Divorce is going to cost you – no doubt about it. Finding the financial resources to pay for divorce may take some creativity. In addition to the usual methods such as personal savings, borrowing from family, and seeking ways to cut back on discretionary spending, there is a new resource to check into. Some people are now paying for their divorce with “crowdfunding”.
For those unfamiliar with the term, crowdfunding is a way to raise money through the collective effort of individuals (mostly friends and family) who donate money via crowdfunding websites to a cause of some kind; in this case, your divorce. It allows for a large pool of people to contribute various amounts to help you pay for the divorce. You (or a family member or friend) can spread the word through social media platforms and email. It gives people who care about you a way to rally around you and support you.
One such fundraising platform is Plumfund, created by Sara and Josh Marulis. They first set up a platform for people to raise funds for their honeymoon, but have recently added “Divorce” as one of its sections. You can do an online search to find other crowdfunding websites, such as Funded Justice or GoFundMe.
The actual cost of divorce will vary depending on factors such as the following –
- what state you live in
- whether you plan to hire attorneys, a mediator, or an independent legal assistant
- whether you live in a large city (for example, divorce lawyers are more expensive in large cities)
In addition to the cost of hiring a professional to help you get the divorce, you should also plan for the costs of –
- court filing fees
- housing costs – one or both spouses moving to a new place, possibly selling the family home, setting up a new household
- professional help – financial counselors, therapists for the spouses and/or children, divorce coaches, etc.
One important way to reduce the cost of divorce is to plan an amicable divorce without litigation. If you and your spouse are in agreement on most issues and can commit to a peaceful, non-adversarial divorce, you can save a lot of money, time, and heartache. Divorce With Dignity is a network of divorce facilitators who help their clients plan their divorce and work out a negotiated divorce agreement. If there are still a few issues, we can recommend mediators who can help you through that. If legal advice is needed, we can refer you to lawyers who will consult with you on just the relevant topics. Need to find some other professional help? We can give your referrals for them as well. Finally, we will help you fill out the divorce papers and file them in the court for you. All of this will cost you thousands of dollars less than hiring attorneys to fight it out for you in divorce court!
Lowering your divorce costs by avoiding litigation can make it easier to reach your goal. Giving some consideration to crowdfunding to help in paying for the divorce might also bring your goal within reach.
For more information on how we can help, please visit our website and find a Divorce With Dignity professional near you to talk with.
The author of this blog is not an attorney and the information contained in these blogs should not be considered legal advice. The information provided here is based on the experience of the author and some of her clients whose actual names are not mentioned. Do not hesitate to seek the advice of an attorney if you have any legal questions.
