Mar 14, 2014

When someone starts to consider getting a divorce, one of the first and most important questions they ask is about the cost of a Michigan divorce. Often, divorce becomes all about the cash and the emotions you will ultimately experience get put off until after. Instead, the worries about attorney fees, court costs and other costs take precedent.

Most of the time, each spouse will take care of their own legal fees and court costs. These costs must be paid up front. Once the divorce is filed, you may be able to have your attorney request that your fees become the responsibility of your spouse. In some instances, the judge will order that your spouse to pay the fees, but this isn't always the case.

The factors that go into deciding who is ultimately responsible for the cost of the divorce include:

• Each partners financial situation - If you both work good jobs, the responsibility will most likely remain separate. However, if you're a stay at home mom, your husband may end up burdening the entire financial responsibility.
• The Skill of your Attorney - Sometimes it comes down to which partner as a better attorney.
• The Willingness of your Partner - If you file for divorce, your partner may fight it the entire way and try not to take on the financial responsibility. However, if your partner files, they may be willing to pay your costs just to get it over with.

It's important to understand the possibilities before moving forward with the financial side of a divorce. Factors that may affect the cost of a divorce include:

• Whether it's collaborative or adversarial
• Which divorce attorney you hire
• How many marital debts and assets must be addressed
• Your attorney's legal strategy and the strategy of your spouse's attorney
• A custody battle over the children

All of these factors can affect the cost of a divorce in Michigan or any other state. The cost can vary greatly from one situation to another. However, your attorney should be able to help to give you an idea of what to expect.