Divorce is always stressful. But it doesn’t have to be as expensive as you might think. With the separation itself stretching your budget, it’s important to reduce costs wherever you can.

Beverley Johnson, one of Edinburgh and Lothian’s top authorities on divorce law, explains how.

1. You don’t have to go to court

Court cases are expensive. A long case will run up high legal fees with your lawyer, which is the last thing you need. Not to mention the added frustration and ill-feeling this can bring.

Look into alternatives, such as collaborative law, arbitration and mediation. These processes can limit your spending and, most importantly, reduce negative feelings towards your ex-partner and the situation in general.

It may mean making financial concessions you hadn’t planned on or consider fair at the time. But on the whole it’s better to do so and move on than drag out an expensive court case.

2. Try to leave the children out of it

It’s natural and understandable to want a fair system of care and contact arrangements for your children. But this is best done amicably and in a controlled manner. When these decisions are made in court the case can go on for years.

Enlist the help of a mediation service or a mutual friend to ground the process and help you and your ex husband or wife make the decisions that are best for everyone.

3. Lawyers make expensive counsellors

Lawyers and solicitors tend to charge by the hour. So use this time wisely. Explaining trivial or irrelevant marital issues to a lawyer is a good way to rack up a huge bill.

So keep your meetings on-topic and constructive. Many lawyers make a lot of unnecessary money from listening to their clients’ complaints about their ex-partner. And the cost of divorce is high enough.

4. Organise your financial paperwork so your lawyer doesn’t have to.

A huge financial drain during a divorce can be the time your lawyer spends sorting out your financial records. So collating and arranging this information yourself is a great way to cut back costs. This includes historic bank statements, credit card bills and pension plans.

In divorce cases in Scotland your lawyer will want to get a snapshot of your assets and liabilities at the point where you separated. So the easier you can make this for them the cheaper it will be. Provide early and accurate information that vouches for your position.

5. Use the right law firm

Different lawyers specialise in different areas of law. Choosing an expert on divorce is a simple way to keep your costs down and make the process run more smoothly.

A good divorce lawyer will not only save you time with their experience, they’ll establish a good relationship with your ex-partner’s lawyer. This can reduce the animosity and cost of your divorce by ensuring sensible, professional discussions between both parties.

We understand that these situations are always difficult and nothing is black and white. If you’d like any more information or advice on divorce in Edinburgh and Midlothian, please get in touch