Divorce & the Economy 2009

Many couples are finding it hard to get divorced with the current economic downturn. While it may be difficult to pay for the legal fees that usually accompany the dissolution of a marriage, it is good to know there are some alternatives that mey be suitable for any couple. These include using your state's forms for divorce or using mediation.

Practically all states have divorce forms you can use to do your own divorce. Many of these states also have help centers as part of their judicial system to help parties with the forms. In some states, you can download the forms for free; in others, you may have to pay a minimal fee. Since you do all of the work, there are no legal fees unless either of you wish to consult an attorney before using them or to review what you and your spouse have prepared. Of course, you will still have to pay for the filing fee charged by the court for starting the action, but even here you may be able make arrangements to pay the fee in installments since many states give you this option to pay filing fees.

A second option is to use mediation. If you've read any of the other entries in this blog, you know that mediation uses a third party neutral person to help a couple reach an agreement that takes care of all matters pending between the parties, including issues of child support, time-sharing, and division of property and debt. Because parties usually pay an equal portion of the mediator's fees, the cost of mediation is usually a lot less than the legal fees that would be incurred by the couple if each had an attorney representing them.

Both of these alternatives have always been available and have always made sense in the context of family divorce or post-divorce litigation. It's just that current economic conditions are forcing couples to consider them more closely and look at their situation in a more practical manner.