8 Tips for Reducing the Cost of a Divorce in Texas

A separation doesn’t have to drain your finances. Our latest blog offers practical and accessible cost effective divorce tips. From legal advice to personal finance tips, discover how to protect your assets and your peace of mind.

1.Educate yourself about Law and Assets and Debts

Learn as much as you can about Texas divorce and related issues. The more you know about the process the less money you will spend paying a Texas divorce attorney to educate you.

Research Texas divorce laws, whether through a local law library or the internet. BryanFagan.com is a comprehensive divorce and family law website in Texas. The site features many blog articles that answers questions regarding divorce and family law.

Reading the information on this site will dramatically improve your effectiveness and efficiency in interacting with your lawyer and negotiating with your spouse.

If your spouse handles the finances, you may not know what you own and what you owe. It would therefore be a good idea to:

1. Obtain a copy of your credit report to ensure that you are aware of all open credit accounts.
2. If necessary hire an appraiser to appraise personal and real property
3. Do some investigating to be sure that you are aware of all of your spouse’s accounts.

Get this FREE download about what you need to know before filing for divorce.

2. Mitigate Conflict

While there has most likely been conflict in your marriage leading you to divorce, do your best to manage your emotions and not escalate the conflict in the divorce.

If you want to keep your money instead of giving it to a lawyer, go to court only as a last resort. Try negotiation, try mediation, try arbitration, try settlement conferences but try not litigate.

You may win at trial, but at what cost? Litigation is destructive, expensive and stressful. Litigate only if you have no other option. Litigation is, unfortunately, necessary in some cases.

There are always case and people that just cannot agree. In such cases that is why there are Judges and Trials.

3. Consider Mediation or arbitration

Going to trial is expensive. While trial is sometimes necessary to resolve disputes, mediation and arbitration are alternatives to court and are almost always less costly. These processes are often quicker, as well, and can be less adversarial and allow for creative solutions that are not possible at trial.

4. Try and Narrow Down Your Disagreements

By getting a list of things you and your spouse agree upon first you may be able to save money and time by only focusing on the areas of disagreement with your divorce lawyer.

5. Control Your Emotions

In divorce, it is easy let your emotions take over and make all of your decisions. This is often a mistake especially if you are only fighting over property.

One example of this I witnessed was when I was in mediation and almost all issues were resolved but the husband and wife were fighting over a $200 kid’s bed. Both parents thought they should have it and would not budge. This argument went on for 3 hours. By time was done both parents could have bought the bed at least 4 times.

Lawyers can help you get past the issues on which you and your ex disagree, but if you are arguing over little things, the cost of the argument will likely be more than the cost of replacing whatever property you think you should have.

6. Do not become penny-wise and pound-foolish.

Example of this can be of this could be if your lawyer advises using a particular mediator because they believe that mediator could get the case settled refusing because you want to use the free mediation services provided by the county.

I have seen this happen a couple times and it has not worked out for the client in that the case did not settle and they ended up paying much more because the case had to go to trial.

Another example is relying on your spouse’s lawyer to do all the work. An opposing counsel has no duty to you and may even have a duty to act to your detriment when it is permissible and to the benefit your spouse who hired the lawyer.

7. Take advantage of your divorce lawyer’s support staff.

You can lower your own legal fees however, by avoiding long telephone conversations and unnecessarily long meetings with your attorney.

When possible speak with your attorney’s legal assistants and other support staff when. They will be able to answer many of you questions as long as your question does not call for legal advice.

Legal assistants can answer questions, direct you where to go for court, look up upcoming events, and schedule you with a time to speak with your attorney. They are an important part of your representation and should be utilized whenever possible.

8. Other Ways to Lawyer your Legal Fees

You can do the “homework” your houston divorce lawyer gives and bring them the documents they request. By doing this your lawyer will not have to research those things on their own and bill you for their time.

You can also take as reasonable a position as possible in negotiations in order to avoid protracted litigation.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, embracing cost-effective divorce strategies can significantly alleviate the financial and emotional stress often associated with this life transition. By focusing on amicable mediation, thorough financial planning, and cooperative decision-making, couples can navigate the process with financial prudence and dignity. These practical tips not only preserve resources but also foster a constructive pathway forward, allowing both parties to start their new chapters on solid ground. Remember, a thoughtful approach to divorce is not just about saving money—it’s about investing in a peaceful future.

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Other Articles you may be interested in:

1. 12 Texas Custody & Conservatorship Battle Tips
2. 6 Tips for Getting a Free Divorce Consultation
3. 6 Tips – On How to prepare for a Texas Divorce
4. 3 Tips on Things You Shouldn’t Do in a Texas Divorce
5. 15 Quick Tips Regarding Filing for Divorce in Texas
6. 6 Tips – On How to prepare for a Texas Divorce
7. Roadmap of Basic Divorce Procedure in Texas
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9. 6 Mistakes that can Destroy Your Texas Divorce Case
10. 10 Quick Tips About Parental Visitation
11. Does it Matter who Files First in a Texas Divorce?
12. Adding a Deceased Father to a Child’s Birth Certificate
13. Low Cost and Affordable Divorces, Attorneys, Websites and Divorce Costs in Texas
14. Will your child be able to receive Social Security Disability Insurance and Child Support after a divorce?
15. How Much Will My Texas Divorce Cost?

Bryan Joseph Fagan( Attorney )

Bryan Fagan, a native of Atascocita, Texas, is a dedicated family law attorney inspired by John Grisham’s “The Pelican Brief.” He is the first lawyer in his family, which includes two adopted brothers. Bryan’s commitment to family is personal and professional; he cared for his grandmother with Alzheimer’s while completing his degree and attended the South Texas College of Law at night.

Married with three children, Bryan’s personal experiences enrich his understanding of family dynamics, which is central to his legal practice. He specializes in family law, offering innovative and efficient legal services. A certified member of the College of the State Bar of Texas, Bryan is part of an elite group of legal professionals committed to ongoing education and high-level expertise.

His legal practice covers divorce, custody disputes, property disputes, adoption, paternity, and mediation. Bryan is also experienced in drafting marital property agreements. He leads a team dedicated to complex family law cases and protecting families from false CPS allegations.

Based in Houston, Bryan is active in the Houston Family Law Sector of the Houston Bar Association and various family law groups in Texas. His deep understanding of family values and his professional dedication make him a compassionate advocate for families navigating Texas family law.