The answer to this commonly asked question is that it really depends on you and your ex-partner’s existing relationship.
If you are able to work through your separation in a calm and relatively amicable way, the cost will generally be far less and you will likely reach an agreement much faster.
What is the average cost of a divorce or separation in Australia?
According to Money Magazine, the average cost is between $50,000 and $100,000 and can take up to 3 years if going through to Court.
The alternative, done through a fair and equitable pathway such as Guided Separation, can cost as little as $4500 per person (including Court and filing costs).
The cost of divorce and separation can best be explained with this infographic, showing the different paths and timeframes for each outcome. Click on the graphic for a closer look.
It explains the cost and timeframe for:
- doing it yourselves
- going through a Guided Separation (with a Mediator)
- using separate Family Lawyers
- going to Court, where you need legal advisors and Barristers to represent you
You can see from this cost and time breakdown that there are many benefits if you can remain amicable.
However, this is not possible in every situation — and there’s definitely no one-size-fits-all when it comes to separation.
Settlement in Court
Sometimes it will be necessary to go to Court for a fair and equitable outcome. But we believe this should be a last resort. So do all the Family Lawyers in our Network.
Which process is right for you?
Our 3-minute Q&A is designed to help you figure that out and put you in contact with experts to guide you through the maze.
You can also check out our Pricing page.
The Separation Guide aims to make separation and divorce simpler, more manageable and less stressful. To find out more about how one of our Network Members could support your separation, take our free 3-minute Q&A.
Disclaimer
The information in our resources is general only. Consider getting in touch with a professional adviser if you need support with your legal, financial or wellbeing needs.
Find out if you can save costs by staying out of court
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