Cost of Divorce

Colorado divorce costs vary from case to case. The reason is that several case-specific factors will impact how much divorce costs, so there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Instead, it’s better to know what divorce costs usually include, as well as the factors that influence those costs and how they may apply to your situation.

Common Divorce Expenses

No matter how friendly or fiery a split between spouses may be, there are some divorce costs that are unavoidable. These can include (and may not be limited to) the expenses associated with:

• Court filing fees: While filing fees have to be paid to initiate a divorce and file the response, there are also court fees to file subsequent motions or petitions. In a complicated case, court filing fees can be a somewhat recurring divorce expense.
  
  
• Moving and/or living costs: A divorce usually means one partner is moving out of a shared living space. While that comes with expenses to relocate and rent (or buy) a new home, it can also mean that each spouse may face more financial heavy lifting when it comes to covering household expenses without their partner’s support.
  
  
• Insurance changes: Divorce usually means losing certain insurance coverages that come under a partner’s policy. In these situations, the party losing coverage could face the costs of having to take out a new policy.

For divorcing parties with children, additional divorce costs in Colorado can include the fees for parenting classes, mediation, and/or court-ordered counseling. As much as these divorce costs can be, they don’t even begin to include the costs that come from the divorce process—like the costs of alimony and/or child support payments.

4 Factors that Impact Colorado Divorce Costs

As stressful as the idea of divorce costs may be, it’s important to know that many of these costs are manageable. In other words, the parties getting a divorce often have a big hand in how much their divorce costs, based on their choices and objectives. Here is a look at some of the many things that can affect how much it costs to get divorced in Colorado.

1. The Marital Property

How many marital assets and how much debt do a divorcing couple have to divide? The more complex the marital property is, the longer it can take to appraise and divide. Issues of property division can become even more complicated—and take longer to sort out, driving up the costs of divorce—when property includes especially complicated holdings, like rarities, vast real estate, and/or off-shore assets. In these cases, experts may be needed to help inventory and appraise each asset type.

2. Whether Children Are Involved

When a divorce involves children, parents will need to develop a parenting plan and, in some cases, attend counseling. This opens up a whole new facet of a divorce case, during which issues of parenting time and child support must be sorted out. To do this, experts may be brought in, and mediation or court hearings may need to occur. All of this can mean more time and money need to be invested in order to resolve a divorce case.

3. Any Prenuptial or Post-Nuptial Agreements

If a divorcing couple has a legal prenuptial or post-nuptial agreement, the terms of that contract will be honored during the dissolution process. That can expedite the divorce, reducing or eliminating the issues that may need to be resolved through the courts. Consequently, legal prenuptial or postnuptial agreements can help reduce divorce costs.

Here, it’s crucial to note that, when prenups or postnups are not legal (or they are of questionable validity), court battles can ensue. In these cases, it may take additional court hearings and more expenses to resolve a divorce case.

4. Any Dispute(s) & Whether Compromise Is Possible

How many issues of the divorce do the parties agree on versus disagree on? The more disputes there are, the longer a case can take—and the more it may cost to resolve.

Beyond disputes, however, the attitude and objectives each spouse has in a divorce also play a critical role. How willing is each party to budge on certain points? Why may they be unwilling to budge on anything?

When there is no possibility of compromise outside the courts, divorce costs can be more expensive than cases in which couples can reach divorce settlements without a court battle.

How Much Will My Divorce Cost?

Get the answers you need about divorce costs and what else to expect as you proceed by contacting The Cossitt Law Firm, LLC today. We offer confidential consultations, and we are ready to help you now.

Call (970) 488-1887 or email our firm for a 100% confidential consultation. Phone and Skype consultations are available!

The more you know about what to expect, the better you will be at managing divorce costs, your expectations, and more as you go forward. Our Colorado divorce attorneys can explain everything you need to know and guide you at every step. With our experienced counsel, 5-star service, and strategic representation, you can be confident that your rights and interests are protected—and that you have the guidance and advocacy you need to set your case up for the best outcome possible.