Saving Money by Getting a Cheap Divorce in Jacksonville, Florida
Divorce can be an expensive proposition. The average cost of divorce is between $15,000 to $30,000 dollars; that’s a lot of money for just getting married and then getting divorced!
But if you live in Jacksonville, Florida then there are ways for you to get a cheap divorce. Here are the top three ways to save money when getting a divorce.
Find a Cheap Divorce Attorney
It may seem impossible, but it might be easier than you think when looking for a cheap divorce attorney in Jacksonville, Florida. You can use google to find one. There are well over 300 divorce attorneys in the Jacksonville area. But some due offer Low-Cost, affordable services.
Mediation instead of Litigation
One way to get a cheap divorce is through mediation, instead of litigation. Litigation can be very expensive and one of the reasons it’s so expensive is that there are limited methods for discovery . In other words, if you want more information on what your spouse has, where your spouse is, what your spouse is doing, and so forth then you can only get discovery by paying a lawyer to ask the right questions.
Mediation allows you to directly ask that information from your spouse. Many spouses end up settling their cases via mediation because they want this chance for discovery information so badly.
Use Collaborative Law
Another way to get a cheap divorce in Jacksonville, Florida is through collaborative law. Collaborative law works by having both parties work together with their lawyers to give them the tools they need to settle their case. This combined with a cheap divorce attorney is the most frugal way to end a divorce amicably.
For example, if you want more discovery then your lawyer can go back and forth with your spouse’s lawyers until you have the discovery you need. If your spouse is hiding money somewhere then your lawyer can go back to the judge and request an order that asks a third party attorney to help track down this money.
And because both parties are working together with their lawyers, they’re able to be more amicable. This reduces confusion and makes it so that you have less legal fees to pay.
Use a Specialized Divorce Attorney
A third way to save money on a divorce is to hire a specialized lawyer. A specialized divorce attorney will usually help you get the answers you need when going through mediation, which in turn saves legal fees on both sides.
While this doesn’t always mean that you’ll end up with a cheaper divorce, it’s definitely something to consider. If you’re really trying to save money on your divorce then you’ll probably want to hire the right attorney for your case, but that doesn’t mean that a cheap divorce attorney isn’t as capable, or that they are lacking the education or experience to handle your divorce correctly.
Other Ways to Save Money When Getting Divorced
If you’re not above then there are still a couple of other ways that you can get a cheap divorce.
One way is simply to negotiate with your spouse. For example, if you have debt outside of the marriage then they don’t need to be responsible for it anymore . This reduces the overall cost of your divorce in general and makes it into the category of a cheap divorce.
Another way is to keep all of your assets separated. If you have an IRA account, for example, then this entire account should be separate from any assets that you have together with your spouse . This way if there is a divorce in the future, your money can’t get mixed up with your spouse’s money.
Negotiating and Property
The longer you spend fighting over property in your dissolution, the more it will cost you. Which means a cheap divorce needs negotiation.
The marital home, cars, and bank accounts are the most expensive items to fight over.
I have had cases where I am able to completely eliminate property division issues by the parties agreeing that they will sell their home, or some other property with a large balance on it, and divide the proceeds. Even if you divorce in Jacksonville without children your house could be a possible source of continuing arguments. The value of the marital residence can be an issue in determining alimony, and you may have to sell your property during the divorce process .
In Florida, a house is considered marital property if purchased within the first three years of marriage or if it was gifted to either spouse during that period. If you are divorcing after three years of marriage you can still make a claim for the house, but it must be considered marital property.
This doesn’t mean that both parties get an equal share right down the middle of the house; rather, what happens is that each party’s portion of the value is determined by appraisals and other factors like who paid for improvements, or debts that each party incurred during the marriage.
Now, if you have a house that is worth over $75,000 or so (in Jacksonville), it’s not unreasonable for your spouse to ask for half of whatever the house is worth. It may be possible to avoid this by agreeing that both spouses will share ownership of both property and marital debt, even though they’re still legally married.
This is probably a good idea and it may also allow you to avoid alimony in Jacksonville until the divorce is final. It’s sometimes better for both parties to value what they have now than to wait for the house or other property to be sold .
Divorce Court Procedures in Jacksonville, Florida
Every court has procedures and rules to follow when filing for divorce. If you are getting a divorce in Duval County, Florida, you can expect your divorce to be divided into three parts.
The first part of the process involves presenting evidence that there is a need for the judge to grant a divorce. This will only take place if the case continues after it’s presented and filed with the court.
Once all of the necessary testimony has been heard, then this should be made available to each spouse to review, but not until after the first part of the hearing has been closed.
If you are looking for a divorce in Florida then you can go online to find out more about the state laws, and get access to resources that will help you begin your case. There is an official website for Duval County where you can get step by step instructions and information.
The second part involves the judge making a decision regarding the property division, children, alimony and support in Jacksonville Florida. You must be prepared to go back to court for this hearing so that you know exactly what is expected of you and your spouse. At this point you may still have the chance to prevent the judge from making a ruling on your case.
If you are looking for a lawyer who is experienced with Jacksonville family law then you should call one of these firms today. You may have to do some searching in order to find one that is right for you but it will be worth it.
You can begin this process by going through the list of attorneys in Duval County for a free legal consultation on your case. You may want to talk to several of the lawyers and find out what their schedule is like before making your final decision.
Regardless of what you decide, it’s important that you make the time to get divorced. It can be difficult but there will still be an end to your marriage, regardless of what you are facing.
Once the judge makes a decision on your case then you have to accept it and move on with your life. If you don’t want any part of it then once again, there will always be an end; this is just another step in that process.
It’s important to remember that moving on after a divorce is one of the best things that you can do for yourself and your family. If you are looking for marital property division in Florida, then be sure to get the help that you need with this issue.
It’s never easy getting a divorce even if there are no kids involved but it will be easier as time goes on. The longer you wait to get divorced then the more time it will take, but no matter what happens in your case, there is a way out and you can finally move on with your life.
If you are looking for a lawyer who can help with an uncontested divorce in Florida then call our law firm today and we will guide you through the costs of a divorce.
There are many reasons why people decide to file for divorce. It could be that they have found someone new or it could also mean that their partner has committed adultery. The last thing you want is to get divorced because of domestic violence or serious drug use. Regardless of your reason, the courts will help you figure out what you want to do next.
Hopefully these tips on how to get a cheap divorce in Jacksonville, Florida have given you some insight into what you can do. Contact Divorce Attorney Adam Sacks at 904-396-5557 or fill out our form for a free consultation.
