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| HOW IT WORKS | BENEFITS | CHILDREN | YOUR CHOICES | COSTS | ||||||||||
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Save Money Through Mediation Separation and divorce can be outrageously expensive. A litigated divorce, when each person hires an attorney to advocate for their interests, averages $25,000, and cases that actually go to court may run many times higher than that. A collaborative divorce, in which each person's attorney works towards resolution with the couple, and uses financial advisors, coaches, and other experts, will still cost $5,000 at the very least. At Family Mediation Services, the average total cost is between $1000 and $1900--- for a complete mediation for couples with custody (parenting), financial, property, as well as support issues. The cost varies depending upon many factors, including the complexity of your situation, the extent of agreement or disagreement, and your willingness to do the necessary "homework." When only parenting issues are involved, nothing financial, the cost averages about $700 total. The same is true for cases where there are no children; if there is very little to split and no alimony involved, it can often be accomplished with a total cost of about $700. This cost, which can be split between the parties, includes all the sessions and the writing of a memorandum detailing your precise agreement. One of the ways Family Mediation Services keeps the costs down for you is by charging you only for in-person session time, no fees for drafting your memorandum or summarizing financial information (with a 4 hour minimum of session time). You can do it. File your own divorce, that is, after you have mediated an agreement on all the issues. Most people do not realize that they can file "pro se," meaning representing yourself, and that you are not required to see a lawyer in order to get a divorce in the state of Maryland. Filing for yourselves is similar in difficulty to filing your own income taxes. All the forms you will need are available online at the court website, with clear instructions on what to do. Circuit courts (one in each county) are the place where divorces are handled. Every court offers some free legal assistance at specified times. For example, in Anne Arundel County, where our office is located, you can call the Family Law Self-Help Center at 410-280-5374 between 9 am and noon daily. In Howard County, the Family Law Assistance Program is open from 9 am to noon on Mondays and Wednesdays. Even if you have a lawyer provide legal advice or review your agreement, steps we recommend, you will still spend much less than if both partners retain attorneys for handling your divorce. Why spend a huge amount of your hard earned money at a time when you can least afford to do so?
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