Even very wealthy couples will find that divorcing generally leaves them much poorer than before. In most cases it will be necessary to hire expensive lawyers that charges by the minute. Time spent in court can be horrendously expensive. It is also often necessary to liquidate assets and this can involve steep penalties and service fees, especially when market conditions are not ideal.
There is a lot that divorcing couples can do to lessen the financial impact of separating. In uncontested divorced, the partners involved can privately reach agreement on most issues such as custody, maintenance and the way in which their assets will be divided. This can only be achieved if both partners are reasonable and willing to give and take. In such cases the only task of the lawyer is to draw up the final agreement.
Contested cases are almost always extremely expensive. In these cases the partners simply cannot agree on key matters and they therefore hire lawyers to negotiate on their behalf. This can be a lengthy process and each partner will have to pay for every minute that the lawyer spends on the case. The cost escalates considerably when the lawyer has to appear in court to ask the judge to make the final decisions.
Many companies and financiers offer special loans specifically meant to pay for the cost of divorces. These loans are processed quickly, but the interest rate may be very high and the payback schedule will be extremely strict. Clients will also have to pay a hefty admin fee and pledge some of their assets to secure the loan. Care should be taken because these loans can cause long term financial difficulties.
Financial experts agree that it is better to sell joint assets in order to finance divorces than to use borrowed money. By borrowing money from a pension fund, for example, better rates can be obtained and the payback terms will be more reasonable. Other assets that will be divided between the two partners can also be sold in order to raise the money necessary to pay for divorces.
There is a trend among newly married couples to purchase special insurance that specifically caters for future legal costs. Critics say these couple actively plan for divorce but this is not the case. It is true that these policies will pay for the cost of divorces, but they are primarily meant for a wide variety of legal issues that may face families from time to time.
Divorcing can certainly be a traumatic and emotional experience. Sensible couples will realize, however, that there is no need to cripple both partners financially in the process. Much money can be saved by negotiating in good faith and by being reasonable. A therapist can help couples overcome their negative feelings and to act sensibly.
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