Ending a marriage can be very costly and painful if done in a huff, but it can also be economical if planned out well. Estranged couples anticipate a very expensive, long, and stressful divorce process that it makes one wonder if there is really such a thing as “low-cost divorce.” Before you make hasty decisions in severing your ties with your spouse, it wouldn’t hurt to foresee the painful facts first surrounding divorce.     

Ironically, the cost of a divorce may be as much as the cost of a wedding — it could overshoot your anticipated expenses along the way despite that you’ve already set a budget for it. So how do you keep your cost low when filing a divorce?

Knowing where all the money goes during the divorce process would make you see where you can possibly cut expenses and save you some moolah. The first rational question to ask is: Who do you first consult with after you and your spouse have agreed to a divorce? Probably the most popular answer is your lawyer. However, if you want to go the most inexpensive route and you have enough time in your hands, then do the cheapest and easiest way — Do all the paperwork and negotiating yourself. And no, it’s not as hard and complicated as you imagine. There’s a website called www.toponlinedivorcereviews.com that offers all the state forms and kits you’ll need, including step-by-step form guides that are authored by lawyers. These divorce forms are printable, providing you all the help you need in filing your divorce papers with ease and convenience.        

If you think your case is relatively amicable, another practical alternative is to go through mediation. In this process, you and your spouse shall hire a mediator who is practicing family law to oversee your negotiations. It is important to find a competent mediator that you and your spouse respect and believe in to make sure that you arrive at a fair and reasonable settlement. Should you and your spouse struggle to resolve a few issues involving financial and custodial arrangements, the mediator will be there to help you reopen the dialogue and provide you with probable alternatives until you come up with a viable agreement.   

With the two options of resorting to either Mediation or DIY divorce kits, you get to cut cost on legal fees, making your divorce process a lot cheaper.  Although it’s a sad truth that getting a divorce can be quite painful and messy, it shouldn’t necessarily be a pain in your pocket. Should you and your spouse fail to settle on your own and would need to go to court, you still have ways to keep the costs low. Bear in mind that the moment you turn the courtroom into a battleground, it could cost you and spouse an emotional and financial battle you’ll both lose. What you say can be used against you so play your cards right. Remember to keep all necessary documents handy.

Low-cost divorce is possible if you know and follow the smarter options available for you. You can find so much help from a website like TopOnlineDivorceReviews with relevant resources such as divorce guidelines, kits and forms that you can just download and print. Utilizing all these easy-to-use resources will make you realize that you can get a divorce without breaking the bank. In a very important life decision such as divorce, choose your options well.