What Factors Can Affect the Cost of a Divorce in Illinois?

 Posted on February 26, 2020 in Divorce

Divorce is a very emotional process. After all, you are leaving the person that you promised to spend your life with at one point. As much as divorce is an emotional process, it is also a complicated financial and legal process that can take quite a bit of time, sanity and even money to complete. One of the biggest stressors in marriage is money and it is not any different during a divorce. Depending on your circumstances and needs, your divorce could cost you anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars to upwards of $100,000. The cost of getting a divorce can differ for a number of reasons, some of which are in your control. Here are a few factors that can affect the cost of your Illinois divorce:

The Divorce Process You Choose

The type of divorce you decide to go with will greatly impact how much you end up paying for the process. In most cases, a litigated divorce will cost much more than other types of divorces. This is because a litigated divorce involves much more court time, attorney’s fees and court costs than other types of divorces. Other popular types of divorces, such as mediated or collaborative divorces, can cost less in the long run, depending on the level of cooperation between you and your spouse.

Whether Your Divorce Is Contested or Uncontested

Another factor, which is perhaps the most important factor in determining cost, is how amicable you and your spouse are. If you and your spouse are pursuing an uncontested divorce and you both agree on most issues, your divorce will cost significantly less than a couple who cannot agree on anything. This all comes down to how much legal guidance and support you need during your divorce. If you are in a highly-contested divorce, your divorce process is much more involved for everyone, which drives up the cost.

Whether or Not You Have Children

Couples who divorce with children often spend more money on divorce than couples who do not have children. This is for a number of reasons. First, couples with children automatically have issues they must address that couples without children do not, such as child custody and child support. Child-centered issues are often the root of much upset in divorce proceedings, especially if parents have differing opinions about what is best for the children.

An Elmhurst, IL Divorce Attorney Can Help You Understand Your Case

If you are thinking about getting a divorce, you may be wondering how much the entire process will cost you. While there is no way to come up with an exact final number, a skilled DuPage County divorce lawyer will be able to give you an estimate of the cost based on the needs of your family. At Weiss-Kunz & Oliver, LLC, our team has years of family law experience to help you complete your divorce in a cost-effective manner. To set up a consultation, call our office today at 312-605-4041.

Sources:

https://www.thumbtack.com/p/divorce-cost

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-much-does-divorce-cos_b_6143024

https://www.businessinsider.com/average-cost-divorce-getting-divorced-us-2019-7#if-you-and-your-spouse-own-property-together-the-cost-of-divorce-can-rise-even-higher-5