If you are considering divorce in Arizona, one of the most common questions is “how much is this going to cost?” You aren’t alone! Unfortunately, the answer isn’t the same for everyone. There are a number of factors that affect your cost of divorce, including children, net worth, disputing spouse, and property divisions.

It’s important to have an experienced attorney to help you navigate this complex and difficult process. An experienced attorney will make sure your best interests are taken into consideration. Here’s what you should know about the cost of divorce in Arizona.

Cost of Divorce in Arizona

On average, you can expect a straightforward divorce with court proceedings to average around $5,000 to $10,000. If you have a higher net worth or property that is to be divided it will cost more. And for couples who simply cannot come to an agreement and need a judge to decide, costs could reach as high as $50,000 or more!

It’s important to understand the cost of divorce far exceeds the immediate financial costs. The ramifications of a high-conflict divorce can affect the emotional state of both parents and children. There may be long-term damage to your family members from the divorce.  You may not know how much the cost of that damage will be until much later. You may experience a loss of important relationships after your divorce.

Children can also experience a sense of instability. As the home dynamics change, schedules & routines change, and even in which school they attend changes, kids can become very emotional. The costs to your children, long-term, could be much more expensive than what you pay lawyers or other professionals.

How Much Does Divorce Mediation Cost in Arizona?

Although some mediators charge a flat rate for their services, most mediators will charge for their time on an hourly basis. According to Thumbtack and other sources, you can expect to pay anywhere from $200 to $500 per hour to hire a private mediator for divorce mediation services in Arizona. This expense is often paid from joint funds or shared in whatever other manner the divorcing couple agrees. There can be other fees and expenses associated with successful divorce mediation, including the preparation of documents to be reviewed by the spouses’ attorneys and/or filed in court. Depending on the complexity of the documents and the mediator’s hourly rates, this expense can range from about $500.00 to $2,000.00 or more. The court’s filing fees are separate and apart from the mediator’s fees for services rendered.

How Much Does Collaborative Divorce Cost in Arizona?

Divorce litigation can be extremely expensive, with lawyer fees ranging from a few thousand dollars to well over a hundred thousand dollars per party in complex cases. Although every case is different, couples who use the collaborative divorce process often spent a fraction of the legal fees that might be incurred for complex litigation. Also, most collaborative divorces can be completed in significantly less time than their litigated counterparts.

Visit BestLegalChoices.com for a list of professionals trained in collaborative process.

Other Factors That Can Increase the Cost of Divorce

Other factors that can cause your cost of divorce to increase include having minor children. This is one of the most expensive factors that can increase your costs. If your case involves child custody and/or child support issues, your costs could increase by as much as 50% if taken to trial.

Alimony can be another hot-button issue in a divorce. Often times, disagreements on how much the working spouse actually makes, as well as how much compensation the non-working spouse should receive are common. With the new tax laws taking effect in 2019, alimony will be a more difficult negotiation. If you decide to divorce in 2018, you can still take advantage of the alimony tax deduction.

Property and asset division issues between partners can also increase the cost of divorce in Arizona. High-net-worth couples with numerous properties can expect higher divorce costs as well. Due to the more complex financial analysis that these types of cases involve, final costs can reach as high as $50,000 or more.

Collaborative Divorce Options

As you begin the divorce process, you’ve likely come across collaborative divorce options. This is a relatively new law in Arizona that allows couples to “opt out” of divorce court. In most cases, a collaborative divorce can offer a wide variety of benefits for spouses who wish to separate. Benefits of collaborative divorce include:

• More control over the outcome of your divorce
• Private and confidential process
• Preserve family relationships
• Significantly lower cost when compared to traditional proceedings
• Non-adversarial approach treating all parties equally and respectfully
• Voluntary process where both parties are more likely to honor contract post-divorce

In most cases, a collaborative divorce is the best choice for couples who wish to have a private, amicable separation where all parties involved are focused on the best interests of everyone.

Collaborative Divorce is a Peaceful Divorce Option

Divorce litigation can be scary and emotionally draining for you, your spouse, and your children. But it doesn’t have to be that way with collaborative divorce. The collaborative process can result in a less expensive, more efficient, and less harmful outcome for everyone involved. One of the legal, financial, and communication professionals at Best Legal Choices can help you navigate this difficult time in your life.