How to Save Time and Money During a Divorce in Georgia

October 7, 2020 Awais Ahmed

The most common type of divorce in Georgia is an uncontested divorce, where both parties agree to the action and all the terms of their separation. An uncontested divorce is the least expensive and time-saving form of divorce. Nevertheless, contested divorce, annulment, and legal separation exist within the state.

Contested divorces tend to be lengthy and costly, which worsens the situation and increases the emotional suffering and negative impact of a divorce on everyone involved. According to research, on average, divorce costs range from $10,000 to $20,000 in the U.S. The result is a divorce industry worth $31 billion yearly. Georgia ranks in the top ten most expensive states to get a divorce with an average cost of $14,700. That cost increases to $22,000 when children are involved.

Divorce cases, especially where divorcees end up in court trials, leave the individuals worse off because of the financial burden of paying lawyers. Even simple cases, where paperwork and investigating information about a spouse are the main issues, can become quite expensive when lawyers are involved. That is why many couples opt for a do-it-yourself divorce without an attorney.

However, it is important to note that in contested cases involving property, support, or custody and visitation, where a lot is at stake, it isn’t recommended to represent yourself without legal help. That is why it is imperative for individuals in a divorce to clearly understand the nature of their divorce to know the best ways to save on divorce costs.

Court Divorce process in Georgia

Divorce involves the separation of assets or liabilities, the award of alimony when necessary, and a plan for taking care of any children from the marriage.

Divorce commences by one of the spouses (the petitioner) filing a complaint with the court. The complaint is subsequently served to the other spouse (the respondent). The respondent has thirty days to either file an answer or raise a counterclaim.

If the respondent raises a counterclaim, the parties go through a discovery period where spouses can ask written or oral questions between themselves or to third parties on the divorce. Motions are presented by the parties to the court, setting up the case for a final trial where a ruling is given. Permission to use other dispute resolution mechanisms during the process is an option, and the court permits it.

DIY Divorce

Do it yourself divorce, otherwise known as DIY yourself divorce, is an inexpensive form of divorce that saves both time and money in a divorce process. As the name suggests, the couple does everything on their own without the help of attorneys, financial experts, and other professionals.

There is a need for some indicators to proceed with this form of divorce. The spouses will need to agree on such issues as support, children/child custody, and property division for a DIY divorce to be a reasonable option.

When considering a DIY divorce, it is important to consider whether you have the time necessary to research state law, gather the paperwork, and appear in court.

Even though spouses may agree to the divorce, there may still be a need to evaluate if they can handle the emotions that come with the process. When there is anger or deception, there is no trust among the parties. If there is mistrust about assets, it is not advisable to use this approach. Therefore, a successful DIY divorce requires one to understand all the divorce circumstances and take the approach only when certain that it will not lead to any setbacks.

Web-based Divorce Service

Technology has cut across all industries. The result is fast, efficient, timely, and reliable services within the divorce industry. Web-based divorces tend to be more applicable for uncontested divorces. You can use online service for divorce like onlinefloridadivorce.com they offer clear guidance on divorce document preparation within any state.

Most websites allow you to answer a questionnaire to gather your details and then use the information to select and fill out all the necessary forms for your case. Once ready, the completed forms can be downloaded and printed or mailed to you for filing. Web-based divorce services require one to take some time to look across different service providers to pick the right one who will assist in handling the divorce process smoothly.

Use of a mediator

Mediation is an approach to divorce that involves the use of a licensed mediator who is impartial. The mediator’s role is to guide the spouses to a compromise without taking sides. Under mediation, the parties may choose to involve their attorneys. Documents on assets and liabilities are presented to the mediator, often accompanied by an affidavit for the mediator to understand the parties’ financial position. Mediators don’t offer legal advice. They only help in arriving at a mutual compromise.

Mediation is a cheaper and faster option than a trail. It is considered when court appearances may fuel animosity, on the onset of divorces when individuals tend to maintain a defensive position, and when spouses are financially strained from a prolonged divorce proceeding.

Use of Lawyers for divorce

Lawyers act as a gateway to a less painful process as individuals tend to leave the entire handling of any legal matters to the lawyers. However, it is expensive. So, if any individual intends to use a lawyer, they must be sure of the lawyer’s value to the divorce proceeding.

Lawyers may come in handy when one intends to invoke the law to attain their goals in a specific case and situations where there is abuse or other crimes. Though expensive, lawyers are often well informed on long-term apprehensions like imputing future income to a partner with an optimistic financial future. In instances where the divorce is a bitter one, and an individual may not be willing to face a spouse, correspondence will go through the lawyers’ office. The lawyer is also helpful when it comes to custody matters where the spouses may disagree. Even in the DIY divorce, individuals consult divorce attorneys to consider if they need a lawyer’s guidance for any part of the process.

When forced to litigate, what are the options?

Spending a lot on litigation is nobody’s aim. However, individuals find themselves in situations where they have to go through litigation. Under such circumstances, there are various things to consider. The spouses could opt for mediation to save on court costs and lawyer fees, they could work hard to settle things on their own, or they could leave everything up to a judge after a lengthy trial. Finally, one can also seek Pendente Lite Relief. This is the right to get temporary relief from your spouse, who may have more finances at their disposal than you.

Monitoring divorce finances

At the onset of a divorce process, an individual needs to consider their finances. Neglecting the issue of divorce finances may lead to dier post-divorce financial position situation. Divorce cases in Georgia differ on a case-to-case basis. Therefore it is important to understand your divorce case. The first step in monitoring finances is estimating the budget needed for divorce. Searching for an expert to offer guidance on estimates is crucial to list assets and liabilities owned individually or marital properties from investments, life insurances, individual checking accounts, mortgages, credit card debt, and back taxes owed.

Conclusion

Divorce is difficult and can drain an individual emotionally and financially. However, a well-prepared individual with the right support will wade through the divorce process with less strain than someone not conversant with the alternatives divorce processes and their impact on the entire process. No matter what type of divorce you choose, it is essential to consider your ability to handle the various issues at hand. Consider whether saving money and time will leave you better off or worse off after the divorce. When using a mediator, consider if you intend to reach a compromise at the end of the mediation. Finally, it is important to consider if a lawyer’s use is the only option you may have based on your divorce’s nature. Saving money and time is of utmost importance, but it’s also advisable to understand the impact of the alternative divorce approaches.