Andrea is a member of the National Association of Divorce Professionals and a Certified Divorce Specialist. She is passionate about bringing together professionals from various professional backgrounds in order to give her clients the resources they need to have a ‘holistic’ divorce experience by engaging with the right professionals at the right time in their journey.

Divorce Coaching, combined with a “holistic” team approach, can provide the opportunity can help you learn how to work with your lawyer so that a productive outcome may be achieved on your behalf and you can be the author of your divorce, and life.

Andrea’s 12-week online program called The Mindful Divorce Method, combines education, communication, support and self-care with an online group coaching component to promote an overall healthy transition into a new and positive life beyond divorce. For more information, please e-mail Andrea at: andrea@wholehearteddivorce.com.

10 Tips To Reduce Costs During Your Divorce

#1 Prepare your financial disclosure

Financial disclosure is a big part of the legal process of separation and divorce. Making sure that your income taxes are up-to-date and you have recent income information is a great place to start.

#2 Have a discussion with your spouse before speaking to a lawyer

If you and your spouse are still on speaking terms, discussing the issues in advance can help narrow the issues. Even something as simple as making sure you and your spouse agree on the separation date can be extremely helpful to work out at the outset.

#3 Write out your Story.

No matter which legal process you are engaged in, it is important to have the facts of your case available. Key elements you want to include are the full names and dates of birth of all parties and children, key dates of events (date of marriage, date you started living together, date of separation), the city you reside in, and a brief summary of your relationship and the events leading up to separation.

#4 Educate yourself on the processes involved in divorce.

There is a plethora of information available on the different processes available to resolve the issues in dispute, beyond just going to court, such as mediation, arbitration, collaborative negotiation. Learn what the processes available are, so you can make an informed decision.

#5 Have a support person available with whom you can discuss the details of your case

Not only will this save you money, but it will save your sanity too. This is someone you trust implicitly – it can be a family member, a friend, or a coach. This is the person who is in your corner; who can be your sounding board, and who you can bounce ideas off of, and who will offer unconditional support and listen to you vent when things are going south.

#6 Engage the right professionals at the right time

Knowing which professionals to engage is essential to having a successful divorce. A Divorce Coach or therapist can work with you to help you process the emotional elements of your separation, so you don’t find yourself spending hours re-hashing life events at your lawyer’s office.

If you and your spouse have decided to sell your home, then you may consider hiring a real estate agent to help you determine the fair market value of your home. Not sure about the finances? Consult with a financial advisor to help you create a post-divorce budget. The cost of hiring another professional may seem counter-productive, but can actually save you a lot of money in the long-run.

#7 Keep communication with your lawyer clear, concise and to a minimum, where possible

Be careful to keep your communication clear, concise, to the point. Before sending e-mails to your lawyer, make sure the communication is necessary. Review the terms of your Retainer Agreement to make sure you know how much money your lawyer charges for communication.

#8 Find a lawyer who offers “unbundled services”

Traditionally, when you hire (or retain) a lawyer, they take on the case from beginning to end. You pay them based on their hourly rate,– which can add up quickly. There is another, less-costly option, called “unbundled services” to make legal fees more affordable. With unbundled or limited scope services, you keep control of your case and the lawyer offers help and advice only as requested by the client. For example, you can hire a lawyer to go to court for you, to help you prepare certain documentation.

#9 Establish a good working relationship with the Law Clerk

While a law clerk cannot give you legal advice, they can answer many procedural questions. For example, the law clerk can give you information about the legal process

your lawyer has chosen (i.e. timelines for completion of materials, what information the lawyer will require from you, etc.).

#10 Respond to all documentation requests in a timely manner

Make sure that you are gathering and providing the information requested by your lawyer as soon as possible, in order to avoid costly follow-up requests.