Cost of Divorce: Escape a Marriage You Can’t Afford to Leave

by Jennifer Hargrave - Dallas Divorce Attorney | Dec 13, 2022

We unpack divorce attorney fees and the average cost of divorce, explore whether a cheap divorce or lower uncontested divorce cost is realistic, compare divorce mediation cost with courtroom expenses, list current filing fees for divorce, expose the hidden costs of divorce, outline strategic divorce financial planning, tally the cost of collaborative divorce, and show real options for anyone stuck in marriage because of cost.

Oklahoma News 4:

More on this is divorce attorney Jennifer Hargrave. Jennifer, welcome.

Jennifer Hargrave:

Thank you so much.

NBC News 4:

Well, financial arguments can often lead to divorce, but now the cost of inflation is keeping couples from divorcing. So do these study findings surprise you at all?

Jennifer Hargrave:

They really don’t. Of course, we’ve known for a long time that financial stressors are a reason why people get a divorce. Still, I think we’re definitely seeing people kind of putting the breaks on the divorce when they realize that the cost of setting up a whole nother household, in this time of inflation, is going to be a lot more expensive. So it’s a factor people are taking into consideration, for sure.

NBC News 4:

Right. So what advice then do you have for couples that are basically stuck because of financial reasons?

Jennifer Hargrave:

Well, first of all, I think people need to know that there are options available to them. We know that conflict is the leading cause of cost in a divorce. So if you and your partner can come to the table, can work through the issues that need to be resolved without having to fight over them, it’s going to be a lot more cost-effective, that’s collaborative divorce. Then you don’t actually have to stay stuck.

The other thing people need to consider is the cost of not getting a divorce. We know staying in a bad marriage is expensive in and of itself, not to mention, I mean there’s the financial side, but then there’s just the stress and what it does to physical health. So finances aren’t the only consideration that people need to make when considering the overall future of their marriage.

NBC News 4:

Speaking of stress, then we saw a spike in divorces during the pandemic, and now are you also seeing that recent inflation is causing a spike?

Jennifer Hargrave:

I mean, we definitely did see the spike. I think when people were locked in quarantine together, they realized that maybe they really couldn’t stand the person they were in quarantine with. I think as things opened up and people got back to normal life, kind of the distractions of normal life allowed people to maybe prolong or delay the divorce. But these are difficult times for families. And what we really would love to see, of course, is that families are able to find healthy ways to resolve the conflict and to be able to move forward and not have to get a divorce. But divorce is a fact of life and when you need a divorce, it is money well spent.

NBC News 4:

Yeah, it is a personal decision. We don’t want to condone divorce, but obviously each person is going to have a different reasoning for wanting to get a divorce. And couples do express worry about the future, like not being able to, if they divorce, afford rent or bills for two separate households. You touched on that earlier, but how important is it to plan for the future before you actually file for divorce?

Jennifer Hargrave:

I think one of the most important things if you’re considering divorce is to be really flexible and not be attached to an outcome, right? Because you don’t know, the future is uncertain and where you’re going to end up living and how much things are going to be, isn’t known. But as you begin to work through the divorce process, you’ll get a much better idea of what your future’s going to look like. And at that point you can really begin to make decisions. But I think it’s a really good idea for people to explore options, go look at the different neighborhoods, look at the different housing options that are available. So when it does come time to make a decision, you can make a really well informed decision.

NBC News 4:

Okay. Jennifer Hargrave, thanks for joining us. We appreciate it.

Jennifer Hargrave:

Thank you.

Compassionate Dallas Divorce Attorney Jennifer Stanton Hargrave

Compassionate Dallas Divorce Attorney, Jennifer Hargrave

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Hargrave Family Law – Compassionate Dallas Divorce Lawyers

Hargrave Family Law was founded by Dallas divorce lawyer Jennifer Hargrave with a strong mission in mind. Using non-adversarial techniques, our firm advocates for you during this challenging life transition in a way that helps you protect what matters most. Reach out to our team of compassionate Dallas divorce lawyers at Hargrave Family Law for the support you need to navigate divorce and other family law matters. We offer a complimentary case evaluation to start your journey with us. Together, we will work towards safeguarding the happiness and well-being of your family, allowing you to write your next chapter with hope.