Cheap Divorce (lawyer, house, purchase)

[fred44]

They say that divorces are so expensive because they are worth it, but what would be the least expensive option here in NJ?

Say there are no kids, and it would be an easy 50/50 split.

I've heard mediators are a good way to go when the parties can work most things out on their own.

Anyone have experience with mediators, or if it's possible, simply filing your own papers? Where is a good place to start?

Thanks.

[Blue biker]

When I got my second divorce, I just priced a few lawyers in the county I was in when the 18mo was up. We had no property to divide, so it was just walk into court and the judge pronounced us divorced people. She didn't even get a lawyer, that divorce agreement is 1page. My first divorce was about 15pages, but there were child custody, visitation and support issues. Some people actually do their own divorce. It helps if you have someone help with the paperwork. If you've worked everything out on your own, you don't really need a mediator. In both cases I was separated for over 18mos and there were no property issues.

[doc1]

Originally Posted by fred44

They say that divorces are so expensive because they are worth it, but what would be the least expensive option here in NJ?

Say there are no kids, and it would be an easy 50/50 split.

I've heard mediators are a good way to go when the parties can work most things out on their own.

Anyone have experience with mediators, or if it's possible, simply filing your own papers? Where is a good place to start?

Thanks.

Do you both work and earn roughly the same amount of income? Do you have property? Is the separation amicable?

The answers to those questions will give you an idea how cheap the divorce may be.

Especially if one spouse has been the primary breadwinner.

[PDD]

Originally Posted by fred44

They say that divorces are so expensive because they are worth it, but what would be the least expensive option here in NJ?

Say there are no kids, and it would be an easy 50/50 split.

I've heard mediators are a good way to go when the parties can work most things out on their own.

Anyone have experience with mediators, or if it's possible, simply filing your own papers? Where is a good place to start?

Thanks.

An amicable divorce is the best way to go until one party talks to a lawyer. Then forgetaboutit.

Avoid lawyers at all costs because they will.

[MiamiLIFE]

Originally Posted by fred44

They say that divorces are so expensive because they are worth it, but what would be the least expensive option here in NJ?

Say there are no kids, and it would be an easy 50/50 split.

I've heard mediators are a good way to go when the parties can work most things out on their own.

Anyone have experience with mediators, or if it's possible, simply filing your own papers? Where is a good place to start?

Thanks.

If there is no property and no kids or little property of value and both parties want the divorce, just pick up the papers from the divorce court and file yourself - pro se. Cost you about $250 beans and you're done.

I never got married. I have no idea why anyone would do this. Worst business contract ever invented the marriage license.

[sivyaleah]

FYI even with a mediator things can get bogged down.

People can get seriously noncooperative when money is involved even if it seems to be an equal split of assets. In my case, my ex was going to get a major portion of ours as he rightly should have for reasons not going into here. No alimony (wasn't necessary), assets split evenly according to ownership, he got nearly all the personal effects we had accumulated over 10 years too. I just didn't have it in me to worry about tangible things. House proceeds went entirely to him as well since most of the money to purchase it came from him or his family.

However, suddenly towards the end of negotiations he balked and refused me everything which had already been agreed upon. Again, which was fairly minimal.

The only way it moved forward was by me literally getting up and walking out of the room, threatening to go to court if he didn't act reasonably - which would have cost him more. The mediator was able to talk sense into him to so we could move past the impasse.

Divorce is rarely easy. It's just human nature of some to be greedy and vengeful.

[Gerania]

Originally Posted by MiamiLIFE

If there is no property and no kids or little property of value and both parties want the divorce, just pick up the papers from the divorce court and file yourself - pro se. Cost you about $250 beans and you're done.

I never got married. I have no idea why anyone would do this. Worst business contract ever invented the marriage license.

or, file yourself and if you have any problems or questions, hire a lawyer for a 30 minute hour.

i liked being married...for a while.

[masterchef1]

I believe if you use a mediator you still have to hire your own attorney and your spouse has to also, to sign off on what you worked out, just to go over it and make sure one party is not being screwed, mediators are good if you have a lot of property and assets to divide, if you really don't have anything to divide you can probably just get the attorney.

[Ellwood]

https://www.completecase.com/online-...ivorce-papers/

[AlDente67]

A shovel and a tarp, or the nearest river. Has been working for 3000 years.

Seriously though, I can't tell you how many people let emotions jump in and make the entire thing a mess. And for no reason but to write checks to lawyers who have yellow pages ads.

Man up, or Woman up. Sit down and negotiate the items you both want. Be realistic.

Never happens, because each one wants to stick it to the other, but in the end, you stick it to yourself.