If you’re facing a divorce in Illinois, you have a range of competing concerns to address, and not the least of these is how much the divorce itself will cost. The terms of your Illinois divorce will directly affect your financial rights as well as your rights as a parent, which makes having skilled legal guidance key, but failing to balance the cost of your divorce with the outcome isn’t financially efficient. The cost of your divorce will hinge on your legal needs, which makes carefully addressing each of these paramount, and an experienced Illinois family law attorney can help you with that.
Understanding Divorce Cost in Illinois
The cost of your divorce will be based on your level of need. For example, if you and your divorcing spouse are on the same page regarding the terms of your divorce and you remain so throughout the divorce process, you’ll turn to your respective divorce attorneys to help ensure your rights are well protected and that your divorce proceeds smoothly, which shouldn’t add up to excessive legal hours.
If, however, there is one or more divorce terms, such as the division of your marital property or child custody, that is highly contentious, your case is far more likely to require more significant legal involvement and may head to court – both of which can increase the cost considerably.
Types of Divorce Cases and Their Cost
An uncontested divorce is one in which both spouses ultimately resolve the involved terms between themselves. Even when uncontested divorces drag on and require mediation, they tend to be less costly than contested divorces. A contested divorce means that one or more terms require the court’s intervention, which generally corresponds with the need for more legal attention and is likely to be more expensive.
A complicated divorce includes a complicating factor, such as high assets or challenging child custody concerns, and it has the potential to be quite costly.
Factors That Affect Divorce Cost in Illinois
The divorce terms every divorcing couple must address include:
- Child custody arrangements
- Child support
- The division of marital property
- alimony
When any one of these turns into a battle, the related legal cost is likely to rise. The more open you and your divorcing spouse are to effective negotiations, the better prepared you’ll be to manage the legal expenses.
Legal Fees and Other Divorce Expenses
There are basic filing fees and court fees that apply to every divorce and are nonnegotiable. Where you do have the ability to cut costs, however, is concerning legal expenses. Ultimately, keeping your divorce out of court and negotiating directly with your spouse – under the guidance of your respective attorneys – is the least costly approach.
Mediation can save you money over divorce court, but if mediation isn’t successful and you require both, it can increase the overall cost significantly. The best policy is balancing your legal costs with the level of legal protection you need.
Divorce Financial Planning and Budgeting
Moving forward with a divorce budget is an excellent approach. For example, if pinpointing the value of an asset requires a professional valuation for you to obtain your fair share, that’s an expense that’s worth taking on. If, on the other hand, your soon-to-be ex would rather turn your divorce into a battle than resolve any of the terms, heading directly to court may be a wise budgeting decision.
Consult An Illinois Divorce Lawyer about Your Situation
The seasoned Illinois divorce attorneys at The Law Office of Van-Lear P. Eckert, PC, appreciate the importance of keeping your divorce costs manageable, and we have the insight and skill to help. We’re committed to helping you pinpoint your divorce priorities and budget accordingly, and we encourage you to reach out for more information by contacting or calling us at 618-602-2419 today.