Divorce is an expensive process. Many people are not surprised by this due to the costs associated with child support and alimony. However, the expenses related to divorce do not stop there. Depending on how acrimonious your divorce ends up becoming and how high-asset it is, you may spend tens of thousands of dollars on the divorce process alone.
Fortunately, there are ways you can save, even during a divorce. To save big, it is a good idea to do as much work as you can on your own, and it is also wise to consider the ways you contact your divorce attorney.
I thought my divorce lawyer was going to do the work?
Your divorce lawyer should absolutely be handling everything related to the legal aspects of your case. Nobody is expecting you to prepare your own court brief. However, divorce is, at its most legal level, a financial issue. This means that your attorney is going to need access to all of your financials, so he or she will need things like tax statements and a list of your assets.
You will save a lot of money if you do this legwork to collect this information on your own. If you leave it to your lawyer, you will pay more money for that.
What should I know about communicating?
Divorce is financial, but it is also emotional. You will certainly need support during this time. However, emotional support should come from trusted friends, family and community members or trained therapists. Keeping your lawyer on the phone for hours will end up being very expensive. Before you pick up the phone to call your lawyer, it is wise to consider whether you could send an email instead.