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Can Mediation Make My Divorce Cheaper?

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Can Mediation Make My Divorce Cheaper?

BLOG DM 6 Ways Mediation Can Ease the Divorce Process for Men PHOTODivorce is expensive, there is no way around that. The average cost of a divorce in the United States as of 2015 is somewhere in the range of $15,000-$20,000. This price can be prohibitive for some people, but there are ways to bring the costs down.

Mediation

Mediation is one of those ways. Mediation is a way for a couple to work through their problems to arrive at an agreement that both parties accept and find fair. Once the terms of the divorce are agreed upon, a divorce settlement can be drafted. The key to mediation, though, is the ability to work amicably with your spouse. Not every couple can do this, but it can drive down the costs of divorce. Some couples will use this method to avoid having to pay for an attorney, but even in those cases, it is still a good idea to have an attorney look over the final agreement to ensure that neither party makes a costly mistake; after all, some agreements cannot be changed once the divorce is final.

Collaborative Divorce

You might also consider what is called a collaborative divorce, which is similar to mediation in that you are working together with your spouse as well as separate attorneys for each of you. You might share an accountant or therapist, but lawyers cannot be shared. This is one way to avoid a lengthy and expensive litigation process.

Speak with an Experienced Denver Family Law Attorney

If you find that there is no way to be amicable with your spouse for the divorce proceedings, you may also consider arbitration, which is similar to going to court but is usually quicker and less expensive. You would pay an arbitrator to act as a judge and make all of the decisions a judge would. The best way to decide which option is right for you would be to present your case to a divorce lawyer.