Affording the Cost of Divorce in Massachusetts
7 ways to pay for a divorce attorney
When considering getting a divorce, there’s a lot of factors that come into play, but the one we hear most often is the cost of divorce. With gas through the roof and basic necessities getting more expensive, we want to make sure that as many people as possible know their payment options when it comes to our services.
Here are the top 7 options that you may not know about when it comes to paying for a divorce attorney.
Top options to afford the cost of divorce in Massachusetts:
Can I use joint money or marital funds for a divorce lawyer?
If you have access to individual or joint liquid funds through checking/savings accounts, investment accounts, or the like, these are YOUR funds. You don’t need your partner’s permission (despite what they may say) to use them to pay for legal services. This is the biggest option that most people don’t know about, making it our number 1 option that we want you to know about.
Financing options for the cost of divorce in Massachusetts
This is one of our newest developments! Our firm now accepts Pay Later through Affirm, where you’ll be able to choose the amount that you want to finance and split your payments into smaller monthly installments.
Can my spouse pay my divorce attorney?
This is another lesser known option. If your partner has already retained an attorney and has liquid funds available that you can’t access, it may be possible for us to file a special motion in court called a Motion for Attorney’s Fees Pendente Lite. This motion asks the court to order your spouse to pay a certain amount of money towards YOUR attorney’s fees so that you have equal representation.
Using home equity to help cover divorce costs
If there are available HELOC funds against real property that you own, this can be another source of payment to pay your attorney.
Using credit cards and loans for divorce expenses
Credit cards
Many parties turn to existing credit cards or open new credit cards to finance their attorney’s fees. If opening a new card, check out websites like nerdwallet.com to see what cards are offering 0% APR for up to 18 months or free balance transfers. We highly recommend talking with a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) and/or Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP). They’ll be able to help you navigate the process if you intend to refinance or take out a new mortgage in the near future as your credit will be part of this equation. Not sure who to talk to? Our Purple Cloud Power Partners include experts who can help.
Personal Loans
Some parties choose to take out personal loans from banks, business associates, family members, friends or other third parties. If these liabilities are to be repaid, it is crucial that a formal promissory note with repayment terms be executed with copies available to be provided to the other side during the discovery process. It is not uncommon for clients to reach out to friends and family for financial support with their legal fees. In our experience, these loved ones are more than happy to assist during this time of need.
Flexible and custom payment plans
We have worked out custom payment plans with clients in the past. Feel free to propose your payment plan to us and we will bring it to our Founding Attorney for her consideration.
Lower-Cost Divorce Services in Massachusetts
Many clients are surprised to learn there are multiple ways to manage the cost of divorce in Massachusetts without sacrificing quality legal representation. If these still aren’t options that would fit your budget, we do have our Flat Fee Drafting Services. You can get your family law documents drafted at a lower price point, but with all the attention to detail you’d expect from our firm. Learn more about Flat Fee Drafting Service options, or schedule a discovery call with us so we can explore your personal options.
Have questions about payment options with FFL? Let’s chat! Book a free discovery call or schedule a consultation to speak with a Massachusetts family law attorney.