There are several reasons for this.
Divorce Mediation is Cheaper Because of Informal Discovery.
At court, formal discovery is one of the most costly elements of a case. In a divorce mediation process, discovery is often done informally with much lower costs. A divorce attorney can make tons of money off of depositions, demands for production of documents and interrogatories, each of which requires specialized formal responses at a high hourly rate.
In mediation sessions, parties choose less costly approaches to value assets than in litigation. Agreement puts an end to the need for forensic purity. If the parties agree on a valuation method, or even a value, then there is no need to hire a costly expert.
Divorce Mediation is Cheaper Because The Parties Drive the Process
In mediation, parties drive the process as opposed to court where the lawyers control everything. In litigation, you pay for time spent on the case at the lawyer’s hourly rate. If your attorney is the ones driving the bus, then the bills will pile up.
In contrast, divorce mediation encourages the divorcing couple to drive the process and do a lot of the work themselves. The mediator is there to guide and facilitate, but the parties make decisions.
It’s still good to bring in lawyers, but in mediation the lawyer’s role is more consultative than directive. You can use your consulting attorney on an as-needed basis and avoid paying her to run the entire case. Get your legal advice and make your decisions with the information you need. But let mediation keep costs down by keeping the lawyers out of the day-to-day management.
Divorce Mediation Cost Is Low Because There Is Less Involvement with the Courts.
In a litigated case, there is a lot of interaction with the court. Lawyers file motions and must attend hearings. Any interaction with the courts will cost you in billable hours.
Plus, courts are overburdened and slow. A simple issue can take months to resolve. Formal legal rules and procedures add to the costs by forcing your attorney to do more work. This is why getting a good lawyer, like those at Sisemore Law to name an example, is important.
In contrast, mediation cuts down on the need to interact with the court. In my mediation practice, I can resolve most concerns in a fraction of the time that a court would take. This keeps the divorce mediation cost lower. Less formality translates to faster outcomes and fewer billable hours.
Divorce Mediation Cost is Low Because It Reduces Conflict and Reduces Emotional Damage
You really can’t put a price tag on the human cost families feel when parties litigate. Divorce is tough enough. Litigation can actually make the conflict worse.
For example, children suffer as a result of the conflict. (Aside from therapy bills, your children may have a lifetime of emotional cost if exposed to conflict.) Instead of fighting, reducing the conflict by finding solutions to problems greatly reduces the impact on the kids.
Also, people going through a divorce feel a huge amount of stress as it is. Conflict just adds to that stress. This takes us to things like religion, in which so many people find comfort and peace. Having faith in something may restore your faith in other aspects of your life. Prayers are also a common form of reassurance, especially for struggling couples. Read up about goodnight prayers for couples if you think religion may be the answer. With a resolution through mediation, people are more knowledgeable about how to resolve issues without harming each other, their children, and others, while experiencing peace.
Does mediation sound like the right process for you? If so, then give us a call at 858-410-0144 to schedule your first session now.
In fact, some are much better than others. What’s more, a bad family mediator can cost you a lot of stress and money in the long run. Good conflict resolution requires a very specific set of skills. In other words, it’s best to get a mediator as your neutral third party who knows what she is doing.
In California, there are no licensure requirements for mediators. So, it’s buyer beware to some extent.
Here are some questions to ask a divorce mediator:
#1: How much mediation training has the mediator had?
Training is really important. Good mediators have a specific skill set in working with parties to resolve their differences. These listening and communication skills are crucial to a case going well or poorly.
Make sure your mediator has sufficient training and has received continuing training too. For example, if they just took a course 15 years ago without getting updates, they will probably lack crucial skills.
Looking for divorce mediation training?
Check out Family Resolution Institute here
for more information.
#2: What other professional credentials does the mediator have?
Make sure your mediator has professional know-how beyond just a one-time mediation training course. Typical mediators are either lawyers, mental health professionals or financial professionals. They should have a working knowledge of the family law issues you are going to face.
When drafting a settlement agreement, it is often helpful to have a lawyer serve as your mediator. Mental health professionals are excellent for custody cases or cases where emotions are high. Financial professionals help a ton with money issues. If there is no other underlying credential, you might want to look elsewhere.
Also, be careful of unlicensed professionals. For instance, just because someone has a J.D., they may not necessarily be a licensed attorney. You certainly don’t want a disbarred attorney as your mediator. If they don’t have an active license, ask why.
#3: Is the mediator a full-time mediator, or a dabbler?
It’s best to get a mediator who mediates on a full-time basis. Be careful of dabblers. A person who mediates full-time takes the profession seriously.
People often get into trouble if they hire a person whose full-time job is as an adversarial attorney or a therapist, for example, who may only mediate now and then. Such folks will likely not have the skills you need to get results.
#4: Beware of one-day or super cheap processes.
Marriage is not an easy thing to unwind. Be careful of mediators who promise results in one day or some other very short time period. Chances are, you will feel rushed, and your settlement will not cover what it needs to cover. A good process typically involves several mediation sessions.
Also, be careful of super-cheap mediators. In many cases, you really do get what you pay for. There can be lasting consequences if you rush your divorce process and miss something important. Spend the time and money to get it right!
#5: Ask the divorce mediator about his/her process and conflict resolution style.
Every mediator is different and may have a different style. Some mediators are much more facilitative while others are more directive and evaluative. As a result, the relationship with your mediator is very personal.
A mediator who is excellent for one couple may not be so good for another. So take the time to get to know the mediator, her process, and style before you agree to mediate.
Very importantly, don’t rely on your mediator for legal advice. Even if your mediator is an attorney, he can’t be YOUR attorney because of conflict of interest concerns. So it is always smart during any mediation process to consult with a lawyer to ensure your decisions are informed.
It’s important to know the right questions to ask a divorce mediator. Hopefully, these tips will help you with the mediator selection process.
At Weber Dispute Resolution, we provide both collaborative law and mediation services. To get more information, give us a call at 858-410-0144.
You can control how angry and hurt you remain after your divorce. Using principles of forgiveness during divorce will help you control divorce emotions and move on.
Almost every divorce involves a situation where somebody did someone wrong. Or… at the very least, someone feels like someone did somebody wrong. Sometimes I feel like I am living the B.J. Thomas song, “Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song”.
The reality is that divorce sucks. It hurts a lot in fact. As a California divorce mediator, I used to hide behind the excuse that California is a no-fault state and what happened to lead to the divorce is legally irrelevant. But the no-fault concept misses the point that divorce is more than just a legal process; it’s a human experience. If you require legal help through the divorce, here’s what to expect from their services – https://www.benchrestgallery.com/how-a-divorce-lawyer-can-help/.
Divorce Causes Real Pain: The Need to Control Divorce Emotions
The parties to a divorce are real people with real pain. Often a case just won’t settle until the parties can process their divorce emotions, hurt, and pain. This can almost always be made easier once you are in touch with a Family Attorney, because not only do they advise you on your rights, but they are there there for you when you are at your most vulnerable to protect you. They can help you focus, and process your emotions.
I don’t mean to minimize the pain of divorce emotions because I know it is very real. However, one can find that place where a person can let go of the anger and hurt in order to move on. Forgiveness during divorce and after really is possible.
Don’t Be a Monkey
Perhaps you have heard of the fable of the monkey trap. Apparently, you can take a jar with an opening large enough to fit a monkey hand and fill the jar with cookies. The monkey then comes along, inserts his hand through the opening to grab a cookie. However, because his fist with the cookie is now larger than the opening to the jar, the monkey can’t remove his fist and is trapped. Rather than rationally letting go of the cookie, the monkey will remain trapped indefinitely.
There is at least some truth to the story as shown by this video about a hunter capturing a baboon with a similar strategy:
Similar to the monkey who won’t let go, we tend to hold onto our grudges. By holding onto our hurt and anger with a clenched fist, we can become trapped until we figure out to let go. Similar to the monkey, it’s hard to escape a divorce situation without learning to also release the clenched fist. A person might finish her divorce, but will still carry the pain into the post-divorce life and even into the next relationship.
Forgiveness during divorce is an important way to release anger.
Buddha said, “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.” Anger and the search for revenge rarely help anything. They certainly don’t bring peace.
If you find yourself consumed with anger when you think of your ex, consider letting go. Make a conscious decision to forgive the other person. Notice that I am not suggesting that you allow anyone to cause you harm again. I simply suggest that forgiving and letting go of the anger will help to control divorce emotions. It will go a long way to finding peace.
Remember, forgiveness during divorce is an exercise that only the injured person can control. It does not require the wrongdoer to pay for what he did to you or to apologize. The other person does not even need to be sorry. Your forgiving and letting go is entirely up to you. It’s not easy, but it is completely within your control.
If you find forgiveness during divorce difficult to achieve and find that it gets in the way of moving on, consider discussing the issue with clergy or mental health professionals. Those former professionals can dig up the Church Resources and help you with solutions on how to proceed in life. Perhaps, hearing such practical and reliable advice could be something that you need at this point. Until you can control divorce emotions and let go of the anger, you, like the monkey, will be stuck. If you have employed one of the Denver law firms to assist you through the divorce process, they may be able to offer you some support too.
If you think forgiveness during a divorce is too hard, you are wrong. It is reachable. There are tons of examples in the world of people who forgave the unspeakable and made their lives better. See the examples below:
Sometimes it is most difficult in divorce cases to divide personal property -the “stuff” accumulated over the years of a relationship. When people share their lives with each other, they also share and accumulate a lot of personal property. Sometimes the task of dividing the household furniture, furnishings and appliances can be a real struggle. Not only can it be difficult to physically divide and value the assets, it can be a real emotional rollercoaster.
I mediated for a divorcing couple recently, who had their most difficult struggles dividing the pots, pans, furniture, washer, dryer, stereo and those little knick-knacks they picked up at the swap meet over the years. Worse they were on the “pack rat” side of things so they accumulated a lot of things together. Each item represented something important. One piece of artwork reminded them of their romantic vacation in Mexico. The silver they had purchased together to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. The little statuette on the mantel was a gift from their child. All through the house they saw many symbols of their relationship and all that they had invested in each other. As a result, a task to divide personal property was extremely painful.
Here are some tips to help you divide personal property:
Understand that the court would only award a household asset at garage sale value.
Unless it is a Steinway Grand Piano or a rare piece of artwork, the chances are high that your stuff is not worth nearly what you may think. While you are looking at the values of things, think of what you would, as an objective outsider, pay for the item at a garage sale or a flea market. Be careful not to allow emotions to “inflate” in your mind the value of the flatware or the coffee maker. Yes we know that the teddy bear collection is absolutely adorable, but honestly, what would a third person really want to pay for it. Use common sense and don’t allow your emotions to cloud things for you when you divide personal property.
Do it yourself.
It is really not cost effective to pay your attorney $300 plus per hour to fight about who gets which couch or who gets the bath mat. If it’s a high dollar asset such as expensive artwork or collectable antiques, you may want to use your professionals. But, for most things it makes more sense to save the money and do it yourself.
Do an inventory first.
It’s a good idea early in the process and before you start dividing things to make a list. If time is a problem, I often recommend going through the house with a video camera and speaking about each item as you tape. You can then go make your list later.
Make a list to divide personal property.
In fact, make several lists. I suggest four columns. Column 1 means he gets it. Column 2 means she gets it. Sell everything you list in column three and divide what money you get equally. Column 4 is for those things in your closet to throw away or donate like the polyester suit in the closet, your old beta video tapes or the pile of Louis L’Amour novels that you haven’t read in twenty years. Notice, I am not including a list for items about which you cannot agree. I am a big believer in using the old Solomon method. If you can’t agree on who gets it, then sell it or donate it. You simply can’t afford, for most items, to spend the time arguing and spending money on your attorneys. One idea, if you are stuck, is to just take turns picking items you can’t agree on until they are gone. Another idea is to give extremely sentimental items as gifts to your children.
Make a plan for photographs and videos.
I recommend that you choose a date when each of you will make photographs and videos taken during the marriage available to the other. The person making the photograph or video available will allow the other to choose which ones he or she would like to duplicate. There are services available that can duplicate photographs and even restore some of them for you for a reasonable fee. You can also convert your old vhs to digital so that you both can keep a copy of your videotapes with yourselves. With today’s computers, scanners and printers, you might be able to do a lot of this yourselves. Each of you should share equally in the duplication costs.
Pets, according to the law, are property.
I have had many clients tell me how their pets have become nearly as important to them as children. They are often surprised to learn that the court deals with them not as living things so much as property. Few courts will entertain a pet “custody battle.” Remember, a court has the ability to truly play Solomon with your pets and order them sold. I advise parties to do everything they can to work it out relating to the pets. Do everything possible to consider your pets’ needs and do what is best for them rather than allowing them to become an issue of property division.
Be careful if there is a history of domestic violence.
In cases where there has been domestic violence, sometimes it is difficult to sit together and divide personal property. In such instances, it is probably advisable to go ahead and use your attorney as at least a go between. Naturally, if there are restraining orders in place, it would be impossible to meet face to face. But the same ideas described above apply. It is just you will need to make arrangements to inventory the house without the other being present and with proper legal arrangements. Don’t violate a restraining order just to get some stuff out of the house.
I have had many clients tell me that the process of dividing the personal items was a healthy cleansing process.
One client told me, it was nice to get rid of some of our old, useless stuff and start over for a fresh, clean break. If even after following these steps, a couple still finds it difficult emotionally, I recommend making use of a divorce coach, who can even come to your home while you do the division. Typically using a single divorce coach is much more cost effective than using your attorneys to divide household items.
If both parties approach the task to divide personal property with a fair, patient and open mind they will likely be successful in doing the division with little to no attorney intervention. The court’s are particularly happy when parties can reach agreements on their own. Parties should be careful not to allow the division of things bring unnecessary conflict. Remember, they are just things and not people.
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Divorce Expenses
In mediation, parties drive the process as opposed to court where the lawyers control everything. In litigation, you pay for time spent on the case at the lawyer’s hourly rate. If your attorney is the ones driving the bus, then the bills will pile up.
