Four Tips for Reducing Costs During Divorce

Some divorces wind up as lengthy and bitter courtroom battles, and when they do things can quickly get expensive. Our firm is known for protecting clients through aggressive litigation in court whenever needed, but we’re committed to putting our clients in the best possible position, emotionally and financially. This means finding the most cost-efficient way to end your marriage while still achieving your objectives.

After decades of experience handling every kind of New York divorce case, we have the following four valuable tips for those looking to end their marriage without incurring excessive costs:

• Pursue a settlement when possible — The best way to keep divorce costs down is by avoiding trial. Couples always have the right to negotiate or mediate their divorce, with the help of their attorneys, and reach agreement on issues relating to child custody, child support, alimony and property division.
• Don’t fixate on revenge or punishment — Your spouse may have cheated on you, lied about something or done other bad things, but don’t use the divorce process as a way of “getting back” at them. You can burn through a lot of money litigating to settle a score rather than focusing on achieving the best outcome possible. New York allows no-fault divorces, which are usually much simpler, allowing you to get out the marriage and move forward.
• Benefit from your lawyer’s experience — Your lawyer isn’t your boss and can’t force you to do anything, but it’s wise to listen to the advice you’re paying for. Working with an experienced attorney will give you an informed perspective on the relevant legal standards so you can make smart decisions about how to proceed.
• Organize your financial records — Divorce is largely a financial transaction; a huge percentage of your attorney’s time is devoted to organizing financial documents and seeking a proper allocation of property and debts. You can keep costs down by finding and organizing document such as tax returns, pay stubs, bank statements, credit card statements, retirement account statements and title records relating to houses, cars and other property.

The Long Island divorce attorneys at Bryan L. Salamone & Associates, P.C. do everything possible to control costs for clients while delivering the highest quality representation available. Cost control starts with a free initial consultation where we can learn about your situation and offer guidance on potential divorce paths. Start by calling our Melville office at 1.631.479.3839 or contact us online to schedule a meeting. We represent clients throughout Suffolk and Nassau counties.