If you’re seriously contemplating a divorce, you may be afraid of the costs involved. You might have heard people say something to the effect of, “Don’t even try to negotiate your own divorce settlement. That’s what attorneys are for.”
As you think of these warnings, you begin to imagine the attorney fees rising until you begin to rationalize, “I can’t afford to get a divorce.” Fortunately, there is light at the end of the tunnel and it is possible to obtain a cheap, no-fault divorce in no time at all, but there’s a catch: you and your spouse need to work together to reach a fair settlement.
Cairns Encourages You to Negotiate Yourself
At Cairns Law Offices, we help couples obtain cheap, no-fault divorces. Unlike other law firms, we actually encourage spouses to negotiate their own divorce settlement. This may go against conventional wisdom, but it’s proven to be a highly-effective way for couples to obtain a low-cost divorce within a short timeframe.
“Most lawyers will tell you not to even try to negotiate your own divorce settlement. That’s because lawyers believe that they can negotiate for you better than you can negotiate for yourself,” Karen Covy wrote in HuffPost. About negotiating your own divorce, Covy said, “it’s not rocket science.”
“While divorce negotiations are definitely not for everyone, negotiating even a part of your own divorce settlement can save you time and money, if you do it right!” Covy wrote. We have to agree with Covy because that’s how our clients are able to obtain a divorce for just $299, including court costs and legal fees – by being cooperative with each other until they reach a mutually-satisfying divorce settlement.
Quick tips for negotiating:
- Educate yourself on Pennsylvania’s divorce laws so you know your rights and responsibilities under the law.
- Understand your assets, debts and post-divorce bills before you open your mouth.
- If you have kids, make sure you understand the law in regards to child custody and support.
- Know what you want and ask your attorney if it’s fair.
- Do a post-divorce budget so you understand what you need.
- Put yourself in your spouse’s shoes, and ask them to put themselves in yours.
- Agree to work towards a fair, mutually-acceptable agreement.
- Be polite and respectful and treat it like a business transaction. Check your emotions at the door.
- Know what you want, but be flexible when necessary and remain open to advice and suggestions from your spouse and your divorce attorney.
To learn more about negotiating a no-fault divorce, contact our Pennsylvania divorce law firm today. We are here to give you the guidance you need during this difficult time.
