Tips for Saving Money during Your Divorce

By Sheryl Rentz on November 20, 2012

Divorce is an exceptionally difficult thing to deal with in more ways than one. Divorce proceedings can be especially challenging, but making the decision to control your divorce and not let it control you can empower you to make practical, effectual decisions to help you get through the process as smoothly as possible. One essential part of controlling your divorce is managing the cost, and The Huffington Post offers the following tips on how you can save money during this costly process:

1. Manage your communication: Don’t make your divorce attorney the primary means of communication between you and your ex in order to understand where your money is going. The attorney should do things such as inform you of laws and how it applies to your divorce, not ask your former spouse who will be picking up the kids from school.
2. Voluntarily exchange information about finances: It is extremely helpful to voluntarily exchange information regarding assets, debts, and income, which may help you save additional fees and avoid potential hassle. The alternative is exchanging formal discovery, which will require you to spend money with your attorney who will prepare documents for your spouse and have to review them when the information is returned.
3. Don’t ask for information you have access to: For information, such as financial records that you have access to, don’t ask your attorney to get the information for you when you can easily obtain it. For example, if all of you and your spouse’s accounts were jointly titled, don’t spend money asking your attorney to get the other side to provide copies of account statements that you can get yourself.
4. Only fight for things that you care about: People in a divorce may spend thousands of dollars fighting over a piece of property or an item that they don’t really want. Bottom line is, if you don’t care about it, don’t fight about it, regardless of how much your spouse wants it and how much you may not want them to have everything they want.
5. Be informed of what your attorney is doing: In order to ensure your best interests are being protected, make sure you know what your divorce attorney is doing and why they are doing it. Don’t be afraid to ask your attorney if something can be done less expensively or if the issue must absolutely be pursued, or tell him or her you will get the information they need instead of them requesting it.

Montgomery County divorce lawyer Sheryl R. Rentz understands the unique challenges of divorce and is dedicated to helping clients obtain a successful divorce settlement with the minimal amount of stress and financial strain. For professional assistance with your divorce, please call (610) 645-0100.