[WorldKlas]

Years ago I had a cheap divorce. We walked thru the house with a clipboard, negotiated and noted “who gets what stuff.” Then we settled who would get custody of the child. Then we found a divorce mediator to draw up the documents and settle issues regarding sale of the house and child support. It was quite smooth.

25 years later my son had a brief first marriage and it also ended in divorce. He offered her a paid off car and one of the dogs. He bought a form at a business store like Staples to document their deal. They then went to one of those $500 cheap divorce lawyers and executed the divorce.

The key is both parties agreeing on the terms and sharing someone to file the papers. Its basically a non-contested divorce. If you and your spouse cannot agree to terms, expect a messy and expensive divorce regardless of who is at fault and who makes the money.

Here’s a like that explains the service of divorce mediation. Don’t know anything about this company, however. http://nevadadivorce.co/las-vegas-divorce-mediation/

[duke944]

Define no assets - do you rent, owe more than your vehicles are worth and basically have junk furniture? you have no money in the bank? If you both want the kids there is no way this is going to be a quickie divorce. Worst case she keeps the kids and you keep working and paying alimony/child support and you are broker than you are now. Get a lawyer.

[EA]

Rent. Owe 28k on a 22k vehicle. Got my couch from work for free. Enough in the bank to pay bills. No stocks. No bonds. No savings. The most valuable thing I have is my camera and I still owe 95% on it.

[LRWalker]

I hate to be a downer here, but I was a paralegal for over 25 years, and I can pretty much guarantee that because she has no job, no other visible means of support and no work experience you will probably be ordered to pay some form of support for a time to be determined by the judge.

[EA]

Originally Posted by LRWalker

I hate to be a downer here, but I was a paralegal for over 25 years, and I can pretty much guarantee that because she has no job, no other visible means of support and no work experience you will probably be ordered to pay some form of support for a time to be determined by the judge.

5.5 years at around 250 a month. I've looked into all the aspects of it I can. I just haven't found any consensus online about the actual costs.
I know lawyers advertise X amount of dollars, but there are hidden costs in everything.

[soclose]

Originally Posted by EA

Well, we have no assets.
She wants the kids but is too lazy to do anything so I will be pushing for them.
She has no job history, no skills, and doesn't do anything around the house.

Where did you find her?

[TexasRedneck]

Do nothing by verbal agreement. If it's not in writing and part of the decree, it's not binding - and can come back to bite you BIG time. Spend a little now, and save a LOT later - been there, done that - and have ALL the t-shirts!

[robojester]

Divorces are expensive because they are worth it!

I'm sorry you're going through this old friend

[NLVgal]

First, try everything possible to work on saving your marriage. I've done divorce twice and it's very painful.

As far as legal information goes, here's how it went for me when my son was a minor:

In Nevada, parents will be granted joint legal custody, barring something horrible. One parent will be granted primary physical custody, and visitation rights will be set by the judge, unless agreed upon in advance. Be as generous as possible with visitation because access to both parents is very important. You have as good a chance as she does for getting custody. This isn't California, and wives don't necessarily get custody by default.

If it's still the same process as it was back then, your children will have to visit a counselor in private. You will both have to take a co-parenting class, though not together. Someone has to pay at least minimal child support. No waivers on that.

They will divide assets and liabilities based on income generally. If you **** off the judge by bickering, he will grant you ownership of the wife's favorite possession, and give her your project vehicle. They don't want to hear about who did what to who.

Hoping for a good outcome for you, EA

[yellowsnow]

Originally Posted by EA

Well, we have no assets.
She wants the kids but is too lazy to do anything so I will be pushing for them. I have the job, house, car, etc.
She has no job history, no skills, and doesn't do anything around the house.
I have a large number of character references as well.
So other than that, it should go smoothly.

If you are going to fight over the kids, or anything else, you can forget about doing it on the cheap. The cheapie divorce is for people with no assets and no kids. And if what you are saying about her is correct, she is going to fight for the kids because she needs child support to survive. And custody of the kids may give her the house too. You have a lot to lose. Get the lawyer!