What to Know About Costs for Mediation vs. Lawyers
People who decide to go through divorce mediation often have questions about how this choice will impact the legal fees they can expect to pay. This varies widely based on the complexities of the case and whether you intend to still work with an attorney.
In some cases you might not find it necessary to work with an attorney on your mediation. It generally is not required. Some spouses like to have a lawyer outside of mediation, though, as they can help review settlement agreements reached during the course of the mediation process.
Of course, retaining an attorney will increase costs. You have to balance the financial savings with your comfort level reaching an agreement without having an attorney review your documents.
So what, specifically, can you expect the cost impact to be from adding an attorney to your mediation?
This depends on the rates charged by your attorney. You should get that information from them in advance. Using an attorney for mediation will not cost as much as using an attorney for, say, collaborative divorce or litigation, because they will not be as heavily involved with the process, but it is still an extra expense you have to factor in to your budget.
You should also consider the mediator you’ll be using. Are you working with an attorney-mediator or a non-attorney-mediator? Attorney-mediators generally have higher charges, but have additional expertise in navigating legal issues associated with divorce.
For more information about determining the cost of your divorce, contact an experienced Long Island attorney at Solutions Divorce Mediation.